Riding into a battle atop a trusty steed is always one of the most exciting moments in the Mount and Blade series. This makes sense considering the word ‘mount’ is the first part of the series titles. Horse Armor in Bannerlord has its share of mount types. Introducing several more in the past two updates and adding to the lowly tier-1 Sumpter Horses up to the expedient tier-3 Sturgian Hunters.
Among these mounts, there are several special horse types that stand out; these are the tier-4s, the best of the best, and the Secretariats of their respective factions. Unlike the others, Tier-4s are rarely available in the game’s shops; instead, you must win them as tournament prizes or receive them from other lords, either through marriage, trading, or the spoils of battle. Each of these horses has its own strengths according to the game’s attributes. Also, some stand out even among these special animals.
In this article, we break down the best horses in Bannerlord. To cover all the bases related to mounted warfare, we also cover the best horse armor in Bannerlord. To place stop these majestic beasts, so you can truly become the leader of your own stampede.
Table of Contents
Bannerlord’s Best Horses
There are many different varieties of the “best horse” in Bannerlord. Each of these horses excels at something specific.
Best Horse For Power and Toughness
The best horse for power and toughness in Bannerlord is called the Crossian. This is the game’s equivalent to Warband’s “Pureblood” horses, and they are the ultimate war horse.
Interestingly enough, the Crossian is only a tier-3 horse. This means it’s not one of the aforementioned ‘elites’, likely because it has subpar speed (48 compared to the max of 82), and only decent maneuverability (66).
One look at its charge rating (15, highest) and its hit points (300, highest). Then, you’ll understand why this tank has a hard time dancing around. For a heavily armored knight who needs a tough mount to bulldoze foes, this is the one.
Best Horse for Speed and Agility
This was a tough call between the speed of the Aserai ‘Nahasawi’ (68) and the maneuver rating of the Aserai ‘Asaligat’ (82), but we went with the option that’s somewhere between both attributes. The Battanian Thoroughbred has a speed rating (66) and maneuver rating (76), which strikes a great balance between the two highest. There really isn’t much difference between 66 and 68 speeds in the open field, and the maneuver rating of the Asaligat is offset by its much lower speed (57).
These horses are good for horse archers who like to flank their opponents instead of charging them head-on. You’ll have to make sure to put points into your ranged skill though.
Most Balanced Mount in Bannerlord
Considering all 5 of the main attributes for mounts. The most balanced Horse Armor in Bannerlord is the Destrier found in Imperial lands. The term ‘most balanced’ doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best overall. But, that none of its attributes can be considered weaknesses like the Cossian’s speed or the Aserai Horse’s low charge and hit point ratings. The Destrier has the second-highest charge rating (13), a good amount of hit points (250), and top four-speed (60). And, decent maneuverability for a horse of its size (60). This horse is for anyone who really wants a reliable mount that does everything well.
Honorable Mention: The Best Camel in Bannerlord
For you desert riders who want to ride higher in the saddle, TaleWorlds recently added a new ‘war camel’ archetype called the Husnphree to the mix. Presumably named for the Aserai city of Husn Fulq. This is a very rare animal that will pop up as a tournament prize or from the conquest of Aserai lords. You can also get one by marrying into a prominent Aserai family. But, check to see if your betrothed is riding one first. It’s relatively slow (48 speed), and doesn’t maneuver that well (69), but its charge rating (15, highest) and hit-points (290, second-highest) place it right near the Crossian in terms of power. Good luck finding one, though. You can spend decades in a given playthrough and never see a single Husnphree. Making it a true prize for mount collectors.
Best Horse Armor in Bannerlord
The best horse armor in Bannerlord, also called ‘harness’ considers the strength of the armor. Of course, but also the strength-to-weight ratio, since heavier armor can slow down the horse just like the armor worn by humans. For that, we break the best armor in Bannerlord down into two categories: the best pure armor and the most balanced.
The Best Pure Horse Armor in Bannerlord
The best horse armor in Bannerlord is the Imperial Scale Barding found in various shops in the Empire cities. This is a chain barding that provides 75 armor, which would protect any mount from spears and arrows as you charge. Putting this armor on top of a Destier would create a truly formidable tank. It does have a weight of 30, logically the heaviest of all horse armors, so expect your horse’s speed to take a hit as a result.
Paired with a strong weapon, this will make you dangerous on the battlefield.
The next one down the list is the Mail and Plate Barding which has less armor (68), but is also lighter (26.8 wt), but not so light that it fits the bill for the next category.
The most balanced horse armor in Bannerlord
The Half Scale Barding provides a good amount of armor (60) for any light cavalry and weighs much less than the Imperial Scale Barding (17 wt). This would be the ideal armor for a horse archer riding a mount with high maneuverability like the Battanian Thoroughbred, so you can beat more heavily-armored steeds to the outside of the high ground in the conflict.
