Are you stuck trying to find which tyrannical, maniacal, murdering medieval kingdom is best for you? Well, my young warrior, this article is for you because today, I’ll show you the best factions in Warband and explain their ranks in detail, describing their strengths and weaknesses.
6. Kingdom of Vaegirs(Good)
Managed by King Yaroglek, the Vaegirs are the weakest faction on this list, but these hardy Slavs also have some strengths. The Vaegirs have powerful archers, Vaegir Marksmen, who have the fastest-firing and most accurate bows but they are less effective than Rhodok Sharpshooters (their main competition) in melee combat, possessing less health, armor, and striking power, meaning they will get mowed down if they don’t have a wall of infantry defending them. The Vaegir troops, including cavalry and infantry, are in general less armored, cheaper, and wield two-handed weapons, making them glass cannon damage dealers, effective against shield units, but weak against a strong cavalry charge or barrage of arrows. These units are also weak options in a siege scenario because once heavier units break in, they are slaughtered due to their inherent defensive weaknesses, putting them at the 6 spot. Who gave a bunch of Slavs two-handed axes and light armor and thought it was a good idea?
Strengths
- Strong archers who shoot the most projectiles per second in the game
- Inexpensive units, letting you build up your army quickly
- Two-handed weapons break shields and can slice swaths through opposing forces
Choose the Kingdom of Vaegirs if:
- Low on denars
- You want a strong base of archers to back up infantry
- You prioritize damage dealing over survivability
- You want to pretend to be an angry Russian
5. Khergit Khanate (Good)
The Khergits are a strange faction, as these Mongol copycats led by Sanjar Khan, seem like the obvious path to victory as history would suggest. Composed of only cavalry units, these guys can be absolutely deadly, if you control them, encircling the enemy and peppering them with arrows. For instance, the lightly armored Vaegirs can easily be destroyed with that strategy as their lack of shields leaves them vulnerable. Their cavalry units, Khergit Lancers, ride fast horses and use a polearm as well as a one-handed weapon and a shield. They can easily destroy infantry formations, but get overpowered when dismounted and are quickly overpowered by heavier infantry or cavalry in a siege, as they have lighter armor and weaker weapons and damage than other top-tier cavalry and top-tier infantry, which puts them at Rank 5. I’m sorry to make you roll in your grave, Genghis.
Strengths
- Amazing horse archers who can demolish you on the field
- Easy and quick to train
- Can encircle foes and cover them in arrows, destroying slow infantry and archers without sustaining damage
Choose the Khergit Knanate if:
- You want a quickly built, capable army
- You want field troops who will crush infantry and archers
- You prioritize maneuverability over survivability
- You think the Mongols are cool
4. Kingdom of Rhodoks(Good)
The Kingdom of Rhodoks is under the leadership of King Graveth. They are a formidable faction with powerful spearmen who can effectively counter cavalry charges, and they also possess incredibly potent crossbowmen capable of unleashing a barrage of bolts before an infantry charge on the battlefield. These guys, who want to be Italian, are also deadly in siege defense and offense, as their strong crossbowmen will snipe invaders and defenders like a Call of Duty quick scope specialist! However, their spearmen many times do not have shields and do not match up to stronger infantry, doing less damage and having less survivability, making them somewhat weak on the field, unless numerous or accompanied by Sharpshooters. They also do not have any cavalry, making them slower and less maneuverable, which puts them in the fourth spot.
Strengths
- Incredibly powerful crossbowmen
- Outstanding spearmen who will hold formation against cavalry
- Incredible siege defense and offense capability
Choose the Kingdom of Rhodoks if:
- You need a strong garrison to defend your castle
- You want to conquer castles, and FAST
- You need to stop pesky Swadian Knights from trampling your forces…
3. Kingdom of Nords (Great)
The Nords, led by none other than King Ragnar, are powerhouses because of their extremely capable Nord Huscarls. These raiding, skull-drinkers - pictured above - are the only tier 6 troop in the entire game, boasting heavy armor, sturdy shields, strong axes, high power strike, high health, and throwing weapons like axes or javelins that soften up their enemies before charge. They will defeat Rhodok Sergeants, though Vaegir Guards and Swadian Sergeants can get the upper hand as their weapons can break their shields. They even can take out some of the strongest cavalry in the game, the Swadian Knights, though cavalry is their main weakness as they can run down these Viking madmen. They also possess decent archers who have chainmail armor and two-handed axes, making them fierce in melee combat if needed. They are great besiegers and defenders as their shields and armor keep them safe and their barrage of throwing weapons kills or wounds many before they get in close. However, the Nords do possess no cavalry, which is a weak point, which makes them a slower, less maneuverable army and vulnerable to cavalry attacks on the field, putting them very solidly at the 3 spot.
Strengths
- Exceptionally powerful Nord Huscarls
- Strong archers capable in close combat and ranged combat
- Excellent at besieging and defending
Choose the Kingdom of Nords if:
- You want an impenetrable garrison
- You want a siege army that packs a Viking punch
- You want sturdy archers who can hold their own in melee combat
- You want to drink from the skulls of your enemies!
2. Sarranid Sultanate (Great)
The Sarranids, led by Sultan Hakim, are a versatile faction that blend Vaegir and Swadian influence to create a faction with powerful cavalry that knock enemies unconscious, OK infantry which are lightly armored and have throwing weapons, and archers who are powerhouses in melee but weaker in their primary role as archers. Overall, Sarranid infantry bear heavier armor and shields than the Vaegirs and use projectiles to soften enemies but they deal less damage and have less health than other infantry, making them weak when engaged in close-quarters combat. Their archers are also durable, and excellent in a melee battle, but can only fire close range, and shoot far fewer arrows because they have slower War Bows. They are more heavily armored than their Vaegir counterparts though, making them tough to take down and solid in a defensive siege. However, the Sarranid Mamluke is really what makes them powerful, as they have exceptional riding skills, making them fast and maneuverable on their heavily armored horses, and their blunt weapons ignore armor and knock enemies out, giving you prisoners which can easily fill your purse with denars. The Sarranid Mamluke’s ability to maneuver freight train charges against enemies (while securing you lots of prisoners…) as well as their versatility with skirmishing puts them firmly at the 2 spot.
Strengths
- Very strong cavalry who knock enemies out and ride fast and maneuver well on heavily armored horses
- Versatile skirmishing ability which allows the Sarranids to soften foes before charging in
- Sturdy archers who can stand their ground against tough infantry
Choose the Sarranid Sultanate if:
- You need money, and fast
- You want a versatile army that will hobble your enemies before a charge
- You need durable archers for siege defense or offense
- You need very strong cavalry that will absolutely decimate enemy armies
1. Kingdom of Swadia(best)
Finally, we’ve reached the number one spot, and I’m getting a little emotional because the Swadians are my favorite faction to join and use in battle. These butter-loving Swadians have exceptionally powerful Swadian Knights, who bear heavy armor, heavily armored horses, and have maces and shields, that absolutely crush all other units, (besides Mamlukes, who can face up to them), as well as powerful, well-armored infantry who are much stronger than Vaegir Guards and can crush through a shield wall with their morningstars, and OK crossbowmen who are weaker than their Rhodok counterparts. The combination of powerful cavalry who can clean up ranks of infantry, archers, and even cavalry and fierce infantry who can back them up and demolish the shields of troops like the powerful Nord Huscarl makes them powerful on the field and on siege offense and defense. They even sometimes have better armor than their Nordic counterparts. Their glaring weakness is their crossbowmen who do less damage and have less health than their Rhodok counterparts, but this is easily remedied by simply recruiting Rhodok Sharpshooters instead. Overall, the Swadians are the best faction as their Knights and Sergeants blow through enemy lines, be it on the field or during siege defense or offense. I might be buttering these guys up(hah, get it?), but they are the real deal!
Strengths
- Exceptionally powerful cavalry who will absolutely wreak havoc on enemy lines, crushing and disrupting formations
- Durable infantry who can break shields and destroy enemies, including Huscarls
- Incredible on defense and offense
Join the Kingdom of Swadia if:
- You need shock cavalry that will decimate your enemies and disrupt formation
- You want to break down pesky shield walls
- You need a capable garrison as well as a powerful offense
- You are obsessed with butter
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