Mount & Blade: Warband Factions and troops: six kingdoms and army roles
Choose troop lines for their battlefield purpose in Native Warband.
Edition covered
Native Warband campaign and original publisher screenshots. Viking Conquest, Napoleonic Wars, Bannerlord and overhaul mods have different factions, troops and rules and are outside this reference.
Recruit from the faction’s villages
Village recruits develop through their faction’s troop tree. Check upgrade branches before paying for the next tier; the same initial recruit can lead toward different jobs in several armies.
| Faction | Recognizable troop direction | Useful application |
|---|---|---|
| Swadia | Heavy cavalry and mixed forces | Open-field charges with support |
| Vaegirs | Strong archery and mixed forces | Ranged pressure with protected archers |
| Nords | Heavy infantry | Close combat and siege assaults |
| Rhodoks | Crossbows and infantry | Defensive lines and sieges |
| Khergit Khanate | Mounted troops and horse archers | Mobile field combat |
| Sarranid Sultanate | Mixed force including Mamluk cavalry | Flexible armies with strong mounted options |
Combine roles rather than only tiers
A high-tier army still needs answers to terrain and formations. Ranged troops need sight lines, infantry can hold a choke point and cavalry needs room to build momentum.
| Role | Position | Main risk |
|---|---|---|
| Infantry | Between the enemy and vulnerable troops | Being surrounded or isolated |
| Archers and crossbows | Clear firing line behind protection | Enemy cavalry reaching the formation |
| Cavalry | Flank or open ground | Losing momentum in crowded terrain |
| Recruits | Protected supporting position | Early casualties before gaining experience |
Understand the six identities
Swadian heavy cavalry, Nord infantry and Rhodok crossbows are useful starting distinctions, but no faction specialty removes the need for positioning or a sustainable wage budget.
Upgrade at an affordable pace
Veterans improve performance and increase upkeep. Promote troops when the income supports them and keep replacements training so a single costly battle does not end the campaign.
References
| Reference | Website |
|---|---|
| Mount & Blade: Warband publisher listing | store.steampowered.com |
| Publisher game manual | store.steampowered.com |
| TaleWorlds Warband reference | www.taleworlds.com |