Scouting Skill Guide

November 21, 2025

Leveling scouting and exploiting terrain knowledge.

Information is power in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. While your warriors win battles, your Scout ensures you only fight the battles you can win. The Scouting skill governs your party's speed, sight range, and ability to track enemy movements.

The Role of the Scout

Every party needs a designated Scout. You can take this role yourself or assign a companion with high Cunning and Scouting skill.

A good Scout provides two critical bonuses:

  1. Spotting Distance: Lets you see enemy armies before they see you.

  2. Movement Speed: Helps you catch smaller parties and outrun larger ones.

Cunning Skills Overview Scouting is a Cunning skill. High Cunning also helps with Tactics and Roguery, making it a great attribute for party leaders.

Speed & Visibility

Speed is life on the campaign map. If you are slower than your enemy, you cannot force a fight and you cannot escape one. Scouting perks like Pathfinder and Forced March directly increase your map speed.

Visibility is equally important during war. Seeing an army of 1000 troops while they are still far away gives you time to flee to a castle or change direction.

Spotting Enemy Parties A high spotting distance allows you to identify the composition of enemy parties, so you know if you're facing recruits or elite cavalry.

For more on optimizing your movement, see our Party Speed Mechanics guide.

Tracking

Scouts can read "tracks" left on the campaign map. These appear as small arrows. Hovering over them tells you:

  • Who made the tracks (e.g., "Looters" or "Garios's Party").

  • How long ago they passed.

  • How many men they have.

This is essential for hunting down specific lords or finding bandit hideouts.

Campaign Map The campaign map is full of information if you know how to read it.

Best Perks

  • Forest Kin vs. Hills Kin: Choose based on where you plan to fight. Battanians should always take Forest Kin.

  • Beast Whisperer: A fun perk that gives a chance to find mounts while traveling.

  • Uncanny Insight: Increases spotting difficulty for enemies, making you harder to see.

The Ideal Scout Companion

When looking for a Scout companion in taverns, look for wanderers with titles like:

  • "The Wastes" (Khuzait)

  • "The Ragged"

  • "The Cowthief"

These characters usually start with respectable Scouting skill.