Generally the rule is the heavier the better, but it slows you down more. Crossbows are also rare and overpriced in the game’s current, broken economy.Īrmor is a matter of personal preference. Crossbows are deadly, and you can swap them for a bow, but they can’t be used mounted without a perk. You’ll notice we’ve left off crossbows entirely. It’s tricky to master this setup, but with practice, it’s the most powerful set of weapons on the battlefield since the AI struggles to keep up with a skirmishing player. The lance picks off enemy infantry in ride-by attacks and the sword defends you against enemy cavalry who get in close. It relies on speed for defense and makes room for time to spend commanding troops. This setup is about harassing the enemy at range and occasionally charging.

The Mongol: Bow and arrows, lance, and sword

Those doing ride-by cavalry charges will find some use for a greatsword or polearm, but most new players should stay away. With practice you can get around this in 1v1 combat, but it’s near-impossible once you’re fighting more than two or three enemies. Big weapons are a bit of a, er, handful for new players, because they have to actively block every stroke coming their way. More advanced setups may remove a shield entirely, or include two-handed weapons. Plus, weight doesn’t matter when you’re on a horse. You could use throwing axes instead of javelins, but javelins hit harder have a better range. If you prefer to melee from horseback, this loadout helps you harass enemies, shock charge troop formations, and wade into the midst of the action. The major downside here is that you only get three or four shots with throwing weapons, and they're harder to land hits with.Ĭavalry: Sword, shield, spear or lance, and javelins Maces are extra effective against heavy armor and can knock enemies down if you hit hard enough. Versatile: Sword, axe or mace, shield, and thrown weaponĬarrying a secondary one-handed weapon means sacrificing your bow, but you get something in return: Axes do bonus damage to break enemy shields, which is great for dueling other Heroes.

Mount and blade start