Vlandia Troop Tree Guide

Vlandia boasts one of the most specialized and powerful troop trees in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. Renowned for their devastating heavy cavalry and lethal crossbowmen, a Vlandian army is a force of pure kinetic energy and ranged dominance.

Troop Tree Overview

The Vlandian roster is split into two distinct paths:

1. Commoner Line: Starts with the Vlandian Recruit. Evolves into solid infantry and elite crossbowmen.

2. Noble Line: Starts with the Vlandian Squire. Evolves into the fearsome Banner Knight.

Unlike other factions that mix roles, Vlandians are specialists. Their infantry holds, their crossbows snipe, and their cavalry annihilates. For a broader look at the faction, see our Vlandia Kingdom Guide.

The Noble Line: Cavalry Supremacy

The crown jewel of Vlandia is its noble cavalry line.

• Vlandian Squire -> Gallant -> Knight -> Champion -> Banner Knight.

The Banner Knight is a contender for the Best Cavalry Units title. They are heavily armored and wield couched lances that can one-shot almost anything on the charge.

• Usage: Don't leave them in melee. Cycle charge them (Charge -> Retreat -> Charge) to maximize their lance damage. See Battle & Skirmish Tactics for more on this.

The Commoner Line: Crossbows and Pikes

The commoner line branches early into infantry and ranged.

Ranged: The Sharpshooter

The Vlandian Sharpshooter is the best crossbow unit in the game, as detailed in our Best Crossbow Units guide.

• Strengths: High damage per shot, great range, and a large shield on their back which protects them while reloading or retreating.

• Sieges: They are S-tier in Siege Warfare & Defenses because they can trade effectively with archers and survive counter-fire.

Infantry: Sergeants and Voulgiers

• Vlandian Sergeant: A decent shield unit with a mace. Good for capturing prisoners.

• Vlandian Voulgier: A shock troop with a two-handed polearm. Devastating against cavalry but vulnerable to arrows.

Ideal Army Compositions

For Field Battles:

• 40% Banner Knights (Hammer)

• 30% Sharpshooters (Ranged support)

• 30% Sergeants (Anvil) Check Party Composition Basics for more details.

For Sieges:

• 60% Sharpshooters

• 40% Sergeants/Voulgiers

Comparison with Neighbors

• Vs Battania Troop Tree: Vlandian crossbows have more protection than Fians, but Fians shoot faster. Banner Knights crush Battanian skirmishers.

• Vs Imperial Troop Tree: Imperial Cataphracts are tankier, but Banner Knights hit harder on the charge. Imperial Legionaries are better infantry than Vlandian Sergeants.

• Vs Sturgia Troop Tree: Sturgian shields are tough to crack with crossbows, so you must rely on cavalry flanks.

Conclusion

Mastering the Vlandian troop tree means understanding the timing of the cavalry charge. Keep your crossbows firing and your knights moving, and Calradia will bow before you. Read Troop Recruitment and Development to get started.