How BAD Is The Vlandian Sergeant? Bannerlord Infantry Units Guide

This is a 1.8. Bannerlord in Depth Analysis of the Main Infantryman of Vlandia AKA Vlandian Sergeant.
This video is part of a Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Playlist where we analyze each unit not only based on their equipment but also on statistics taken after intensive testings.
The Data will be trimmed down and showcased both throughout the video and at the end to allow the viewer to know as much as possible about the unit in question.
A score will also be provided at the end based on Lyon’s opinion, this score shouldn’t be taken as hard evidence, as different playstyles may impact the way viewers evaluate units.
In this here video we are going to talk about The Vlandian Sergeant.
Although one of the most stylish units to ever walk the Calradian lands this unit is never regarded across the community as a great or terrible infantrymen. How is this unit holding up in patch 1.8 ?
And remember, criticism and constructive feedback are always appreciated.

[@MilitaryBuff]

Vlandian sergeant now has decent armour 50 body in fact!! All sergeants now have scale pauldrons as well as white mail hauberk. So now it is a decent melee unit!!

[@tequilasunsetus8847]

Great video! As for the Sergeant's spear: AI is really bad at using a spear of this length in close combat, but if you put the Sergeants on the first line, they will be able to use the spear as a pike. And they do a good job of stopping cavalry attacking head-on, plus they can at least do something in close combat, unlike pikemen, who cope poorly with their task of stopping cavalry. I also conducted some tests myself and the sergeants, along with the Voulgiers, do a very good job with enemy cavalry. Sergeants slow down the cavalry with their spears, and those who still made their way through the wall of spears get hit by a powerful Voulge(Although this was relevant for version 1.7.2. In 1.8.0, the AI behaves strangely and sometimes cannot fight normally at all.)

[@LyonExodus]

They weren't terrible at shocking Cav charges, but after that they couldn't do much. in the case of the Voulgiers they are another troop that got badly indirectly "nerfed" but that's a topic for another video. There is a solution to Vlandian infantry and it's quite a good one but the Ai behavior is not working correctly in 1.8. compared to previous versions

[@wheem8542]

While the body armor is a bit weak compared to other T5 infantry, I've actually seen really solid overall performance from Vlandian Sergeants - both in campaign and custom battles. In fact, they seem to be one of the better units at dealing with other high tier footmen. The spear/lance AI is certainly a problem, both for infantry and cavalry, but the Sergeants can still do OK with theirs if they're holding position and brace them against a cavalry charge.

[@LyonExodus]

You are not wrong since the Serageant are the 2nd best at dealing with T5 across shielded infantry. But, there's a big but. Have you ever encountered more than 50 T5 infnatry units in an enemy army? In vanilla that happens very rarely and the tradeoof of them being the 3rd worst at dealing with lower tiers is just not worth it. Also you have to take into account that a unit like an Axeman or Aserai Vet. can be way more effective against T0 to T4 while bringing projectiles with them in case you have to use them (like making a circle formation move). That's why a unit like the Oatshworn recieved an Higer score despite ranking 7th, versatility.

[@Aerational]

In captain they are a very strong melee unit.

[@chaiseschraier95]

Weirdly enough they are the best and most survivable infantry I’ve had

[@seansheridan5141]

I'm surprised at the results! I usually pick vlandia as my faction and try to use their units.

[@LyonExodus]

Yep. Vlandia got hit by a truck in 1.8. In the case of the Sergeants the redction DMG to the maces made their best template weaker and the improvement to armor was a nerf since they had the lowest value out of all Infantry. So everyone else basically got better while they stayed roughly in the same spot.

[@DestroyerOfOgis]

Vlandia massive L

[@subermario]

I'm a Sturgian fanboy so I love my Heavy Axemen. I wonder if Taleworlds is aware of these problems with the AI using certain weapons. I mean they surely have some data that compares the different units statistically and balance accordingly. Or they just have them using certain weapons for purely artistic flavor..

[@LyonExodus]

TW hasn't shown to be very interest in balance about this aspect of the game. Although i hope my videos did help them in fixing some of the issues of patch 1.8.

[@demoulius1529]

The white tabard is one of my favourite looking armors. It looks SOOOOO good! Shame the sergeanrts are crap tho :(

[@liviubostan7229]

Vlandian infantry is a glass cannon. Their weapons are incredible,fast and hard hitting but their armour...let's just put them in shield formation and engage... One sneeze from the weakest Fian will obliterate the strongest Vlandian away! Please look at Heavy Axemen and Heavy Spearmen from Sturgia very soon as I've seen some niche results.

[@LyonExodus]

That sums the Seargeant up perfectly. It's very likely next week i will be able to cover Sturgia. it seems like a lot of people are interested. There are going to be another 5 videos for Vlandian units, if all goes well the Axeman video is planned for Sunday, more realistically early next week.

[@mortache]

They could get Pauldrons but chose to be absolute CHADS and went for the cape lol. Reminds me of Teutonic knights from Age of Empires

[@crazyelf1]

Come to think of it, what is the optimal length for a spear/ For bracing, longer is better, but for regular combat, it does seem like something shorter is better - maybe 1.2m?

[@LyonExodus]

Best is not the right word to use, but the only unit that seems capable of fighting 1v1 with a spear is the Legionary, so "in the range of the Pilum length" is the answer

[@crazyelf1]

@@LyonExodus The reason why I use the word "best" is which one will win out. For example, longer swords of the same blade in the smithy (at least in 1.7.0) would win out over the shorter blades, when equipping custom troops and testing them in battle tester. Of course, it is possible that it is different now with the new patch and if you run RBM Combat Module, the results may be different.

[@zerophoenix8312]

Yo they are buffed with some sort of scale shoulder armor now

[@alincirstea2918]

The main selling point of the Sergeants is how well they do against higher tier armored units because of that mace whit its blunt damage.

[@LyonExodus]

2nd best Vs T5 but they are far from the top 3 against any other unit. So more than a selling point it's a fly trap. It looks good but when you look more carefully it really isn't

[@AzoiatheCobra]

why is it green? because its the start of the rhodok empire

[@Discalle112]

How did 1.8 break AI?did long weaponsworrk for the AI prior to 1.8? Is there a fix incoming?

[@LyonExodus]

all units simple face hug the enemy. so units with above 115/120 length all got worse. Even after the hotfix it's still a problem. They were quite good prior to 1.8. and should be fine on 1.7.2. and back.

[@Discalle112]

@@LyonExodus thanks. Sure hope they will fix this

[@Discalle112]

@@LyonExodus You seem to have deep knowledge about they game and you are very good at explaning it.great videos. One more question, what faction would you raye as most powerful in the game on 1.8 and why?

[@LyonExodus]

​@@Discalle112 I think they all make a point but Vlandia. Crossbows got less accurate and all their units expect the Knights are average or worse. Battania as the most powerful archers and can be a fun faction with some throwing only builds but other than their archers the rest is lackluster. Sturgia has some exceptional infantry and a good noble cav line but their ranged game is very weak. A good faction if you want to play an infantry based build. Empire is a well rounded faction as of 1.8. with great infantry and very good noble cav. The palatines received an extra quiver making them a deadly archer and the menavliaton is still somewhat solid even with the 1.8. AI. But the entire faction lacks throwables at high tiers. The Aserai are the most well rounded in my opinion with a great noble cav line that brings versatility, the best infantrymen duo with the Veteran and Palace guard, both ranking 1ST in performance Vs low tiers and both bringing throwables. Only issue is that their archer is among the weakest but it's still an archer with 40+ shots so quite good. The Khuzait have the most powerful troop by far in the Khan's Guard. And as of my testings the best standard archer in the Marksman. Their infantry is OK but nothing amazing and their shields could be better. The standard Horse archer is a solid unit and the standard cav is quite weak. I think it's between Aserai and Khuzait depending on your preference.

[@Discalle112]

@@LyonExodus thank you. Any tips for using horse archers? When i use ”charge” they circle around at long range missing all thier shots. ”Advance” does not work if there are hills, they just stand behind it doing nothing.

[@bluntlyhonest6803]

At least the Billmen Hit like trucks.

[@colhammer1]

Dont judge a book by it cover, apparently.

[@LyonExodus]

Never! Altough we all do that, it's hard to not judge things by their covers especially when it's stuff we care about only superfically

[@LilGamingYes]

Are these fixed with 1.8.1?

[@LyonExodus]

the description and the release data say not.

[@Saladon89]

Rhodoks sergeants were one of the best infantries in warband

[@unkon129]

any swadian infantry was really good

[@friendlystranger1837]

@@unkon129 bro I’m getting ptsd from the Swadian cavalry always hated how op they were 😂

[@I_live_in_your_walls.]

Nah 5/5 cuz of their drip.

[@shocklogic8107]

The Vlandian Sergeant is the best (infinty based) anti cav unit in the game (as far as I've tested at least) and are only bestted in infantry v infantry combat by Legonareys. WHA DO YA MEAN THERE BAD?!?!?!?!?

[@LyonExodus]

You watched this video and the other infantry videos? There's your evidence. They are by far not the best Anti Cav and this video shows why. Also i suggest giving a check to the Vet. Falxman video as that explains why being good against Cav is kinda pointless, since anybody can be good with the right weapons. Even if they are the second best at dealing with T5 (You can see their K/D at the very end of the video), fighting against hordes of T5 is unlikely in vanilla Bannerlord. So judging a unit on that base makes for an inaccurate evaluation. What is most important is performance Vs lower iters 1-3 as those are the most common ones to encouter. And in that category the Sergeant are 6th. Only units worse than them are the Oatshworns and the Wildlings, which i recommend whatching the videos about. But both of these units bring the versatility upside with the Wildling having a playstyle that is different from any other unit. No matter how you look at it, these unit is possibly the worst main line infantryman in the game. Don't get stuck on thinking performance Vs T5 transfers to lower tiers as well. That's how you get people saying troops are better than what they really are. Also all of these evaluations don't only come from the hours of testings on all units but also a good 4K + hours of in game experience, both modded and not.

[@shocklogic8107]

First off) they are good against cav (as far as I've tested at least), why you may ask? Because Ive extensivly tested them both in costom battles and in campian. Secound off) ther are good against low ters as well, why? because agian, Ive extensivly tested them both in costom battles and in campian. I'm not sure exactly how you got the results that your getting in your tests but from how I've tested this unit and from my personal expieriance in my campians, they beat almost every single invantry unit(including low ters), almost every single archer and crosbow unit(including low ters), every single cav unit(including low ters), and every single low ter horse archer unit. The only units that the Sergant cant beat are the Imerial Legonairy, the Battanian Fiean Champion, shock infantry, and high ter horse archers. I'm noticing in a lot of your videos that your over glorifing skirmisher units like the Wildling and the Aserai Veterain infantry, but are completely down playing the efetiveniss of pike bracing units like the Oathsworn and the Vlandian Sergeant. Yes throwing weapons can do damage but there not as evective as you are advertizing, archers and crossbow men esely make them absolete because they can shoot at far longer ranges and have more than double the amount of amounition. The Vlandian Sergeant is the best pike bracing unit in the game, the best (shealded infantry based) counter to cav in the game and can beat every sheald infantry unit under the Legoinairy, and yet you gave the Oathsworn a better ratting dispite having worse head armor, a worse sheald, a worse pike, and a worse overall performance, all because the Oathsworn as a bundle of throwing axes and the Sergeant dosn't.

[@LyonExodus]

​@@shocklogic8107 man. there is a lot wrong in your comment. first. pike bracing doesn't work as people think it does (Oathsowrn video gives a good example of that). Also how can you say that you run proper tetsing and say their are the best against Cavaly, damn, wait unitl you test the Legioanries or some Shock Troops. second you are only taking into account if the units WINS or LOSES while in my testings i am taking into account EFFICIENCY ( How well can the unit WIN in comparison to the other troops) We are simply not testing the same way, and you seem to have not understood most of the video. Weird because it's pretty self explenatory if you watched the others and you are keeping track. Like i said you should go and watch the very first video (wildling) i made that explains HOW the tests are runned and why perfomance Vs lower tier is more important. The reason why i place the right amount of attention on skirmishing units is because they are not only imprved in 1.8. but also they allow you to save the arrows of your achers for later in fights. (the Oathsowrn recieved a 1.5 / 5 that's hardly a difference. Both units are bad but one can fit an army that runs on projectiles and it's the best melee performer for their faction. The Sergeant are not the best melee option of Vlandian but you have to wait unitl a future video to see how much worse they are in comparison to that troop) As someone who played all faction only campaigs and also Empire Only without Catas and struggled becasue Legioanaries have no Throwables and at the time their ranged troops had no ammo I can tell you throwables are very much important. The easiest campaings i ever had all involved either versatile infantry or good Horse Archers / Archers. To me you are simply running your tests in a shallow manner. either considering if the units WINS or LOSES while not considering how efficiently they do so, which should be more important.

[@MetalthinkerYT]

@@shocklogic8107 I'm curious to know what's wrong with your pitiful use of English. It's strange because it's clear that you know the language and have some vocabulary, yet can't grammar correctly at all. Might be dyslexia. Maybe you want to check it out.

[@shocklogic8107]

@@MetalthinkerYT long story short, I'm bad at spelling.

[@RBCharger]

I have seen several of your videos rating various units and I think this is the first unit I have seen that you don't want to nerf. Refreshing. Most times, you are asking TaleWorlds to nerf some of my favorite units. I just hope they aren't watching your videos.

[@LyonExodus]

other than the Khan's there is no troops in this game i actively want to nerf. Some troops are very good, some are OP, others are plain bad, the ratings simply showcase how good the troop is in comparison to others. A 5/5 isn't given to a troop that needs nerfing, or rebalance. For that the OP score is given. A 5/5 is given to a troop that does a solid job and works as advertised bringing more value than the competitors as far as their role is concerned. If anything, i push some units, the ones that get 2 and below, to receive buffs that will bring them up to at least 3s and be competitive. Troops don't need to be all the same. but they also shouldn't be way different in performance from one another when they cover the same role at the same tier. I hope TW watches, (they probably do already as they know me for ages now). these videos as they are, are a clear showcase of what troops they should buff and, which ones they should keep the same and which ones, altough few, that should be tuned down a little. Ranged in this game is king, making the Khan's and the Fians troops simply win just by existing. the Cataphracts and all other cavalry options have to deal with a broken AI at any given time and nobody that knows a little about combat in this game calls for nerfs on cavalry, if anything it's quite the opposite. In order for cavalry to work TW has to give them a stupid amount of armor just to compensate for that problem. While a unit like the Khan's Guard shouldn't be remotely close to the melee performance of both a pure shock infantry option when dismounted or a very armored knight. And a Fian should not be better than any shock troop in the game at doing a job they don't cover while being far better than any other archer at the same time, altough on the shooting bit it's all fair and good. Yes, sure elite troops whatever but that makes for an imbalanced game and Khan's and Fians elitism when it comes to building armies. (this is known as bad game design) And pushed by some elite players that can't find and are willing to ruin the enjoyment of others because they want to play with all troops. The forums are full of toxic players like that. it's a bit sad. Opinions are like assholes, we all have one, and some are full of crap. So if you don't like the videos you are free to not watch them at any given time and leave a dislike since it doesn't seem you understand the purpose of them. I don't see any constructive feedback in your comment, just dissent and a person that is taking a well researched, edited, and packed with information video by a game veteran out of context. If you want to help the growth of me as a creator please write down all the times i actively (that you perceive) called for nerfs on any unit i haven't talked about in this post. That would be very helpful.

[@RBCharger]

@@LyonExodus I know your stuff is well researched and I have no doubt that TW watches your videos because you are doing so much testing of their product by doing unit vs unit battles. But there might be other balance safeguards that you haven't noticed. I have been running all over the map fighting in battle after battle lately because we are in three simultaneous wars. My army consists of my party plus four companion parties and no other nobles. After every battle, I sit here reviewing the post battle report paying special attention to any high level unit losses and the K/D ratios. For some reason, the Khan's Guard keep vanishing from my companion's parties without being killed in battle. I have a general ratio I like to keep between melee, archers. cavalry, and horse archers in my army. I regularly visit my companions to check on their troops and I am constantly giving them Khan's Guard that I train up myself. At this point, I don't know if my companions are dismissing the KG and replacing them with recruits (because the companions are in charge of their own economy) or what is going on, but the end effect is that the game keeps its own balance.

[@LyonExodus]

Likely they are leaving them in garrisons or if not be sure that their party wage is unlimited. as soon as you conquer a town or castle your companions/family and such will leave troops in garrisons as a default. If you are the leader of the faction check the garrisons before leaving, grab the units or replace them and give them back to them. From what you describe these two seems the only 2 reasons. Also if you let them on their own devices they might do the same but you have no way to control that if it's not your towns or freshly taken ones.

[@user-wq9mw2xz3j]

what? no, they strong. Legionaries and possible axemen are better, but these are great too

[@duongyeetyboi2609]

Disgrace to the Rhodes. Disgusting.

[@Flesson19]

wow they are bad

[@LyonExodus]

I used to test them only against High tiers and they do decent there. top 4 i think. But once you take into account low tiers and other things all of a sudden they are very underwhealming.

[@DestroyerOfOgis]

L vlandians

[@Bannanaaan]

Who’s your main

[@DestroyerOfOgis]

@@Bannanaaan Sturgia

[@Bannanaaan]

@@DestroyerOfOgis I feel like I should know that since your everywhere lol

[@Bannanaaan]

@@DestroyerOfOgis Merry Christmas