How BAD Is The Voulgier? Bannerlord Shock Troop Units Guide

This is a 1.8. Bannerlord in Depth Analysis of the Vlandian Voulgier Shock Troop.
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 Voulgier a powerful Shock Trooper that whields a formidable 2H Polearm named Voulge.
This unit used to be very good before patch 1.8. but how does it hold up after?
And remember, criticism and constructive feedback are always appreciated.

[@Lucasekane1986]

wow rip vlandia i am looking forward to see the empire in 1.8 with legionaries using maces sometimes

[@LyonExodus]

lots to say about the Legions, might make for a surprising video for many and it will clear up some mysconceptions about the unit. But no idea when that one is dropping

[@michaelfranzgarcia7769]

yeah and maybe add a bodyguard system (5 per lord) or even use companion as body guard in battle voulgiers are good they should have light armor because they use 2 handed weapons (5 to max 20 swing and they will be tired as hell so light or medium is realistic)

[@LyonExodus]

I don't mind the light armor. This unit was nothing amazing but a solid choice before the 1.8. AI made all the troops with long weapons worse. There must be some units with lower armor in order for the most protected ones to feel different. But maybe all T5 infantry units should ,at least, be pushed to 40 armor.

[@colhammer1]

Engagingly engaging in engagement.

[@colhammer1]

For the algorithm! For Vlandia!

[@Flesson19]

great work as always my friend, Michael Scott told me to say so................

[@LyonExodus]

Thanks man. i am going to do my best to both be funny and informative

[@guilhermecunha8085]

it would be cool if you made a comparison of the best troops in captain mode (online) saying which are the best options and attributes to choose

[@LyonExodus]

It would. But unfortunately i have never played MP. So, i do not feel like i would be the right person to judge on that matter. I'll leave that to the experts

[@HistoricalWeapons]

I recommending editing the xml to give pikemen a shield and higher polearm skill and then they are more useful

[@RBCharger]

Did you test with a mixed army? Don't Voulgiers keep in the background of shock troops like Legionaries or Sturgian Axemen? In this video, you can see the Voulgiers in the back using the polearm to strike over the top of the forward troops.

[@LyonExodus]

i tested them in 1.7. and 1.7.2 in the same way and in the same tests. The results were wildly different. They were second only to the Linebreakers and Palace Guards. And since all "glaive wielders" shock troops and even the Khan's dropped in performance in 1.8. (some way more than others) it's hard to find another reason other than the AI of the weapons is broken. Altough going back to your question. i was playing a Vlandian campaign before patch 1.8. and then simply updated my game. At the time i had no idea the Voulgiers were affected this badly but something was clearly wrong with Vlandia performance.

[@therageknight8546]

It would be good if TW didn’t fuck up the AI AGAIN

[@LyonExodus]

indeed

[@valipunctro]

I loved the joke about pikemen.😂

[@justnothing8692]

to get the shock troops you must be a shock troop

[@demoulius1529]

Thr Voulge is an absolure treat yo play with in multiplayer. I always played sword and board (or axe or mace and board) until I tried the Voulger and was having the time of my life! The weapon is so incredibly powerfull and while your block play has to be on point you can sometjmes 1 shot heavily armoured people with a lucky headshot. Defenitly a good unit as well.

[@YH-rd4kt]

Good news! Seems like 1.8.1 fixed troops face hugging problem, also calvarys just circling around with doing little dances.

[@LyonExodus]

i am currently running tests on the new version. Most cavalry units got much better, and i hope shock troops are going to yield similar results. This video is likely due an update soon.

[@harrysalt5277]

Tbh I like the pikeman they are very overpower against cavalry heavy enemies like khuzaits

[@bydlaq]

So iam not crazy seeing every long/slow weapon unit/companion trying to "kiss" enemy and losing to short weapons trash units.

[@LyonExodus]

Nope. you ain't crazy. If you want to see how bad this can get you can check the Veteran Falxman video too

[@Eddison33]

>Give the deadliest melee weapon to a unit >Ensure he can never use it properly >Balance) Jokes aside, they are just terrible. At the same time, I found out they are surprisingly good at chopping horses of your cavalry)

[@LyonExodus]

1.8. really killed them with the AI and the armor buffs. Since this unit had no armor to begin with most of the troops around it got better. but before they were an average to solid unit. quite devastating against lower tiers, especially battanians. i do think Vlandia is gonna get a rework either next patch or with the end of early access, hopefully this video can lead them in the right direction

[@Eddison33]

@@LyonExodus I hope so. Currently, Vlandia sucks so much. But I remember that back in 1.4.something it was one of the most favorite factions for players.

[@victormanuelcastanedamendo81]

so youre saying that vlandia kinda sucks?

[@LyonExodus]

Maybe not sucks, overrated for sure. But it's not just me saying so, it's the numbers. I was running a campaign before the 1.8. patch that screwed the AI of Voulgiers and made Sharpshooters less accurate and it was like night and day. Voulgiers are back to being decent after the 1.9. patch. But the nerfs to crossbow accuracy were intended so the Sharpshooters are still meh. Banner Knights are much better as are Vanguards. Don't know if you did watch them already but the 1.9. and 1.0. Cavalry and Shock Troops updates have already been done. Always recommend to get your info from multiple sources and keep in mind that the data and playstyle don't always go hand in hand for some players.

[@AyoMousy]

That's why you get the crossbow vlandia men those mfs aim longer and shred any army's running especially with shield wall

[@mehoV2]

Vlandians are some kind of Swadian cousins XD

[@LyonExodus]

The kind you don't want to be related to

[@mehoV2]

@@LyonExodus Indeed😂😂

[@Lobster_Lars]

So basically all vlandian units are bad in 1.8?

[@LyonExodus]

apart from the Knights the rest is far from competitive. low armor and the crossbow accuracy nerf just makes the faction underwhelming. They are due to a rework soon, hopefully.

[@colhammer1]

For the Algorithm!

[@colhammer1]

Engagingly engaging in engagement.

[@LyonExodus]

@@colhammer1 .Tnemegagne rof eht Ebutuoy Sdog

[@LyonExodus]

Its sounds like some wierd dead language

[@colhammer1]

@@LyonExodus lmao

[@rttt159]

I feel like you should do these videos but using the battlemod for ai and combat because let's face it.. vanilla troops are braindead stupid and really don't know how to use the equipment they've got.

[@LyonExodus]

That won't help the people who play vanilla which these videos are aimed at. if anyone feels like they want to use mods then the player will go ahead and do so. But if i were to make the video you describe it won't help anyone but the players who are playing with the mod. I might made videos like this for very popular mods like RBM, but this playlist is currently aimed at covering troops in vanilla 1.8.

[@colhammer1]

Lmao 2 options.

[@LyonExodus]

The illusion of choice