Companions are vital to your success in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, forming the core of your warband. Discover their roles, recruitment strategies, and more below.

Why Companions Are Crucial in Bannerlord

You Can’t Build an Empire Alone

In Bannerlord, transitioning from a lone mercenary to a powerful ruler requires support. Companions are not just followers but unique characters with distinct skills, stats, and stories. Unlike standard recruits, they can govern settlements, lead armies, or manage critical tasks, enabling you to focus on strategy and conquest. These named allies are integral to scaling your ambitions, from managing resources to commanding independent warbands.

At their core, companions free you from micromanaging every detail. They can oversee logistics like food supplies, heal your troops, govern castles, or even lead raids as bandit lords. Their strength lies in versatility: a companion might fight alongside you one day and manage a town’s loyalty the next. Whether you need a quartermaster to keep your army fed or a governor to stabilize a newly conquered city, companions are the foundation of your growing clan.

Each companion comes with a unique title—like "The Scholar" or "Of the Wastes"—that hints at their skills and background. These details add depth, letting you craft a narrative around your warband, whether it’s a noble legion, a band of outlaws, or a mercenary crew. Your companions are more than hired swords; they’re the trusted lieutenants who shape your legacy.

Key Companion Roles Explained

Core Party Roles

While Bannerlord doesn’t explicitly categorize companions, their skills naturally align with specific roles. Players often identify types based on gameplay needs, such as healers, scouts, or commanders. Assigning companions to roles like Quartermaster, Surgeon, Scout, or Engineer leverages their strengths to keep your army efficient and effective.

These roles, accessible via the party menu, tie directly to skills that ensure your warband’s survival and mobility. Below are the primary roles and their benefits.

Quartermaster

A Quartermaster with high Steward skill manages food supplies, boosts morale, and increases party size. They’re essential for maintaining large armies during extended campaigns.

Best for:

　⚫︎ Sustaining large armies on long marches
　⚫︎ Maintaining morale during sieges
　⚫︎ Supporting multiple warbands

Top Titles:

　⚫︎ The Spicevendor – Excels in Steward and Trade
　⚫︎ Willowbark – Strong in Steward and Medicine
　⚫︎ The Wainwright – Versatile with Steward and Engineering

Surgeon

A Surgeon with high Medicine skill reduces companion deaths, speeds up healing, and preserves elite troops, ensuring your army recovers quickly after battles.

Best for:

　⚫︎ Preventing permanent companion losses
　⚫︎ Maintaining veteran troops
　⚫︎ Minimizing downtime between fights

Top Titles:

　⚫︎ The Surgeon – Dedicated healer
　⚫︎ Willowbark – High Medicine expertise
　⚫︎ The Healer – Balanced Medicine and Charm
　⚫︎ Bitterdraught – Solid Medicine and Trade

Scout

A Scout with high Scouting skill enhances party speed, improves enemy detection, and leverages terrain advantages in battles, perfect for outmaneuvering foes.

Best for:

　⚫︎ Evading stronger armies
　⚫︎ Tracking enemy movements
　⚫︎ Setting up ambushes

Top Titles:

　⚫︎ Of The Wastes – High Scouting focus
　⚫︎ The Grey Falcon – Balanced Scouting and Tactics
　⚫︎ The Ragged / The Fish – Reliable scouting support

Engineer

An Engineer with high Engineering skill accelerates siege preparations, strengthens defenses, and improves equipment durability, critical for both offense and defense.

Best for:

　⚫︎ Speeding up sieges
　⚫︎ Building siege engines efficiently
　⚫︎ Fortifying settlements

Top Titles:

　⚫︎ The Engineer – Siege specialist
　⚫︎ The Scholar – Medicine and Engineering hybrid
　⚫︎ The Wainwright – Engineering and Steward skills
　⚫︎ The Knowing – High intellect for governance

Common Companion Titles

Companions are often identified by their titles, which reflect their skill focus. Below is a quick guide to common titles and their specialties:

　⚫︎ The Accursed – Roguery, Two-Handed
　⚫︎ The Black – Roguery, Two-Handed, Bow
　⚫︎ The Boar – Tactics, Polearm
　⚫︎ The Bull – Tactics, Two-Handed, Polearm
　⚫︎ The Butcher – Roguery, One-Handed
　⚫︎ The Engineer – Engineering, Crossbow
　⚫︎ The Golden – Tactics
　⚫︎ The Healer – Medicine
　⚫︎ The Ragged – Bow, Scouting
　⚫︎ The Red – Two-Handed
　⚫︎ The Scholar – Medicine, Steward
　⚫︎ The Shieldmaiden – One-Handed, Athletics
　⚫︎ The Smith – Smithing, Two-Handed
　⚫︎ The Spicevendor – Trade, Crossbow
　⚫︎ The Swordsman – Two-Handed, Polearm
　⚫︎ The Swift – Roguery, Trade, Steward
　⚫︎ The Wanderer – Polearm, One-Handed
　⚫︎ Of the Hills – Scouting, Crossbow
　⚫︎ Of the Wastes – Scouting, Bow

Note: Companion stats and availability vary by playthrough. Always verify skills before recruiting.

Expanded Companion Roles

Governors and Clan Leaders

Beyond party roles, companions can serve as governors or clan leaders, managing settlements or leading independent warbands. Governors boost prosperity, loyalty, and defenses with skills like Steward, Charm, and Engineering, while clan leaders command armies to expand your influence.

Key skills for governors:

　⚫︎ Steward: Enhances food production and prosperity
　⚫︎ Charm and Leadership: Improves loyalty and influence
　⚫︎ Engineering: Speeds up construction
　⚫︎ Tactics and Roguery: Supports aggressive policies

Assign non-combat companions as governors to maximize their utility in safe roles, while combat-ready companions excel as clan leaders.

Specialized Roles

Companions can also take on niche roles like caravan leaders or raiders, generating income or disrupting enemies. Key skills include:

　⚫︎ Trade: Boosts caravan profits and safety
　⚫︎ Roguery: Ideal for raiding or illicit operations
　⚫︎ Tactics: Enables effective warband leadership

These roles allow companions to operate independently, extending your reach without constant oversight. A skilled caravan leader or raider can fund your campaigns or distract foes, adding strategic depth.

Recruiting Companions

Finding Companions in Taverns and the Encyclopedia

Companions are found in city taverns across Calradia. Visit a tavern to check for recruitable characters, identified by titles like "The Healer" or "The Engineer." Alternatively, use the Encyclopedia (N key) under the "Heroes" tab, filtering for Wanderers to view their stats and last known locations. Recruitment is straightforward: approach them in a tavern, pay their fee, and they’ll join your cause.

Choosing the Right Companions

Select companions based on your campaign phase. Early-game players need Surgeons and Scouts for survival and mobility. Mid-game players benefit from Stewards and combat leaders, while late-game players prioritize Engineering and Tactics for sieges. Your companion limit grows with Clan Tier, so plan strategically to fill skill gaps.

Assigning and Managing Companion Roles

Using the Party Roles Menu

Assign roles like Quartermaster, Surgeon, Scout, or Engineer via the party screen (L key). Each role requires specific skills, and only companions in your party can apply their bonuses. Delegating these tasks allows you to focus on leadership and combat, ensuring your army runs smoothly.

Clan Management

Assign governors through the settlement menu to boost prosperity and loyalty. For clan leaders, use the Clan screen’s "Parties" tab to create new warbands. Combat-focused companions suit party leadership, while skill-based companions thrive as governors.

Dismissing Companions

If a companion no longer fits your needs, dismiss them via the Party Menu by selecting “I no longer have need of your services.” They’ll leave permanently, taking their gear with them. Reassign any roles they held to maintain efficiency, but avoid dismissing valuable companions, as they’re irreplaceable.

The Future of Companions

Companions are the heart of your Bannerlord campaign, evolving from early-game allies to indispensable leaders. They carry your story through battles, governance, and strategy, shaping your legacy as a ruler.

The upcoming War Sails expansion introduces naval warfare, promising new roles for companions as ship captains and fleet commanders. With skills tailored for maritime campaigns, they’ll navigate storms, lead boarding parties, and manage fleets, adding depth to your empire’s story. Companions remain the backbone of your journey, whether on land or sea, turning your vision into a legend.