Mount and Blade 2 Bannerlord: How to attack castles and cities with the sieges? Mount and Blade 2 guide, tips
Wars in Mount and Blade 2 Bannerlord often end with attacks on castles and towns. On this page, we describe what besieging or defense looks like, and we suggest how to successfully attack towns and castles.
Last update: 03 November 2022
Sieges in Mount and Blade 2 Bannerlord are necessary if you want to develop the faction to which you belong, or if you want to strengthen your own kingdom. Whatever the cause, the basic elements of each siege are the same. On this page of our guide you will learn how to attack cities and castles and how to prepare for a siege. You'll also find some general advice and tips to make your every siege much easier to play.
How to attack a city or castle?
First of all, you can only besiege enemy cities and castles. That means you need to have a declared war against the faction to which the city or castle belongs to. If this condition is met, then launching a siege is simple - just travel to the chosen city or castle and choose the option of Besiege the town / Besiege the castle.
How to prepare for a siege?
When the siege begins, the construction of the camp begins - you will see the Building Siege Camp progress bar on the screen. Remember that other lords are active during this time, so they can come with reinforcements to the attacked town. During the construction of the camp it is worth building at least one siege machine - this will definitely make the siege easier. To build a siege machine, click on one of the blue squares in front of the castle or city. You have to make a choice, select one of the following options:
- Siege machines for attacking enemy units: Ballista, Fire ballista, Onagers, Fire onagers.
- Siege machines that make it easier to get inside: Trebuchets (destroys walls), Siege tower (allows you to get onto the walls), Rams (destroys gate).
The duration of the siege machine construction process depends on the Engineering skill of your hero or a clan member who has been assigned the role of Engineer. With low level of this skill, construction will take a very long time. In addition, if enemies also possess siege machines, they can destroy your machines even before the siege begins. Due to the long construction time of siege machines, it is also worth ensuring an adequate supply of food for your units.
Even if you can't build a siege machine, you can take part in the siege. In any Siege you will always receive ladders and barricades (ranged units can hide behind them). It's more difficult to conquer the walls with the ladders, but it's possible - you have to reckon with bigger losses of your soldiers.
How to effectively carry out a siege?
Each siege is different and depends on the size of the defending and attacking armies or available siege machines. However, it is worth mentioning a few tips that will work in any siege in Mount and Blade 2 Bannerlord:
- Ladders automatically appear under enemy walls. If your units get close to them, the ladders will start to set up against the walls. Remember, that enemies can knock over the ladders - then it is necessary to set them up again (which will also start automatically).
- The Siege Tower and Rams will be heading towards their targets without your participation. Your units will automatically push the siege tower into the walls and the battering ram into the enemy gate. In addition, your remaining units will automatically go to the siege tower set against the wall and to the gate destroyed by the battering ram - the only exception may occur if your give them other orders.
- Other siege machines (Ballista, Fire ballista, Onagers, Fire onagers) will also be automatically operated. However, in this case you can take command of a particular machine and fire at the enemy on your own.
- Remember that during a siege, you can command units, just like in a regular battle. Sometimes it is worthwhile, for example, to move the shooters in a different location in order to better support the infantry entering the walls.
- It's very important that you keep helping your soldiers. You need to be able to move smoothly on the battlefield and support units in the most difficult moments. It's worth to equip yourself with a bow or crossbow - this will make it easier for your soldiers to break into the walls by wiping out ranged enemy units. After getting to the walls or breaking through the gate, you also should actively participate in the siege. It's a good idea to get to the towers where you can get rid of ranged enemy units and units that control enemy siege machines.