Learn the skill values for Hired Crossbow units in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. Understand their strengths and weaknesses to effectively utilize them in your campaigns.
Alright, let's talk about the Hired Crossbow unit in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. These guys are your go-to for some serious ranged firepower, especially when you're just starting out or need to fill out your army with some decent archers without breaking the bank.
They're mercenaries, so you'll find them hanging around taverns in various towns. They're a step up from your basic militia archers, offering better accuracy and damage, which is crucial for softening up enemy formations before they even reach your lines, or for picking off dangerous targets like enemy lords or cavalry.
Hired Crossbow Skill Values:
| One Handed | Two Handed | Polearm | Bow | Crossbow | Throwing | Riding | Athletics |
| 140 | 70 | 60 | 80 | 140 | 50 | 30 | 120 |
As you can see from the table, their real strength lies in their Crossbow skill (140), which is maxed out. This means they hit hard and accurately with their crossbows. They also have a very respectable Athletics skill (120), which helps them stay alive and keep up with your army. While their other skills aren't as high, their specialization in crossbows is what makes them valuable.
- Positioning is Key: Always try to place them on high ground or behind your infantry. They're not heavily armored, so you don't want them getting swarmed.
- Protect Your Flanks: Use them to cover your flanks from charging cavalry or to pick off enemy skirmishers.
- Focus Fire: If you see a dangerous enemy unit (like a heavy cavalry charge or a powerful enemy hero), direct your Hired Crossbows to focus fire on them. Their high crossbow skill means they can take down threats quickly.
- Upgrade Path: While Hired Crossbows are great, remember they are a mercenary unit. As you progress, you'll want to look into recruiting and upgrading native faction units that eventually specialize into even more powerful crossbowmen or archers.
They might not be the absolute best troops in the game, but for their cost and availability, Hired Crossbows are a fantastic addition to any early to mid-game army in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. They provide reliable ranged support that can make a real difference in battles.
100% Human-Written. AI Fact-Checked. Community Verified. Learn how AntMag verifies content