Mount & Blade: Warband Maps & Locations Guide: Every Area Covered

Q: Is Warband still worth playing after Bannerlord?

Yes, and it is still the version most modders target. The directional combat is tighter, kingdom management is easier to learn, and total conversions like Prophesy of Pendor and 1257 AD have no real equivalent on the newer engine.

Q: Which faction should I join first?

Swadia if you want cavalry, the Rhodoks if you want to defend, the Nords if you want infantry that wins outnumbered. Swadia is the gentlest starting point because its troop tree covers cavalry, infantry and crossbows without borrowing recruits from anyone else.

Q: How many factions and towns are there?

Six factions and 22 towns. Warband added the Sarranid Sultanate and its four towns on top of the original game's five kingdoms, taking the total from 18 towns to 22.

Q: Can I create my own kingdom?

Yes. Back a claimant and rebel, declare independence outright, or simply take fiefs and swear to nobody. Each route needs Right to Rule, a garrison you can pay for, and companions you can promote into vassals with lands of their own.

Q: How does multiplayer work?

Up to 64 players across Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, Conquest, Battle and Siege. Equipment is bought with money earned during the round, so everyone starts a match equal and survival is what buys you the good gear.

Complete Mount & Blade: Warband maps and locations guide. Every area with difficulty, rewards, progression order, and what to do in each zone.

EarlyGuides Editorial Team

Researched and editorially reviewed. Updated August 12, 2026.

TaleWorlds released Warband in March 2010 as a standalone expansion to Mount & Blade, and sixteen years later it is still the reference point for directional melee on horseback. You start as a nobody with a sword and a horse in a Calradia carved up between six kingdoms, and you can finish as a bandit, a mercenary captain, a marshal, or a king with your own vassals. Multiplayer runs up to 64 players across Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, Conquest, Battle and Siege.

Mount & Blade: Warband features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.

Area Progression Order

Order	Location	Difficulty	Key Rewards	Recommended Build
1	Kingdom of Swadia	Good starting region for a new character	Swadian Knights, Swadian Sharpshooters, cheap grapes in Uxkhal for a Wine Press	Nord Huscarl heavy infantry
2	Kingdom of the Vaegirs	Mid game, once you can carry archer upkeep	Vaegir Marksmen, Vaegir Guards, northern fur and iron trade routes	Nord Huscarl heavy infantry
3	Kingdom of the Nords	Any stage, brutal to fight early	Nord Huscarls, Nord Veteran Archers, throwing weapon access	Swadian Knight heavy cavalry
4	Kingdom of the Rhodoks	Any stage, strongest on defense	Rhodok Sergeants, Rhodok Sharpshooters, broken terrain that blunts cavalry	Swadian Knight heavy cavalry
5	Khergit Khanate	Difficult early, dominant once you can afford horses	Khergit Lancers, Khergit Horse Archers, unmatched map speed	Swadian Knight heavy cavalry

Kingdom of Swadia: Starting Area

Central plains ruled by King Harlaus from Praven, holding Uxkhal, Suno and Dhirim alongside it. Swadia is the only faction with genuinely strong troops in all three categories, and the Swadian Knight is the benchmark every other cavalry unit gets measured against.

Attribute	Detail
Difficulty	Good starting region for a new character
Key Rewards	Swadian Knights, Swadian Sharpshooters, cheap grapes in Uxkhal for a Wine Press
Recommended Build	Nord Huscarl heavy infantry
Key Equipment	Two handed weapons

What to Do Here

Learn the basics of Directional melee blocking. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
Clear all main content before moving to Kingdom of the Vaegirs.
If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.

Kingdom of the Vaegirs: Early Game

The northeastern kingdom centered on Reyvadin, with Curaw, Khudan and Rivacheg. Vaegir Marksmen out-shoot every crossbow unit in Calradia and Vaegir Guards are excellent shock infantry, though the cavalry sits a step behind Swadia's.

Attribute	Detail
Difficulty	Mid game, once you can carry archer upkeep
Key Rewards	Vaegir Marksmen, Vaegir Guards, northern fur and iron trade routes
Recommended Build	Nord Huscarl heavy infantry
Key Equipment	Two handed weapons

What to Do Here

Focus on mastering Mounted combat and couched lances. It's critical from this point on.
Farm for Two handed weapons if you don't have it yet.
Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
Prepare for the difficulty spike in Kingdom of the Nords.

Kingdom of the Nords: Mid Game

A seafaring culture on the northern coast under King Ragnar at Sargoth, also holding Tihr and Wercheg. Nord Huscarls are the strongest infantry in the game and Veteran Archers back them, but the faction fields next to no cavalry.

Attribute	Detail
Difficulty	Any stage, brutal to fight early
Key Rewards	Nord Huscarls, Nord Veteran Archers, throwing weapon access
Recommended Build	Swadian Knight heavy cavalry
Key Equipment	Two handed weapons

What to Do Here

This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
One handed weapons becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
Master Troop tree upgrades for the boss encounters.
Check our boss guide if you get stuck.

Kingdom of the Rhodoks: Late Game

Hill country around Jelkala, Yalen and Veluca. Rhodok Sergeants carry long polearms that stop a cavalry charge cold, and Rhodok Sharpshooters bring crossbows with a shield, which makes this the best defensive faction on the map.

Attribute	Detail
Difficulty	Any stage, strongest on defense
Key Rewards	Rhodok Sergeants, Rhodok Sharpshooters, broken terrain that blunts cavalry
Recommended Build	Swadian Knight heavy cavalry
Key Equipment	One handed weapons

What to Do Here

Full build optimization is expected by this point.
One handed weapons should be your primary, fully upgraded.
Trade and enterprises mastery starts mattering here.
Farm resources for the push into Khergit Khanate.

Khergit Khanate: Endgame

The eastern steppe faction based at Tulga, with Narra, Ichamur and Halmar. It is the only kingdom whose entire troop tree is mounted, so Khergit armies are the fastest on the world map and the hardest to run away from.

Attribute	Detail
Difficulty	Difficult early, dominant once you can afford horses
Key Rewards	Khergit Lancers, Khergit Horse Archers, unmatched map speed
Recommended Build	Swadian Knight heavy cavalry
Key Equipment	One handed weapons

What to Do Here

This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
Experiment with Khergit Horse Archer for variety once you've mastered the meta.

Exploration Tips

Clear areas in order: Kingdom of Swadia → Kingdom of the Vaegirs → Kingdom of the Nords → Kingdom of the Rhodoks → Khergit Khanate. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
Match your equipment: Some areas favor different equipment types.
Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.

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