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.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glaive | S | Cavalry Lancer, Infantry Commander | The best polearm for both mounted and foot combat. |
| Heavy Lance | A | Cavalry Lancer — pure mounted combat | Purpose-built for couched lance charges. |
| Noble Bow | A | Horse Archer | The highest-tier bow with fast draw speed and high damage. |
| Two-Handed Sword | B | Infantry Commander | Massive reach and damage for infantry combat. |
| Javelins | B | All builds — ranged option | Throwable weapons with high damage and accuracy. |
S-Tier: Glaive
The best polearm for both mounted and foot combat. Long reach, high damage, and can be couched on horseback. Swing damage cuts through groups. The most versatile weapon type in the game.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Cavalry Lancer, Infantry Commander |
| Key Mechanic | army command |
| Recommended Build | Cavalry Lancer |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Glaive: Pairs naturally with Cavalry Lancer thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Heavy Lance
Purpose-built for couched lance charges. Higher damage than glaives on the initial charge but useless in melee. Keep a secondary weapon for dismounted combat.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Cavalry Lancer — pure mounted combat |
| Key Mechanic | kingdom management |
| Recommended Build | Horse Archer |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Heavy Lance: Pairs naturally with Horse Archer thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Noble Bow
The highest-tier bow with fast draw speed and high damage. Usable on horseback for the horse archer playstyle. Requires high Bow skill to use effectively. Arrows are the limiting factor — carry multiple quivers.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Horse Archer |
| Key Mechanic | smithing |
| Recommended Build | Infantry Commander |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Noble Bow: Pairs naturally with Infantry Commander thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Two-Handed Sword
Massive reach and damage for infantry combat. Overhead swings can one-shot lightly armored enemies. No shield means you take more hits — heavy armor compensates. The most satisfying weapon for personal combat.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Infantry Commander |
| Key Mechanic | tournaments |
| Recommended Build | Siege Specialist |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Two-Handed Sword: Pairs naturally with Siege Specialist thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Javelins
Throwable weapons with high damage and accuracy. Carry a stack for softening enemies before melee engagement. Especially effective against cavalry and shielded enemies. Can be used mounted or on foot.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | All builds — ranged option |
| Key Mechanic | companion system |
| Recommended Build | Trader |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Javelins: Pairs naturally with Trader thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Vlandia
- Heavy Lance → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Noble Bow → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Glaive → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying — one strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Level smithing early for massive gold income — high-tier two-handed swords sell for 50,000-150,000 denars each. Smelt cheap weapons for materials.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
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 Combat Guide
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Boss Guide
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Maps & Locations
- 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 Weapons Guide — strategy game with similar mechanics
- RimWorld Weapons Guide — strategy game with similar mechanics
- Stellaris Weapons Guide — strategy game with similar mechanics
