Bannerlord Best Factions & Troops — Tier List & Army Composition (2026)

Bannerlord 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

TierFactionSpecialtyBest Troop SVlandiaHeavy cavalry + crossbowsVlandian Banner Knight (best cavalry) SEmpire (all 3)Balanced — infantry, cavalry, archersLegionary (best all-round infantry) AKhuzaitHorse archersKhan's Guard (elite horse archer) ABattaniaFian archers (best archers in game)Fian Champion (devastating longbow) ASturgiansHeavy infantry, shock troopsDruzhinnik Champion (axe-wielding elite) BAseraiDesert cavalry, camel ridersMameluke Heavy Cavalry

• 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

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.

• 🎮 Beginner Guide
• 👑 Kingdom Guide
• ⚒️ Smithing & Money
• 🎮 Warband Factions