How OVERRATED Is The Sharpshooter? Bannerlord Ranged Troop Units Guide

This is a 1.8. Bannerlord in Depth Analysis of the Ranged Unit known as The Vlandian Sharpshooter.
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 Sharpshooter.
A fan favourite for many, nothing more than a few projectiles for others.
How have the Patch 1.8. changes affected it, and is it maybe a bit OVERRATED or not?
And remember, criticism and constructive feedback are always appreciated.

[@swally0ne479]

Hey lyon, great videos my friend doin good! btw what do you think is the best non noble archer on 1.8.0: the palatine guard (2 quivers now) or the aserai master archer or any other?

[@LyonExodus]

If you are reading this make sure to check this legend (Swally0ne) on Twitch and YT. Lots of respect for him. I'd say the Marsksman is probably the most well rounded option. Palatines if you only care about shooting.

[@tequilasunsetus8847]

Watching the video on the analysis of Vlandian troops, I realized that the developers think that the chain mail is made of paper...

[@LyonExodus]

It shouldn't be that bad right? Altough i guess the way they see it is as a protective layer instead of an armor by itself. Like generally you have mail underneat and something else on top, but since there is no layering in the game it just ends up being a bad armor

[@liviubostan7229]

@@LyonExodus yea,most high tier armors are bringandines,hauberks and scale/lamellar chestplates over mail. With the exception of Imperial 57 body armour,which is lamellar over scale over mail.

[@LyonExodus]

that's the way they like to do it. many different armors in a block with a value. makes it simple for many players. But as someone who played games like Rimworld i would prefer a layering system.

[@tequilasunsetus8847]

@@LyonExodus I understand that the chain mail itself, even in real life, was not somehow super armor, it's more my aesthetic preferences. I like how Vlandia's armor looks, and therefore it's a bit of a pity that it's so weak in Bannerlord)

[@LyonExodus]

oh yeah i feel you. i don't think armor values in game and real life should be intertwined. like you can make armor have good values and go for a certain aesthetic over realism. I prefer games to be balanced with many different option over realistic. We got our every day lifes if we want a realistic experience.

[@snakebae6259]

They NEED to add a deploy pavise option. At this point, their shields are entirely cosmetic. Whats the point if they can't use it as historically intended? If not, I'd rather take another quiver of arrows than a useless larp shield that my sharpshooters arent gonna use to any effect since, you know, they are ranged.

[@MrDMIDOV]

They’re not purely cosmetic tho. If you actually played against vlandian armies you would realize the shields on their backs adds a lot of protection against cav charges. The truly useless troop equipment is the pilums of menavliatons. Literally not used at all since they do not throw them anymore. But yes they also need to implement a deploy pavise option.

[@kubaGR8]

@@MrDMIDOVHitting a troop carrying a shield ont heir back adds like 10 armor afaik. Not that amazing. Doesn't even protect them from arrows unles they actually equip the shield. And unrelated, but funnily enough fixing menavliatons and legionaries not throwing their pilum is as simple as going into the files and editing out one line out of the weapon code.

[@AzoiatheCobra]

do ranged foot units recieve the captain bonus for infantry for mellee skilss when using mellee weapons?

[@LyonExodus]

they should. Although i suggest watching Flesson's video on the current issue with captain perks for the Main Character.

[@HistoricalWeapons]

20 bolts weighs around 2 pounds in real life just saying. Is it really that heavy to add some more?

[@jamie0657]

You could do a video relating to sturgian infantry from the 1.8 update due to armour buffs

[@LyonExodus]

Another vote for Sturgia is noted. Any infantry you would like to see first? We have another 2 Vlandian units and a recap. Sturgia or another faction (depends on demand) will be likely to start from next week.

[@jamie0657]

@@LyonExodus Spearmen, I feel like they are performing much better vs other faction types. Axemen feel like they have fell off very hard. Spearmen would be amazing to see the statistics vs other factions. (unless I am on crack and think spearmen are actually worse than they are haha)

[@LyonExodus]

you are onto something when it comes to the spearman. They are much improved since i think 1.7. were they reworked their templates. Interesting fact: The spearman are one of the only few units that actually uses the spear well.

[@jamie0657]

@@LyonExodus It's a very strong unit for shield walls, I used them heavily in my sturgia campaign a few days ago. That unit brings sturgia much more to life with their bleak roster. I feel like the axeman should be much better but they are just so bad for an infantry based faction.

[@dand7763]

i always like to mix , Fian champions+ Vlandian Sharpshooters ...a deadly formation for enemies my cavalry - Elite cataphracts + Khan's Guards and as infantry - imperial legionaries this is my party ,always do this

[@_Woody_]

Ah yes, the infamous "take best unit from each faction" army. Not really the cup of tea for many players. Including myself.

[@melkorstormcrown6939]

@@_Woody_this is war, you use every single cheap shot you get.

[@_Woody_]

@@melkorstormcrown6939 Except it isn't. It's a game. And I like to RP. So no Cataphracts and legionaires for my Braveheart run.

[@Thor-1764]

I use a mix of vlandian and battanian troops. I'm battanian fighting for vlandia. I will free all my people from that scum caladog! I love this damn game. Lol

[@dand7763]

@@Thor-1764 the newest update 1.2.0 (beta) is total different , add more info ,skills , even opponents challenge you in battle ,the sounds of swords is like in reality , i like it more this game now , i want "diplomacy" to be better made (alliances, truces, payments, tributes) , i don't like when i'm in war with one or 2 factions ,sudden ,almost more of the rest of factions declare war in the same time on me...that's happened when i made declaration of my kingdom...

[@liviubostan7229]

Vlandia will see an update when they'll implement the new shoulder pieces added in 1.8.0 to the roaster of units. Hopefully we'll also sew improvements to polearms,cavalry melee targeting while charging other riders and not their horses... And a fix to vassals deserting..

[@LyonExodus]

I was surprised that they didn't add the new shoulders to their units. I knew they were coming in the upcoming patch for a few weeks before 1.8. came out. Vlandia will and needs to become better going foreword. Hopefully now that they have made the code efficient ,FPS wise, they can start working on improving the AI. at least that's my thinking

[@liviubostan7229]

@@LyonExodus Yea. Especially melee cavalry. It's still hard to believe Druzhiniks lose vs Khan's Guards because they don't aim the rider properly. Same goes for Cataphracts who in hence sight should be able to have a couch system aswell,so units don't freaking parry a thrust going at 50km/h...

[@LyonExodus]

i am not a huge fan of couching for units. but it's hard to know which one is best since Cavalry is by far the worst troop type in the game right now. Only thing i really consider is the overall armor, better armored Cavalry tends to perform way better than light ones. Khan's should honestly be tuned down, they are broken and far away from balanced in any way. There is little interest in the Khuzait faction so the Khan's might end up being the last troop i end up covering but yeah. it's probably going to be a special video about them.

[@liviubostan7229]

@@LyonExodus try the druzhinik,I call them "rams" They use the Druzhinik Lance which is a tad short and therefore feel like rams charging someone.

[@LyonExodus]

@@liviubostan7229 Yes, they are quite good. had to use them in one of my Sturgian "impossible" campaig. i wanted to use no noble troops but i started loosing too much so i had to. battles were much easier after. I do still prefer my good old Cataphracts tho, insanely tanky. Low tiers struggle so much to take them down. Druzhinniks are not far off but statistically not as good

[@phillawrence5148]

Anyone know if these updates are the same for console? I'm not part of the master race

[@LyonExodus]

These videos are quite old (patch 1.0) so i don't know myself. I haven't played Bannerlord in a few months and can't really tell if they are still up to date. I know the latest patches for the game have been lacking in content but i also know that they brought some "hidden" changes to the game over certain areas. Hope this kinda answer your questions. The videos are mostly correct up until patch 1.2, i believe. Over that stretch can't tell. One i can tell you is no longer correct is the Vlandian Sergeants, they got a little extra armor than when i did the tests. For Battania T4 Falxman are no longer plainly better than T5 Falxman, but i do think i made an updated video on that. Palace Guards got a bit worse for the Aserai.

[@phillawrence5148]

@@LyonExodus Thanks man 👍

[@bluntlyhonest6803]

They get the job done and i'd rather have them than not. But on the other hand, Battania is right next door, so the Fian champions are up for grabs as well.

[@SirNarax]

I am under the opinion that the Fians don't invalidate the other archers because of location. I imagine most people don't go across the map rebuilding their army all the time so recruit where they are. But with these guys the Fians really are just there. Even Sturgia's archers are not entirely invalidated because they are least good in melee plus exist close and far from Battania. Even if I was forcing myself to use crossbows in a playthough I think even then I would rather use Empire's offerings.

[@bluntlyhonest6803]

@@SirNarax battania is very accessible to 5 factions. Sturgian archers are poop. Even in melee, still better than nothing of course.

[@SirNarax]

@@bluntlyhonest6803 Depends on how you define accessible. Anyone can recruit anyone but they are only in a handful of villages so if your war is on another part of the map you probably are not going to run back every time you suffer some casualties in a battle. Sturgian archers are pretty bad but I would argue they are at least better than the crossbowman. Their melee compared to other archers (minus Fians) is pretty good. Not good compared to melee units but good for an archer. You right though despite that having them is better than nothing.

[@bluntlyhonest6803]

accessible as in it's not far away from their own faction. hop and a skip. they are worth it.@@SirNarax

[@SirNarax]

@@bluntlyhonest6803 I think you are missing what I am saying.

[@lalthamuon6720]

The same problem with muskets

[@AEspiral]

In native archers are op AF.

[@Saladon89]

Rhodoks in warband were OP

[@weebslayer3411]

Weirdly enough these are good anti archer units

[@melkorstormcrown6939]

They are CHEAP! They have crossbows, a sword, a shield to protect their backs all the time from arrows, they are less prone to getting headshotted cuz of that crossbow load animation they do during combat. They are one of the most practical units in the entire game and you give them 3.5/5 lol

[@LyonExodus]

what about just having 18 shots in comparison to 40+ of most archers and being quite bad in melee as well in comparison to some, especially in comparison to the empire sergeant? i mean. you are entitled to your opinion sure. I ain't making fun of it unlike you are of mine and of many others. There are far superior units in the ranged class and a 3.5. is still above average. you can't simply give them a 5 nor a 4. They have clear limitations and when this video was made their accuracy got nerfed badly. And honestly i don't get the "cheap" thing. they are a T5 unit. they all got the same wage and upgrade costs as other T5 foot units. That's a fact and not an opinion and doesn't make much sense as a counter argument. If you told me their line is quite good since you get the crossbow at tier 2 that's a fair point. But the cost has nothing to do with it. then let's not dive into how bad a crossbow captain build is in comparison to a bow one. But that would require a deeper level of understanding about the game.

[@melkorstormcrown6939]

@@LyonExodus a crossbow user will start shooting an enemy from much farther than a bow user, I tested this many times. Sure they dont have as many shots as bowmen but they go melee and the back shield actually does wonders for them protecting from cavalry lances in the back. They are super easy to get in the map which you did not give them credit for. This is not a noble troop and take 12denar/day unlike fian champions who take 17denar/day not to mention are much rarer to get on the map in comparison. Their big shield on the back gives them better protection against Khan Guards arrows who love to shoot while encircling you. This is basically sharpshooter slander/imperial propaganda against the butterlord 😂

[@shocklogic8107]

In the Vlandian Sergeant video you ranked there helmet 6th with an armor value of 46. In this video you ranked the sharp shooters helmet 3rd EvEn ThO tHeY oNlY hAvE 42 aS tHe ArMoR vAlUe. 42 for head armor and some how thats better than the Sergeants 46. WHY!?!?

[@LyonExodus]

The ranks are separate for the different types of units: Infantry / Shock Troops / Ranged / Cavalry / Horse Archer. I make that pretty clear in all videos. also since the Vlandian ones i have been giving out the "overall placement" too, it's not written so listen carefully. that value is where the armor ranked across all the tested units. To make things clear, since watching and listening isn't enough: The Sharpshooter ranked 3rd in Head armor across archers/ranged, the Sergeant ranked 6th in Head Armor across Infantry(shielded). Is it clear now? there is no reason to bE PaSsIvE aGgReSsIvE. Listen, if you don't like the videos just place a dislike and go, that way YT will not recommend my channel to you and you won't help my videos getting recognized by commenting.

[@DestroyerOfOgis]

@@LyonExodus Chad reply against an angry Vl*ndian