Mount And Blade II: Bannerlord - 10 Best Cavalry Units (2024)

Cavalry units are one of the four types of units in Mount And Blade II: Bannerlord. They are troops mounted on horseback who excel in charging through enemy lines and dealing massive damage very quickly. Cavalry units are best when used in open planes. While they are susceptible to archers, they will be able to build up speed and deal a high amount of damage to the enemies they run through.

Related:

The best counter to a cavalry charge is to use your own mounted troops, often leading to the beginnings of battles being mounted units fighting before moving to the infantry. Having a strong cavalry line not only protects your infantry but can be the spear to break your enemy.

10 Battanian Mounted Skirmisher

Like many of the Battanian forces, these Mounted Skirmishers' comes with throwing javelins, making them more versatile than other cavalry units. These units only come with a one-handed sword and shield, making them fall off in the charge attack.

Normally swords are best used to fight other mounted units when mobility is limited. These Skirmishers are best used as a defensive cavalry unit and more effective at fighting off a charge than commencing one themselves.

9 Jawwal Bedouin

Jawwal Bedouin are a minor faction unit, meaning they can only be recruited by defeating them and hiring prisoners. While they do not excel in any one ability, mercenary troops like these tend to be a bit cheaper on their daily wage.

They also are able to throw javelins from horseback, making them very effective for a short time at the start of the battle. Their lack of decent armor does guarantee they won't survive long through combat.

8 Valandian Vanguard

Fitting to their name, these units are perfect for charging through enemies and being the frontline of your army. While their spear may not hold up against other high-end cavalry units, their stats make these units very viable.

Related:

They are outfitted with very heavy armor, heavier than most Valandian infantry units. Should these cavalry units meet the enemy in a head-on charge, they have a higher chance of surviving the initial hit and fighting on.

7 Strugian Horse Raider

The Strugian Horse Raider has a spear making their charges very effective. What makes the Horse Raider further stand out is their powerful axe. Cavalry units heavily suffer from standing still and fighting with one-handed weapons, and the Raiders take advantage of that weakness.

These Horse Raiders also have javelins to throw too, making them very powerful cavalry units should a charge be broken, and chaos be erupting.

6 Khuzait Heavy Lancer

The Khuzait are known for their mounted units, so it would only make sense that their higher-end cavalry come with high riding skills. This higher skill helps them maneuver and fight much more efficiently than most other cavalry units.

Much of their other stats and gear are relatively generic for top-tier cavalry units. For a tier 5 unit, they have impressive riding skills and, when used properly, can outplay all enemies of this tier and even some stronger ones.

5 Imperial Cataphract

These Cataphracts come with heavy armor and a polearm and shield. These Empire cavalry units excel in fighting other mounted units. The Empire is located close to the Khuzait on the world map, which dominate with mounted armies, and the Cataphract keeps the empire alive.

These heavily armored units greatly outclass most other mounted units in survivability. Their heavy armor keeps them alive much longer than most other mounted units, helping them be equal to at least opponent's three mounted units.

4 Aserai Vanguard Faris

The Vanguard Faris stands out by their additional javelin and surprisingly durable shield. Their shield may not seem as big and armored as others in the game, but it has surprisingly high durability, perfect for intense enemy polearm charges or ridging towards archer lines.

Related:

The javelin is perfect for short strafe runs on nearby enemies after the initial charge. After losing momentum, cavalry units suffer from weaker attacks. These javelins can be thrown at nearby enemies for surprisingly high amounts of damage.

While the Valandians only have a few mounted troops to choose from, the Valandian Banner Knight is one of the best. Their incredibly high polearm skill allows them to wield their already strong lance with deadly efficiency.

The Banner Knight's horse comes heavily armored along with its rider to make sure both stay up during battle. Should it come to closer combat, the Banner Knight's one-handed sword does very high damage even without a charge bonus.

2 Strugian Druhinik Champion

Like many other Strugian units, their cavalry is simply heavily armored beasts that devastate your enemy. These units have a shockingly good armor rating across the board and a shield that is nearly unbreakable.

Many cavalry units lose their effectiveness when switching to their one-handed weapon. These units come equipped with a powerful one-handed sword and the skill to use it. Should these units be knocked off their horse, they just become one of the best infantry units instead.

1 Imperial Elite Cataphract

The Elite Cataphract is easily one of the best units in the game. They have one of the highest armor ratings of a troop and incredibly high skills for polearms, one-handed, and riding. Their lance is powerful enough to stop just about any troop dead in their tracks.

Their shield is one of the most durable in the game, and their horse is just as well protected. These units not only can survive any fight but will also take down dozens of enemies before they fall.

Next: