Bannerlord Best Factions & Troops — Tier List & Army Composition (2026)
Mount & Blade II Bannerlord best factions tier list. Vlandia, Empire S-tier. Best troops, army compositions and mixed-faction army tips.
Which Faction Has the Best Troops?
BEST METHODBannerlord has 8 factions (with sub-clans), each with unique troop trees. Your faction choice determines which troops you can recruit, which territory you fight in, and your strategic options. This tier list ranks every faction by military strength.
📌 Beginner Guide | Cheats
🏆 Faction Tier List
| Tier | Faction | Specialty | Best Troop |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Vlandia | Heavy cavalry + crossbows | Vlandian Banner Knight (best cavalry) |
| S | Empire (all 3) | Balanced — infantry, cavalry, archers | Legionary (best all-round infantry) |
| A | Khuzait | Horse archers | Khan's Guard (elite horse archer) |
| A | Battania | Fian archers (best archers in game) | Fian Champion (devastating longbow) |
| A | Sturgians | Heavy infantry, shock troops | Druzhinnik Champion (axe-wielding elite) |
| B | Aserai | Desert cavalry, camel riders | Mameluke Heavy Cavalry |
⚔️ Best Army Compositions
BEST METHOD- Balanced (recommended): 40% infantry, 30% archers, 30% cavalry
- Cavalry rush: 60% cavalry, 20% horse archers, 20% infantry (for sieges)
- Archer fortress: 50% Fian Champions, 30% infantry shield wall, 20% cavalry for flanking
💡 Mixed-Faction Army Tip
You're not limited to your faction's troops. Recruit Battanian Fian Champions for archers + Vlandian Banner Knights for cavalry + Imperial Legionaries for infantry. The ultimate mixed army beats any single-faction army.