Steward Skill Leveling

Leveling the Steward skill is one of the most reliable grinds in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. Unlike combat skills which require finding enemies, Steward simply requires you to be a good leader who feeds their troops well. This guide will show you how to maximize your XP gain per day.

The Golden Rule: Variety is King

Steward XP is not based on the amount of food you eat, but the variety of food types in your inventory.

• Holding 1000 Grain gives almost no XP.

• Holding 10 Grain, 10 Meat, 10 Fish, 10 Cheese, 10 Butter, 10 Grapes, 10 Olives, and 10 Beer gives maximum XP.

The Speed Leveling Loop

To power-level Steward from 0 to 100+ quickly, follow this loop:

1. Preparation

• Have at least 10-20k denars.

• Assign yourself as the Quartermaster in the Clan Roles screen. If you forget this, you gain 0 XP.

2. The Shopping Trip

Visit major towns (Sanala, Ortysia, Epicrotea are good trade hubs) and buy at least 20-30 units of every single food category:

• Grain

• Meat

• Fish

• Cheese

• Butter

• Beer

• Grapes

• Olives

• Dates

3. The Wait

Once your inventory is stocked, simply travel the map. You will see your Steward skill tick up daily.

• Pro Tip: Maintain high party morale (70+). High morale provides a multiplier to Steward XP gain.

Settlement AFK Method (Advanced)

If you own a town that is starving, you can assign yourself as Governor.

1. Go to the town management screen.

2. Assign yourself as Governor.

3. Wait in the town.

4. If you spend money on the "Irrigation" or "Orchards" projects, or solve food issues, you gain massive Steward XP chunks. This is faster than the party method but requires owning a fief.

Tips for Maintenance

• Frugal Perk: Pick this at level 25. It reduces food consumption, making your expensive grapes and butter last longer.

• Lock Items: In your inventory, click the circle next to your food items to "Lock" them. This prevents you from accidentally selling your food stocks when using "Sell All" at markets.

For a deeper look at what perks to pick once you've leveled up, read our Steward Skill Deep Dive.