Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is TaleWorlds Entertainment's medieval sandbox RPG where you build an army, fight in massive real-time battles, manage kingdoms, and carve your own path in the fictional continent of Calradia. The game combines deep army management with hands-on third-person combat where you personally fight alongside your troops. With a dynamic economy, political system, and emergent warfare between six major factions, every playthrough creates a unique story.
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord 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 | Vlandia | Starting faction | Best cavalry, tournaments, coastal trade | Horse Archer |
| 2 | Battania | Starting faction | Best archers (Fian Champions), forest terrain advantages | Horse Archer |
| 3 | Sturgia | Starting faction | Strong infantry, northern resources, Norse aesthetic | Cavalry Lancer |
| 4 | Aserai | Starting faction | Mounted archers, wealthy trade cities, desert resources | Cavalry Lancer |
| 5 | Khuzait Khanate | Starting faction | Best horse archers, fast armies, steppe warfare | Cavalry Lancer |
Vlandia — Starting Area
The western faction with the best heavy cavalry (Vlandian Banner Knights). French/English medieval aesthetic. Strong starting position with access to sea trade. Vlandian troops excel in field battles with their devastating cavalry charges.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Starting faction |
| Key Rewards | Best cavalry, tournaments, coastal trade |
| Recommended Build | Horse Archer |
| Key Equipment | Heavy Lance |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of army command — this is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Battania.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Battania — Early Game
Celtic-inspired forest faction with the best archers (Fian Champions). Heavily forested territory provides defensive advantages. Battanian Fian Champions are arguably the strongest ranged unit. Weaker in cavalry.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Starting faction |
| Key Rewards | Best archers (Fian Champions), forest terrain advantages |
| Recommended Build | Horse Archer |
| Key Equipment | Heavy Lance |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering kingdom management — it's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Heavy Lance if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Sturgia.
Sturgia — Mid Game
Norse-inspired northern faction with strong infantry. Heavy snow terrain and coastal access for Nordic raids. Sturgian troops are tough but slow. The faction often struggles in AI wars due to geography.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Starting faction |
| Key Rewards | Strong infantry, northern resources, Norse aesthetic |
| Recommended Build | Cavalry Lancer |
| Key Equipment | Heavy Lance |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Glaive becomes accessible here — prioritize getting it.
- Master smithing for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Aserai — Late Game
Arabian-inspired desert faction with strong mounted archers (Mameluke cavalry). Desert terrain and oasis cities. Trade-focused with wealthy cities. Aserai troops are versatile but not the best in any single category.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Starting faction |
| Key Rewards | Mounted archers, wealthy trade cities, desert resources |
| Recommended Build | Cavalry Lancer |
| Key Equipment | Glaive |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Glaive should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- companion system mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Khuzait Khanate.
Khuzait Khanate — Endgame
Mongol-inspired steppe faction with the best horse archers (Khan's Guard). Dominate open-field battles with mounted archery. Weak in sieges due to reliance on cavalry. The AI Khuzait often steamrolls other factions early.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Starting faction |
| Key Rewards | Best horse archers, fast armies, steppe warfare |
| Recommended Build | Cavalry Lancer |
| Key Equipment | Glaive |
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 Trader for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order — Vlandia → Battania → Sturgia → Aserai → Khuzait 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.
More Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Guides
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Overview
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Best Builds
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Tier List
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Walkthrough
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Beginner's Guide
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Tips & Tricks
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Weapons Guide
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Combat Guide
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Boss Guide
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Crafting Guide
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, check out these related guides:
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Maps & Locations — strategy game with similar mechanics
- RimWorld Maps & Locations — strategy game with similar mechanics
- Stellaris Maps & Locations — strategy game with similar mechanics
