Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord will have players fighting massive armies which will often lead to the deaths of hundreds of troops on both sides. When a soldier from the opposing army falls in battle, there is a chance they can be claimed as a prisoner after the battle.
There are a few things that can be done with prisoners, and it is recommended to always claim prisoners when you can up to the maximum amount your party can hold. The rewards for claiming prisoners are directly tied to the tier of that soldier, making it important to take the strongest soldiers and lords first.
Mount & Blade 2 Bannerlord: The Best Companions
Finding the right companion is incredibly important to not only take on the burden in the game but to have someone there to save the player.
How To Get Prisoners In Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord
Your total prisoner count is determined by:
- +10 base value
- +2 for every party member
After finishing a battle, you'll get the chance to talk to any lord from the opposing side that you just defeated. While they can be set free, it's in your best interest to always take these lords prisoner. Next, you'll get the screen where you can recruit any troops from the army who wish to join you and take any prisoners from the section below.
In the bottom right of your screen will be the maximum amount of prisoners your party can hold, and going over will lead to some prisoners escaping. After a lord's health regenerates a bit, they are also able to escape from your party. Regular soldiers will stay prisoners until you choose what to do with them.
Mount and Blade 2 Bannerlord: 10 Best Units To Recruit
Here are the units that players should be turning their eyes to in Mount and Blade 2 Bannerlord.
How To Sell Prisoners In Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord
To sell a prisoner, head to the nearest city that has a Tavern. In the tavern menu, there will be the options to, "Ransom your prisoners" or, "Choose the prisoners to be ransomed". The amount of money earned by ransoming a soldier is determined by their tier, with higher-tier soldiers being sold for a lot more than recruits. Lords can also be sold for more than a dozen elite soldiers, but this will still lead to them escaping and rejoining their faction after just a few short days.
Holding onto a lord for a few days will also lead to a courier arriving with a ransom for the lord, and it will often be for more than they are sold for, but will also lead to them rejoining a war much quicker. Lords can also be executed, but the ramifications for this may be more than you want to deal with.
How To Recruit & Donate Prisoners In Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord
As prisoners stay in your party, they will eventually be able to be recruited for free. The amount of time it takes for a prisoner to be recruited varies from soldier to soldier slightly, with it also taking higher-tier units much longer to be recruited. A list of your prisoners can be found at the bottom of your party menu, with a small yellow icon appearing next to the number of that unit when they are ready to be recruited.
Prisoners can also be donated to the dungeon in a castle or city of your faction for influence. The reward for influence is determined by the tier of the soldier, but either way, the total return of influence with this method is fairly low.
Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord
- Released
- October 25, 2022
- Developer(s)
- TaleWorlds Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- TaleWorlds Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Strategy