What's your favourite weapon loadout?

[Karl Power]

In my most recent playthrough I started as a mounted archer/polearm swinger/1h weapon girl. However I found myself not using ranged weapons much from the point when I led a little army or a formation of archers - aiming a bow costs too much time and narrows your vision too much when commanding. Therefore I dropped the bow.

The swinging polearm is ridiculously effective, but I find a thrusting lance more satisfying to use. Also, being able to use a shield has its advantages. Thus I ultimately switched to basically a European knight loadout.

I might switch to a foot soldier playthrough. Probably a 2h axe with its immense killing power will be first choice then. For fluff reasons I would also consider a pike.

What is your favourite loadout and why? What do you recommend for having fun?

[The Mau Corporation]

I'm also a lancer in every game. Its just too satisfying mastering that high speed face jab. I used to bow all the time too but lately javelins have been alot of fun, especially when that awesome perk is unlocked.

My recommendation is to just master something new, get uncomfortable and enjoy the learning curve.

[C4Warr10r]

Vlandian, with a Battanian twist. Naturally, the first weapon is the horse, which must be big, fast, and heavily-armored so it can simply run over any targets I miss. Next, a Voulge as a primary weapon, because it's both a lance and a polearm with incredible reach so I can clothesline opposing cavalry trying to deliver couched lance strikes, and smash wide swathes of infantry or archers.

But some of them have shields, and while the Voulge, especially if it's custom, can break those, a nice two-handed axe helps break through stubborn knots of shielded troops. From horseback, and swinging overhead, it can break shields in one shot with enough speed multiplier.

Finally, a fine crossbow, for all those situations where I either don't want to approach enemy troops just yet, can't get to them because they are on a wall, or I'm just too bored to be bothered. If we aren't doing a cavalry charge with glorious music, I'm probably bored. I hardly use the thing, but it's a good way to get skill points and level up.

Shields used to be my thing in the original game, but that was back when we had bastard swords and heavy maces that could crush through blocks. I could have a lance, a shield, and a badass two-hander that could also be wielded in one hand. Very flexible loadout, and Swadians didn't have to worry much about being hit to begin with, except through the eye-slit or neck, because of armor. Hence the shield that I sandwhiched myself with. ONe in front and back at all times.

Bannerlord is different. Armor works a lot more effectively, almost TOO effectively, so it's perfectly viable to just crush through enemies on horseback at top speed, waling away at them with one manner of vicious heavy weapon or other. Shield walls? Those only face one direction. Schiltron? Just jump over it. Once the enemy is facing the wrong direction, their formation is ready to be plowed into by tons of banner knights.

Granted, I could achieve the same effects with more shield, but that would be putting my men at more risk, and would make the game less fun for me. The cavalry charge is eternal, everything else is temporary!

Edit: lol. Cavalry girl finds thrusting lance more satisfying.

[Zorlond]

I usually end up 2H Mace (caving in helmets is so satisfying), Couch Lance (best defense from arrows, be in and out before they can even aim), and Crossbow (for when I'm feeling more relaxed and casual).

[Kevin]

The thrust polearms were pretty fun, but since the "everyone can block a heavy horse charge with a dagger patch", it is less so. thrust weapons in general under perform compared to swing since that patch. Arrows and bolts are still good since you can aim around a shield and you need a perk to block them.
Sadly the days of couching your lance and running through an enemy line in 1 charge are gone, since 1 guy with a shield or blocked weapon will stop you dead. Funny that charging through a line on a horse works fine if you don't use your weapon though.

[QbeX]

for field battles:
-mounted couched polearm (using rbm ai to curb mad blocking) at the very start when bareassed > 1h sword+ shield > bow
-when I'm around lvl 10 I switch 1h to 2h sword without a shield > bow > swinging polearm
-then when I'm past lvl 20 and start to kick ass and take names I just use whatever I feel like it, love 2h maces to destroy heavy plates (using mods for armour damage types) and javelins to dismount filthy cav and snipe lords
for sieges: 2h axe (makes quick work of the gates) and bow+2 quivers or triple javs (endgame impale perk is delicious for those dense crowds )

[Azunai]

A lance for field battles and a bastard sword + shield for sieges. Used in 1 hand with shield when climbing siege ladder or approaching a bunch of archers and swapping to twohanded when there are plenty of men around that need to be turned into corpses.

[Eternal President Uncle Slam]

Ranged bow is the best overall. The fact that a maxed out bowman can just shoot under enemies shields and one shot them makes javelins final perk irrelevant. More ammo, more range, less weight, higher accuracy, about the same fire rate, infinite ammo in sieges. I and many others I am sure have managed to solo massive armies with the bow. Take out all the archers and cav and all the infantry can do is seethe as you shoot under their pathetic little shields. Plus its got a perk that makes you take less damage from range attacks which is really the only threat to a mounted bowman.

Melee its got to be a bardiche axe and really any custom 2 handed mace. Mace is a little bit harder to land a hit with the head and does less damage(even against armor in most cases). I think the bardiche edges ahead because the damage is simply better even against the enemies the mace is supposed to excel against. Besides a vast majority of enemies are in ♥♥♥♥ tier armor, so its a bit silly to carry around a mace just to deal less damage against everyone. Both these weapons can annihilate hordes of tightly packed enemies because of their ability to hit multiple enemies. Then in duels they both have the "crush through" ability which allows you to kill enemies through their shields/block. This effect can even go through multiple enemies blocks at once. Its tricky to master because you have to make sure to make forward momentum on an overhead swing and you HAVE to land the hit with the head of the weapon(which is why the Bardiche is king imo). Once you master the axe and maces crush through attack you will never again groan in misery as the stupid militia man refuses to drop his shield.

So the best loadout imo is bow, 2 quivers, and a legendary bardiche axe. Not a single enemy in the game that will give you trouble. Cav you can just shoot their feet and one shot them while they charge at you, archers you can out shoot easily from the comfort of your steed, and shield walls have no answer to crush through and foot shots. I have used swinging polearms in the past, but they really are just weaker 2 handed axes/maces. I certainly hope no one actually is wasting precious loadout space on a thrust only polearm just for the couch ability... At least carry one that can be swung, thrust polearms are disgustingly bad outside of their one niche.

[Karl Power]

Yes the bow is probably king. It is a real weak point of the crossbow that it doesn't come with stacked bolt quivers. Also higher-tier crossbowmen tend to have a shield, so they only carry one quiver each.

I really need to learn crafting 2h maces, never tried them.

[Urmel]

4 very good shields from a save place on the battlefield,
and screaming my stupid soldiers to fight harder and better and why im paying them !?