Tactics Skill & Battle AI

The Tactics skill in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is often misunderstood. Many players believe it only helps with "Send Troops" (Auto-Resolve), but it also dictates how battles are simulated and how reinforcements arrive.

Overview of battle tactics and formations controlled by AI.

Auto-Resolve (Send Troops)

When you choose to "Send Troops" instead of fighting manually, the game runs a simulation. Your Tactics skill directly buffs the simulation damage of your troops.

• Why use it?: It is much faster for clearing looters or small bandit parties.

• The Risk: Historically, auto-resolve could kill high-tier troops (like Cataphracts) against Looters. High Tactics skill mitigates this randomness.

How Tactics, Roguery, and Scouting interact.

Battle Advantage & Reinforcements

If the battle size is limited (e.g., 500 troops max) and both armies are larger than that limit, the game spawns troops in waves. Your Tactics skill contributes to your Battle Advantage. A higher advantage means you spawn more troops initially than your opponent. For example, you might start with 300 men while they start with 200, giving you a massive local superiority.

Retreating

Sometimes you need to run. Perks in the Tactics tree reduce the number of men you lose when breaking a siege or retreating from a lost battle. This can save your elite core from being wiped out.

Perks that influence simulation battles and retreat losses.

For a detailed look at how to level this skill and which perks to pick, see the Tactics Skill Deep Dive.