Characters | Lists The Banner Saga Guide

Name (class)

How they join the party

Special abilities

Alette (eagle eye)

Joins automatically (2nd chapter)

Active skill called Thread the Needle lets you attack all characters on the line of shot. Unfortunately you can also harm your allies so you won't use it as often as you'd like to. Passive skill called Puncture lets you increase damage if the archer hasn't moved.

Bersi (warhawk)

Joins automatically (3rd chapter).

Tempest (active) lets you attack several enemies near Bersi but you must be careful because it can hurt allies. Heavy Impact (passive) deals (a little) damage to units standing close to the attacked enemies.

Egil (raidmaster)

Joins automatically (2nd chapter).

Stone Wall (active) is purely defensive because Egil will "absorb" attacks (to a certain point). Shield Wall (passive) lets you increase defence when he stands close to an ally.

Eirik (warden)

Joins automatically in the beginning of the game.

Rally (active) is a supporting skill that restores a few willpower points for a selected ally. When it's maxed out, it regenerates 6 points of willpower. Light Step (passive) lets Eirik walk through tiles occupied by allies.

Ekkill (grudgewielder)

Ekkill may join the party in the 4th or 6th chapter if you let him.

Guts (active) knocks back all enemies around Ekkill. Shield Wall (passive) increases defence when he stands close to an ally.

Eyvind (mender)

Joins automatically (5th chapter)

Arc Lightning (active) is one of the most powerful attacks in the game. It takes a few points of strength from one or several enemies even if their armor is full. Mend (active) restores armor points of allies.

Fasolt (provoker)

Joins automatically (3rd chapter)

Malice (active) makes the enemies attack Fasolt. It's really useful when someone from your party has been damaged. Return the Favor (passive) takes 1 point of armor from every enemy that attacks Fasolt.

Griss (strongarm)

Joins automatically (3rd chapter).

Battering Ram (active) isn't really useful. It knocks an enemy back and takes one or several armor points from him. Return the Favor (passive) takes 1 point of armor from every enemy that attacks Griss.

Gunnulf (warhawk)

Joins automatically in the beginning of the game.

Tempest (active) attacks several enemies close to Gunnulf but you have to be careful because it may also harm your allies. Heavy Impact (passive) deals (a little) damage to opponents close to attacked enemy.

Hakon (warmaster)

Joins automatically in the beginning of the game.

Sundering Impact (active) lets you weaken a few enemies close by. Heavy Impact (passive) deals (a little) damage to opponents close to attacked enemy.

Hogun (thrasher)

Hogun and Mogun may join the party when you travel to Frostvellr (2nd chapter) but only if you join their side and fight the villagers.

Bloody Fail (active) is incredibly useful (especially when upgraded), it strikes the enemy with a series of hits that weaken both strength and armor. Shield Wall (passive) increases defence when he stands close to an ally.

Iver (strongarm)

Joins automatically (2nd chapter).

Battering Ram (active) isn't really useful. It knocks an enemy back and takes one or several armor points from him. Heavy Impact (passive) deals (a little) damage to opponents close to attacked enemy.

Krumr (warleader)

Joins automatically when you reach Wyrmtoe (4th chapter).

Forge Ahead (active) is not very helpful, it makes the turn of a selected ally close to Krumr come faster. Heavy Impact (passive) deals (a little) damage to opponents close to attacked enemy.

Ludin (spearmaster)

Joins automatically in the beginning of the game.

Impale (active) is very useful. It lets you pierce an enemy with Ludin's spear and knock them back while dealing damage. Embolden (passive) makes Ludin and nearby allies get one point of willpower every time he kills someone.

Mogr (shieldmaster)

Joins automatically in the beginning of the game.

Bring the Pain (active) is useful when you want to attack the enemies' armor points. Return the Favor (passive) takes 1 point of armor from every enemy that attacks Mogr.

Mogun (thrasher)

Hogun and Mogun may join the party when you travel to Frostvellr (2nd chapter) but only if you join their side and fight the villagers.

Bloody Fail (active) is incredibly useful (especially when upgraded), it strikes the enemy with a series of hits that weaken both strength and armor. Shield Wall (passive) increases defence when he stands close to an ally.

Nid (bowmaster)

Nid may join the party in the 6th chapter (when you travel to Sigrholm) but only if you let Oddleif train women from the caravan.

Bird of Prey (active) is very useful, it increases the range of attack and makes every attack successful. Puncture (passive) lets you increase damage if the archer hasn't moved.

Oddleif (skystriker)

Joins automatically (2nd chapter).

Rain of Arrows (active) lets you create traps which will deal damage and stop the enemy when they walk on them. It's not very useful, especially on more open battlefields. Puncture (passive) lets you increase damage if the archer hasn't moved.

Onef (backbiter)

Onef may join in the 4th chapter if you let him.

Run Through (active) is quite useful, it lets you perform a charge that deals damage to one or several enemies (if they stand on tiles on the path of charge). Shield Wall (passive) increases defence when he stands close to an ally.

Rook (hunter)

Joins automatically (2nd chapter).

Mark Prey (passive) is quite useful, it lets you attack a mark enemy by every ally in range of the attack. Light Step (passive) lets Rook walk through tiles occupied by allies.

Shieldbanger

Joins automatically in the beginning of the game.

Return a Favor (passive) - A character who attacks a shieldbanger loses 1 point of armor for each attack he performs.

Sigbjorn (warhawk)

May join the party if you decide to help the villagers of Reynivik (6th chapter).

Tempest (active) attacks several enemies close to Sigbjorn but you have to be careful because it may also harm your allies. Heavy Impact (passive) deals (a little) damage to opponents close to attacked enemy.

Valgard (raidmaster)

Joins automatically in the beginning of the game.

Stone Wall (active) is purely defensive because Valgard will "absorb" attacks (to a certain point). Shield Wall (passive) lets you increase defence when he stands close to an ally.

Yrsa (siege archer)

Joins automatically (3rd chapter).

Slag and Burn (active) is very helpful because it lets you set a part of the battlefield on fire. All characters who step on these tiles will be damaged (strength bar). Puncture (passive) lets you increase damage if the archer hasn't moved.