Ranged Combat & Archery

Dominate the battlefield from a distance. In Bannerlord, archery is not just point-and-click; it involves physics, timing, and careful character building.

The Basics

Accuracy is governed by your reticle bloom.

• Movement: Moving expands the reticle, making shots inaccurate. Stop before shooting.

• Draw Time: Holding a drawn bow too long causes fatigue, reducing accuracy.

• Distance: Arrows drop over time. Aim above distant targets.

Check Combat Basics & Controls for more on movement mechanics.

Bow vs. Crossbow

• Bows: Faster fire rate, requires higher skill for high damage. Best for dps. See Best Archer Units.

• Crossbows: High damage per shot, flat trajectory, slow reload. Can be held indefinitely without fatigue. See Best Crossbow Units.

Horse Archery

Firing from horseback introduces significant penalties. You must unlock specific perks in the Bow and Riding trees to shoot accurately while moving.

• Cantabrian Circle: A tactic where horse archers circle the enemy, firing constantly.

Equipment

• Bodkin Arrows: Deal Pierce damage, which is better against armor.

• Barbed Arrows: Deal Cut damage, devastating against unarmored targets but weak vs plate.

See Weapon Types & Best Loadouts for gear recommendations.

Perks

The Control attribute governs your ranged proficiency.

• Bow: Focuses on draw speed and accuracy.

• Crossbow: Focuses on reload speed and shield penetration.

For a detailed comparison of builds, read Archer Builds & Comparisons.