
Companions serve as the lifeblood of your Bannerlord warband. Discover their diverse roles, master recruitment strategies, and optimize their potential with this comprehensive guide.
The Critical Role of Bannerlord Companions
Why Solo Conquest Is Impossible

Bannerlord quickly teaches aspiring conquerors that ascending from mercenary to monarch requires capable allies. While you may begin as a lone warrior, your ambitions will soon exceed what any individual can manage. Enter companions - the game's indispensable system for specialization and delegated leadership. These aren't generic troops but unique individuals with distinct skills, backgrounds, and growth potential who can govern settlements, command armies, or oversee crucial aspects of your expanding faction.
Decoding Companion Specializations
Essential Party Roles

While Bannerlord doesn't formally categorize companions, players have identified key functional roles based on skill sets and practical applications. These classifications help maximize each companion's strategic value during your campaign.
Quartermaster
Your Quartermaster manages crucial logistics - party morale, food supplies, and unit cohesion. A skilled Steward expands your force capacity while maintaining stability during prolonged campaigns.
Optimal candidates include:
・The Spicevendor (Steward/Trade hybrid)
・Willowbark (Steward/Medicine balanced)
・The Wainwright (Engineering/Steward flexible)
Key Companion Titles and Their Specialties

Companion titles offer immediate insight into their capabilities. Some noteworthy examples:
・The Engineer: Siege specialists with crossbow proficiency
・The Healer: Primary medical support with high Medicine skill
・Of the Wastes: Excellent scouts for reconnaissance operations
Advanced Companion Utilization
Settlement Management Specialists

As your influence grows, companions transition from battlefield assets to administrative leaders. Strategic governor assignments can dramatically improve settlement productivity through:
・Enhanced Stewards for economic management
・Charismatic leaders to boost loyalty
・Engineering specialists for construction projects
The Companion Recruitment Process
Finding Elite Talent

Recruiting top-tier companions requires both strategy and persistence. Key methods include:
・Systematic tavern visits across major cities
・Using the Encyclopedia's hero tracking feature
・Prioritizing candidates whose skills match your current campaign phase
The Evolving Future of Companions

With the anticipated War Sails expansion, companions will gain new maritime roles, transforming from land-based officers to naval commanders. This evolution promises deeper strategic possibilities as you build fleets and conquer coastal territories.