In Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord, battles unfold across diverse terrains that reflect the region where the armies meet. Even when clashes occur near settlements, both sides engage on equal footing, ensuring a balanced and fair combat experience.
In the context of one army besieging another’s castle or city, the advantage often lies with the defenders. The elevated ground and defensive siege weapons make it highly effective to repel large groups of attackers advancing slowly. While laying siege to a castle is typically a challenging endeavor, players can employ various strategies to shift the odds in their favor.
Preparing To Lay Siege
Before launching a siege, it’s crucial to prepare thoroughly. Gather a substantial supply of food to sustain your army over the days it may take to capture the castle. A large, formidable army is essential, both to deter attacks from rival kingdoms and to ensure you have enough soldiers to overcome the castle’s defenses. When choosing your target, hover over the castle or city to view its Information section and check the number of defenders. To increase your chances of success, aim to have several hundred more troops than the defending forces.
How To Lay Siege In Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord
When approaching a castle or city with your army, choose “Besiege the Town” to establish your camp and commence operations. The enemy stronghold will be equipped with catapults, ballistas, and fortified walls, the strength of which varies based on upgrades selected by the castle’s mayor. Your objective is to dismantle these defenses before launching your troops into battle. Players have the opportunity to construct…
- Battering Ram
- Siege Tower
- Trebuchet
- Onager
- Ballista
Once the camp is set up, you’ll have space to construct four ranged siege weapons, one battering ram, and two siege towers. It typically takes half a day to prepare. Prioritize building the battering ram and both siege towers first, as these structures are immune to enemy defenses during construction. This strategic advantage allows you to launch an attack promptly if another army from the rival kingdom intervenes to halt your progress.
The next objective is to eliminate the enemy’s defenses. Ballistas, though the weakest siege weapon, can be constructed quickly. On the other hand, trebuchets are the most powerful but require the longest build time. While ranged siege weapons are vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks, the reserve option can safeguard your siege equipment effectively.
Queue up four trebuchets and pause the game each time one is completed. Select the newly built trebuchet and place it in reserve to prevent it from being targeted. Continue this process until you have at least three or four trebuchets in reserve. Once you have enough, pause the game again and deploy all the trebuchets simultaneously. This strategy ensures you have a powerful arsenal ready to swiftly dismantle your opponent’s defenses, giving you a significant advantage in the battle.
Ensure consistent maintenance of up to four siege weapons, promptly replacing any destroyed units. Initially neutralize enemy ranged weapons with trebuchet fire directed at castle walls. Once breached, rendered siege towers redundant, but the gaps offer strategic entry points for your forces during the assault phase. Subsequent to dismantling all defenses, initiate a ground offensive to equalize battlefield conditions, maximizing the advantage gained from breached walls.
How To Level Up Engineering In Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord
Players can earn Engineering XP by constructing and operating siege weapons. These weapons gain XP both by achieving kills during battles and by destroying enemy defenses while besieging a castle. Not only does dismantling the enemy’s defenses give you a strategic advantage, but it also provides the most XP for the player. Defenders will continuously rebuild their defenses, allowing players to farm Engineering XP effectively when using four trebuchets to dominate a siege.
Investing in Focus Points within the Engineering skill tree serves as a multiplier for XP gained in this specialization. Perks obtained from advancing in Engineering not only accelerate the construction of siege weapons but also enhance their overall effectiveness. While accumulating Engineering points can be time-consuming, the investment pays off significantly in the later stages of the game, particularly during frequent sieges of castles and cities to secure additional fiefs.