Battle Brothers is Overhype Studios' turn-based mercenary company sim, released on 24 March 2017 and now published by Hooded Horse. You hire named men with backgrounds, eight attributes, and permanent death, take contracts across a procedurally generated world map, and try to be strong enough when the late-game crisis arrives. Four expansions extend it: Beasts and Exploration, Warriors of the North, Blazing Deserts, and the free Of Flesh and Faith.
This guide covers everything you need: core mechanics, the best builds, equipment worth investing in, location progression, and the tips that actually make a difference.
Core Mechanics
Fatigue as the action budget
Every action costs fatigue, and heavy armor raises the cost of everything. A brother in full plate who swings twice may have nothing left for a shield wall, which is why armor weight is a tactical decision and not just a defensive one.
Permadeath and permanent injuries
Dead brothers stay dead and injuries can permanently reduce attributes. A broken elbow follows a man for the rest of the campaign, while lighter wounds heal with bed rest at a settlement.
Eight attributes with level-up rolls
Each brother has eight attributes, and every level-up offers randomized increases plus one perk pick. Two men from the same background can end up on completely different ceilings, so check the stars on their attributes before investing.
Contracts and faction relations
Settlements offer dynamically generated contracts of varying difficulty, and taking sides changes how factions treat you. Reputation determines which contracts appear, so early cheap work is what unlocks the profitable jobs later.
Late-game crises
One of three crises escalates the campaign: a noble war between the map's three houses, a greenskin invasion of goblins and orcs, or an undead scourge. Players report the crisis being foretold around day 50 to 70 and starting around day 80 to 100, and you can pick which one comes first at campaign setup.
For a deeper dive into how these systems interact, see our Battle Brothers combat guide.
Builds Overview
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sellsword | A | Versatile approach | Balanced stats |
| Hedge Knight | A | Versatile approach | Balanced stats |
| Wildman | A | Versatile approach | Balanced stats |
| Retired Soldier | A | Versatile approach | Balanced stats |
| Squire | A | Versatile approach | Balanced stats |
For full build breakdowns with gear and stat priorities, see our Battle Brothers builds guide. For rankings, check the tier list.
Equipment Guide
| Equipment | Why It Matters | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Warbrand | A two-handed sword with strong single-target damage and a sweeping attack for grouped enemies. | Front-line damage without the fatigue bill of a greataxe |
| Billhook | A reach weapon that attacks from the second rank and can pull enemies out of their formation. | Second-rank fighters and breaking enemy shield walls |
| Warhammer | The armor-breaking answer for heavily plated enemies, where cutting weapons stall. | Armored knights, and any fight where your damage is bouncing |
| Greataxe | Enormous damage and enormous fatigue cost, capable of removing an enemy in a swing. | Killing high-value targets before they get a second turn |
| Crossbow | Higher per-shot damage than a bow with a longer reload, so its value is picking off specific threats rather than sustained fire. | Early companies and for removing enemy archers |
Warbrand: A two-handed sword with strong single-target damage and a sweeping attack for grouped enemies. Lighter on fatigue than the heaviest two-handers, so it suits brothers who are not fully fatigue-trained.
Billhook: A reach weapon that attacks from the second rank and can pull enemies out of their formation. Turns a mediocre recruit into a contributor without exposing him to the front line.
Warhammer: The armor-breaking answer for heavily plated enemies, where cutting weapons stall. Slower to clear unarmored crowds, so it is a specialist rather than an all-purpose choice.
Greataxe: Enormous damage and enormous fatigue cost, capable of removing an enemy in a swing. Pairs naturally with the Battle Forged heavy build rather than with light-armor brothers.
Crossbow: Higher per-shot damage than a bow with a longer reload, so its value is picking off specific threats rather than sustained fire. Effective early because it demands less ranged skill to be useful.
Full breakdowns in our Battle Brothers weapons guide.
Location Progression
| Location | Level Range | Key Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Noble house territory | Base game, viable from day one | High-value contracts, noble-tier equipment, war loot during the crisis |
| Greenskin camps | Base game, mid to late company | Orc cleavers and armor, camp clearing payouts |
| Undead crypts | Base game, mid company onwards | Ancient armor and weapons, crypt loot caches |
| The northern barbarian lands | Warriors of the North DLC | Barbarian equipment, origin-specific campaigns, legendary location bosses |
| The southern city states | Blazing Deserts DLC | Southern weapons and armor, arena winnings, new contract types |
Noble house territory: The three noble houses hold the map's richest settlements and their contracts pay best. If the noble war triggers as your crisis, siding with one or two houses turns the whole campaign into large-scale battles with strong loot.
Greenskin camps: Goblin and orc camps generate raiding parties, and during a greenskin invasion they besiege cities and can permanently destroy settlements if that option is enabled. Orc weapons and armor are among the best loot in the base game.
Undead crypts: Crypts and ruins hold undead and their gear. During an undead scourge, defeated human enemies can rise as zombies mid-battle, which changes how you handle a fight you thought was over.
The northern barbarian lands: Requires Warriors of the North, which adds a barbarian faction, new contracts, legendary locations and bosses, plus Nordic banners and several company origins including Lone Wolf, Peasant Militia, and the Davkul cultists.
The southern city states: Requires Blazing Deserts, which adds a desert region inspired by the Middle East, three southern starting scenarios, primitive firearms and grenades, and an arena where you send brothers to fight beasts or gladiators for money.
See our maps & locations guide for detailed area breakdowns and our walkthrough for the optimal progression path.
Tips That Actually Matter
- Know which content comes from where. Beasts and Exploration adds beasts, taxidermist crafting, and hidden locations; Warriors of the North adds barbarians and origins; Blazing Deserts adds the south, firearms, grenades, and arenas; Of Flesh and Faith is free and adds the Oathtakers and Anatomists origins.
- Of Flesh and Faith costs nothing, so install it regardless. Its two origins carry unique mechanics, story events, and equipment, and it was described as the most detailed pair of origins added since the feature arrived.
- Attribute stars at hiring predict a brother's ceiling far better than his current numbers. A beggar with three stars in melee skill outperforms a retired soldier with none, given enough levels.
- Fatigue is the real constraint in every fight. Before you buy heavier armor, check whether the wearer can still act twice a turn, because a brother who cannot swing is worse than a lightly armored one who can.
- Choose the noble war as your first crisis when learning. It gives you the most time to build up, and its battles pay well without the settlement-destroying pressure of a greenskin invasion.
- Retreating is a legitimate tactic and the game is designed around it. Losing a contract costs money and reputation; losing four veterans costs the campaign.
- During an undead scourge, human enemies can reanimate mid-battle, so do not walk your line past bodies you have not finished with.
- Beasts and Exploration makes all beasts, including those from Blazing Deserts, drop crafting materials for taxidermists. That turns beast hunting from a side activity into an income stream.
- Polearm brothers in the second rank are the cheapest way to add damage to a small company, because they contribute without needing the defensive statline a front-line fighter requires.
- Nimble and Battle Forged pull in opposite directions. Pick one per brother based on his rolled defenses and stick with it, since a half-armored brother gets the worst of both.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Putting heavy armor on a brother who cannot pay its fatigue cost every turn.
- Fighting every contract to the end instead of retreating from a fight that has turned.
- Investing level-ups in a brother whose attribute stars cap him out early.
- Assuming barbarians, arenas, or taxidermist crafting are in the base game when each needs a specific DLC.
- Triggering a greenskin invasion as your first crisis before your company can field a full line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which DLC should I buy first?
Install Of Flesh and Faith immediately because it is free. Of the paid expansions, Blazing Deserts adds the most new systems with firearms, grenades, arenas, and a southern region, while Beasts and Exploration adds the most new enemies and the taxidermist crafting loop.
What are the late-game crises?
Three: a noble war between the map's three houses, a greenskin invasion of orcs and goblins, and an undead scourge. Players report the crisis being foretold around day 50 to 70 and starting around day 80 to 100, and you can choose which comes first when starting a campaign.
Do the origins need a DLC?
The origins system arrived with Warriors of the North and several origins are tied to it, including Lone Wolf, Peasant Militia, and the Davkul cultists. Blazing Deserts adds three southern starts, and the free Of Flesh and Faith adds the Oathtakers and the Anatomists.
Is permadeath really permanent?
Yes. Dead brothers do not come back, and injuries such as a broken elbow permanently reduce attributes. Lighter wounds heal with rest at a settlement, which is why keeping cash for downtime matters as much as buying gear.
Is it still worth playing in 2026?
Yes. The 2017 base game is complete, the expansions are finished rather than in progress, and it is now published by Hooded Horse. There is no live service element, so nothing about it expires.
More Battle Brothers Guides
- Battle Brothers Best Builds
- Battle Brothers Tier List
- Battle Brothers Walkthrough
- Battle Brothers Beginner's Guide
- Battle Brothers Tips & Tricks
- Battle Brothers Weapons Guide
- Battle Brothers Combat Guide
- Battle Brothers Boss Guide
- Battle Brothers Maps & Locations
- Battle Brothers Crafting Guide
- Battle Brothers Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Battle Brothers, check out these related guides:
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Guide: strategy game with similar mechanics
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Guide: strategy game with similar mechanics
- RimWorld Guide: strategy game with similar mechanics
