As one of the major factions in Mount & Blade Bannerlord, Vlandia possesses a formidable military force feared across Calradia for their heavy cavalry and deadly sharpshooters. However, they also have some limitations that the wise battlefield commander must recognize. In this extensive guide, we will analyze Vlandia‘s strengths and weaknesses to help you master both playing as them or against them.
An Overview of Vlandia‘s Strengths
Vlandia‘s strengths lie in three key areas:
Superior Heavy Cavalry: Vlandia boasts the best heavy cavalry in Bannerlord, with elite troops like Banner Knights and Vanguard Faris surpassing even the vaunted Imperial Cataphracts in armor, statistics and battlefield impact.
Deadly Ranged Units: Vlandia has access to numerous missile troops, with their Sharpshooters being unmatched in terms of ranged damage potential among Tier 6 crossbowmen.
Heavily Armored Units: From hardened sergeants to stalwart menavliatons, Vlandia fields some of the best-protected troops, able to withstand enemy archery fire and represent a nigh-unbreakable line of battle.
Now, let‘s analyze each of these strengths in-depth.
Vlandia‘s Domination of Mounted Warfare
As a kingdom descended from warlike knights and nobles, it‘s little wonder that Vlandia‘s greatest assets on the field are their cavalry contingents. Both their knights and mounted sergeants have excellent armor ratings, with the former being arguably the deadliest shock force among Tier 6 horsemen.
Banner Knights: The Cream of Vlandia‘s Crop
The Banner Knight represents the pinnacle of Vlandian chivalry – an elite noble warrior encased head-to-toe in the finest plate and mail available. Wielding deadly long arming swords or heavy poleaxes, they excel at crushing enemy infantry underhoof in a thundering charge.
In fact, Banner Knights surpass even the vaunted Cataphracts fielded by the Southern and Western Empires in terms of protection. Boasting a best-in-class armor rating of over 80, they are virtually immune to enemy arrows once their shields are up. Backed by excellent Power Strike and Athletics skills, a wedge of Banner Knights charging at full gallop can shatter all but the staunchest defensive line.
The only weakness of the Banner Knight lies in their average horse – they ride mid-tier Coursers instead of the Imperial‘s armored destriers, making them slightly more vulnerable to infantry attacks. However, this is a small price to pay for their superiority in close combat.
Vanguard Faris: Shock Cavalry Par Excellence
If the Banner Knight excels at obliterating heavy infantry, then the Vanguard Faris is the perfect counter to enemy horsemen. Wielding deadly long glaives, these Tier 5 cavalry can outreach all but the longest pikes and cut down knights before they close into striking distance.
With ratings almost on par with Banner Knights, Vanguard Faris represent cheaper but still extremely effective shock cavalry. A player looking to field a primarily mounted army will do well to fill their ranks with these hard-hitting horsemen.
Mounted Crossbows: Harassing Fire on Horseback
While they lack the sheer charge impact of heavy cavalry, Vlandia‘s Mounted Crossbowmen fill the vital niche of harassers and flank guards. Armed with Crossbows that significantly outrange common bows, they can pepper advancing columns with impunity while remaining safely out of reach.
A flanking force of 50-60 mounted crossbows supported by elite Vlandian Knights is a force to be feared – the perfect combination of armor-cracking shock power and relentless ranged damage potential.
Armed to the Teeth: Vlandia‘s Deadly Missile Infantry
While a thundering cavalry charge may break an enemy battleline, it often falls upon the humble foot soldier to press the advance and mop up survivors. Here too Vlandia fields some of the deadliest troops available.
Sharpshooters: The Ultimate Ranged Damage-Dealers
Boasting the highest Ranged Skill stat among Tier 6 missile infantry, the Vlandian Sharpshooter‘s only peer is the Fian Champion. However, the Sharpshooter pulls ahead by virtue of his Crossbow – the most damaging handheld ranged weapon in Bannerlord.
Capable of punching through even the heaviest Cataphract armor, just 50-60 elite Vlandian crossbowmen can crush enemy infantry caught out in the open without support. Sharpshooters also pack powerful sidearms like Falchions and Throwing Daggers for self-defense in close combat.
The only weakness of Sharpshooters lies in their average armor ratings – they lack sufficient protection in sustained melee. Thus, commanders should deploy them carefully with frontline troops guarding their flanks against enemy cavalry looking to run them down.
Crossbowmen & Skirmishers: Potent Supporting Firepower
For players unable to field too many high-tier units, Vlandia provides cheaper yet still deadly options in their Crossbowmen and Skirmishers lines.
While they lack the sheer firepower of Sharpshooters, veteran Crossbowmen can still deal significant damage to enemy ranks while Skirmishers excel at softening up attackers before they close into melee.
Mixed formations with Crossbowmen and Skirmishers anchored by Sergeants and other infantry provide an excellent combined-arms strike force on open battlefields.
Holding The Line: Vlandia‘s Tough-As-Nails Heavy Infantry
While their cavalry and missile troops may get more glory, the stalwart Vlandian infantryman wins battles by refusing to yield even an inch of ground. Fitted out in excellent heavy mails and wielding deadly poleaxes, Vlandia‘s frontline stalwarts anchor their battle-lines against all enemies.
Sergeants: The Immovable Object
Whether arrayed in shieldwall or wielding deadly two-handed weapons, the Vlandian Sergeant‘s combination of top-tier armor and high Hit Points makes them nigh-impervious to enemy attacks short of the heaviest cavalry charges.
In particular, their Poleaxes give them a deadly anti-cavalry bonus – knocking horsemen out of the saddle before they can land a blow. Coupled with their strong Shield and Polearm skills, just 40-50 Sergeants can literally hold off an enemy army.
For players seeking an anvil upon which to smash enemy attacks, the Vlandian Sergeant provides it in spades.
Menavliatons: Stopping Charges Cold
While Sergeants excel in shieldwalls, the Menavliatons show their worth on more open terrain. Armed with deadly Menavlions – polearms equally adept at piercing armor or pulling riders from saddles – they specialize in negating enemy cavalry.
Much like the famous English longbowmen or Swiss pike-squares, a deep formation of Menavliatons is virtually unbreakable by mounted opponents – their 12 ft. pikes allowing them to outreach the largest warhorses.
Players struggling against cavalry-focused opponents would do well to invest in these powerful defensive infantry to anchor their ranks.
Mounted Warfare Doctrine: Playing to Vlandia‘s Strengths
Now that we‘ve covered Vlandia‘s elite troops, how should we utilize them on the battlefield? In particular, Vlandian armies shine when used in a cavalry-focused doctrine geared around shock assault.
The Hammer & Anvil
Vlandia‘s powerful heavy horse allows commanders to execute the classic "Hammer & Anvil" battle tactic to devastating effect.
First, use missile troops and infantry in shieldwall to fix enemies in place and block their advance (the Anvil). Then smash your heavy cavalry into their ranks from the flank or rear (the Hammer).
Against infantry-focused factions like the Khuzaits or Battania, this tactic allows you to crack even superior numbers with a timely cavalry charge into their rear.
Elevation & Enfilade Fire
When defending castles/villages, make sure to place Sharpshooter contingents on the highest terrain possible to exploit their range advantage. Their elevated crossbow fire can then enfilade entire attacking columns.
Bolster these positional troops with Sergeants guarding the flanks and Banner Knight detachments to sally out and counterattack broken enemy forces.
Combined Arms & Controlled Charges
Vlandia lacks versatile horse-archers, so their cavalry is best used in concert with other arms via controlled charges rather than independent operations.
Have missile infantry wear down targets from afar, then commit your knights against softened-up enemy detachments in charges timed precisely for maximum impact.
Support them with Sergeants/Menavliatons to consolidate any breakthroughs instead of pure cavalry alone.
Limitations of the Lion: Vlandia‘s Weaknesses
For all their battlefield prowess, Vlandia‘s forces aren‘t without limitations a canny opponent can exploit. These primarily lie in:
Lack of Horse Archers: With no mounted archers except generic Khergit mercenaries, Vlandian cavalry cannot fight effectively on their own relying only on lances and swords. They remain vulnerable to skirmishing tactics.
Light Cavalry Deficit: Most cavalry focuses heavily on shock power over speed/maneuver. Enemy horse archers can thus run circles around Vlandian knights.
Low Party Speed: Heavily armored Vlandian parties travel slower on the campaign map compared to factions fielding more light/medium troops. A wise enemy will exploit this lack of strategic mobility.
Horse Shortages: Upgrading troops to heavy cavalry requires a major investment in warhorses, which often leads to trading trips just for requisitioning mounts. This impacts readiness and logistics.
Overall, while devastating in open battle with combined arms support, Vlandia‘s forces fare poorly if operate independently, especially against more balanced faction rosters. Their lumbering war machine also struggles in extended strategic maneuvers or forced marches.
Conclusion: Vlandia‘s Fine Edge
Vlandia‘s military can aptly be compared to a double-edged longsword – utterly destructive when swung properly against the enemy but also requiring careful handling lest the wielder injure himself. Used well, their knights and marksmen have no equals on the field. But failing to support them adequately leads to their glaring weaknesses being exposed.
As always on the battlefields of Calradia, victory goes not just to the side with elite troops but to the commander who best utilizes their strengths while negating their deficiencies. We hope this guide helps players – either fighting for Vlandia or against them – better understand the nuances of their formidable forces.
The core takeaways any tactician must recognize are:
- Vlandia dominates heavy cavalry warfare – Use shock charges wisely
- Crossbows provide unmatched ranged firepower – Exploit elevation and enfilade fire
- Sergeants and polearm units anchor sturdy defenses – Hold strong points against attacks
- Support cavalry with combined arms – Don‘t send knights alone into skirmishing fights
- Lack strategic mobility – Force them into extended maneuvering battles
Master both Vlandia‘s capabilities and limits, and victory shall be yours! Deus Vult!