A new update has been released for Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord and brings with it a lot of new content. One of these is the introduction of Seaborne Village Raids.
This new feature brings the brutal coastal assault tactics of the Viking era to both the Campaign and Mission gameplay. With this, players, along with AI lords, are now able to launch or defend raids on coastal settlements directly from the sea or rivers. However, they'll need shallow draft ships and a crew of at least 15 troops. Village militia assesses the balance of power and either stand and fight. That means it can trigger a seaborne village raid mission or yield and thus allow looting to begin immediately.
Overall, the feature deepens naval strategy, increases lord activity at sea, and introduces new fleet considerations that add fresh layers to campaign planning.
Bring on the Raid
The addition of naval raids expands not only the strategic aspect of the game but also the immersive layers. On the campaign map, it serves as a new way to disrupt the enemy economy and allow players and nobles to strike coastal settlements directly from the sea or by navigating rivers. It also contributes to a stronger naval presence among lords and thus makes the sea feel more active and contested.
The raids though aren't limited to the campaign layer. Once underway, they transition into the mission in one of the new amphibious raid scenes. Ships approach from the sea or river, landing on beaches and in shallow waters. From there, the warband disembarks and pushes inland to meet defenders scrambling to respond.
Seaborne raids also introduce new strategic considerations. Fleet composition is now of greater importance as naval raids require shallow-draft ships. At the same time, attacking from the sea allows players to more easily evade responding enemy lords. This opens up new tactical opportunities and challenges.
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is a strategy and action RPG that offers a vast medieval sandbox where players get to create a character and engage in diplomacy, craft, trade, and conquer new lands. For the PC, Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is available on Steam.