How strong are Fian Champions really? Battania Bannerlord

See how far I can take 1,000 Fian Champions, fully testing their combat capabbilities.
Rules are - NO recruiting, NO ranged siege engines, NO perks, Total war, Bannerlord difficulty.
this is to fully test the champions without advantages like extra damage/health and also without abusing catapults during sieges firing at gaps in walls.
This could be the start of a mini-series so cast your vote via the comments and i'll test the most popular choice next (i'm betting on Khans Guards or Empire Recruits lol)
CONSOLE COMMANDS USED (PC only)
config.cheat_mode 1 (turns cheat mode on, 0 turns it back off)
campaign.add_money_to_main_party 1000000000 ($1bn, put any value you desire though)
campaign.add_troops battanian_fian_champion | 1000 (the '|' between troop code and value is important, often left out of explanations - must have been an update?)
campaign.start_player_vs_world_war
This is also my first video in my second year of KZbin creating so happy 1 year!
Join the Discord - / discord
Become a Member - / @bim_94

[@Jhin966]

kind of ironic that the one factions that always get destroyed first have the best noble unite in game

[@bim_94]

To be fair though, without player intervention and if they were in any other spot they'd win every game every time haha

[@ProperSavagee]

I notice they mainly use the recruits and never really have upgraded troops

[@boogaloobaloo]

The Battanian AI heavily favors low level troops and almost completely ignores the elite line. They rarely enter battles with higher than tier 4 troops in every play through I've done.

[@G1hadi]

Khans guard basically mounted fians

[@bim_94]

That glaive though 😍

[@sleuffff]

I'd take Fians every day

[@derkylos]

@@sleuffff One thing Fians have that KG don't is campaign map mobility. If your character is Battanian and you chose the scouting perk that gives you 50% less slowdown in forests if your party is at least 75% infantry, you will be able to move through forests as though they weren't there. This allows you to easily outpace even all-cavalry parties in forests, meaning you get to chose who you do or do not fight (as well as being able to chase down 10 man parties with 300 Fians...)

[@bim_94]

@@derkylos did you ever play Warband? You're making me think of those awful quests where you need to herd cattle on the campaign map and your slow party speed always messed it up and you'd lose them haha. Man they was not fun 🤣

[@derkylos]

@@bim_94 Oh, yeah. Those quests suck. Bannerlord's method of herding is so much better (in fact, the way Bannerlord treats animals in general is better. Like, I know pack animals are a thing in Warband, but you can never tell what impact they actually have unless you keep a very close eye on your map speed. The fact that Bannerlord just tells you what impact they have is great...)

[@GB00K44]

Fabulous video as always Bim! Great camera work too! I love the flying logo at the end. Very epic!

[@bim_94]

Thanks buddy!

[@alextheamethyst5262]

Thank you for this tutorial, ill be sure to only recruit Fian champions from now on:)

[@bim_94]

Haha make sure to get 1,000! Lol

[@ThatBritishMo]

Just a modest 1bn... Alright Bezos 😂

[@bim_94]

I needed to make sure I had enough 😂

[@ThatBritishMo]

@@bim_94 I know the cost of living is high bro, but... 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@iozyoung7568]

I'm thrilled with my current campaign as I am mostly employing Fian Champions and finally achieving dominance. They are my favorite units to utilize.

[@bim_94]

Honestly don't seem to have a weakness, just being significantly outnumbered lol

[@aurynosborn]

Love this I need to see a vlandia/khuzait/sturgian playthrough!!!

[@bim_94]

Thank you! Filming Sturgia as we speak and Vlandia is next - I have done a Khuzait video already though!

[@Bushuugi-kai]

Love the vids man

[@bim_94]

Thanks my friend! More to come!

[@Flesson19]

Makes me want to do a fian champ only campaign

[@bim_94]

Or a NO Fian champion Champaign haha

[@sleuffff]

@@bim_94 yeah that's pretty much what I'm doin now, only Sturgian troops

[@bim_94]

@@sleuffffthat's my next world conquest faction to play!

[@sleuffff]

@@bim_94 🫡

[@hero_on_youtube]

Given the difficult challenge you gave yourself, it turned out well. In a "normal" run, having all Fian Champions would work even better. I've done casual play through's with only archers and I can dominate easily and that just a 'any archer will do' play, max tier of course. I should try Fian Champions only one of these days, in a "normal" run and see if it's even easier. Out of curiosity, did you use any battle strategies or was it just line 'em up and let 'em go? I saw the bit at the end of the video, not sure if that was representative of all battles. I use multiple formations and use fall back command for one of the groups when the enemy gets close. It gives my side more shots and lures the enemy into a cross fire scenario.

[@bim_94]

Hey Hero! I kept them in one big group and the only strategies I'd use was formations + hold/fire timing! In sieges they automatically went into 2 groups but I kept it at that. Final battle was representative, even with all those formation misclicks lol. Just over 50% of the Fian champions died, if I didn't fight that last battle I definitely would have had far better results. I'm impressed I managed to take out a faction, might have been a stretch to take out a second - especially without a clan or kingdom!

[@mythicfilmsu.s.584]

My one critique would be next time use the console commands once you reach clan tier 4 and then start the challenge. Loved the video

[@bim_94]

Yes! I you can do that at the start with console commands I just forgot everything is reset when you make a kingdom! I was so annoyed. Casualties inflicted back to 0 lol. I had to go through my notes and add up every casualty but even then it wasn't faction specific

[@Aethelwulf7989]

Would be cool if you did something like this but with modded troops with something like My Little Warband. Maybe make 300 spartans, or a warband of Crusaders and see how long you can last in Aserai lands? Good vid again m8

[@bim_94]

Great idea! I have but a simple laptop that can't handle too much pressure lol so I'll probably stick to vanilla game first BUT if more people say this then I'll definitely give it a go!

[@DIFB]

Did i miss the update where when you take all the land of a faction they're destroyed?

[@Aethelwulf7989]

It was added in the last major update from a few months ago. As well as the ability to command specific formations of yours to target specific enemy formations. The clans being destroyed makes the games end a lot quicker because clans just vanish if they are not recruited by another kingdom which most arent.

[@DIFB]

@@Aethelwulf7989 Dang that would have been helpful when I did a WC last fall.

[@bim_94]

It's honestly a different game IMO, even catapult hits have a chance to kill! This was all the 1.2 y update but in my opinion that was when the game really left early access

[@thomasparsons9866]

What about 1000 forest bandit bosses? Not sure about their stats but off the top of my head I think they have a decent longbow and sword and shield. Would be interesting at the very least.

[@bim_94]

great idea! I'll look at the stats tonight, I was meant to last night and reply but I forgot lol. Replying now so I'll remember later 🤣

[@boogaloobaloo]

My favorite thing about Fian Champions is that they're perfectly balanced with no exploits. 10/10 troops.

[@OniGG]

In realm of thrones Giant Archers are the Fians basically Fians but with a big fuck off bow that shoots house pillars

[@bim_94]

Love the sound of that! lol. If my laptop can handle that mod I'll definitely give that a go!

[@Marcus-qs6xh]

how did you spawn in the troops, because i cant imagine how long it would take to recruit and train 1000 troops, did you use a mod? if so which one?

[@bim_94]

Console commands (PC) you make a good point, when I get home I'll edit the description and out what console commands I used. Side note - when you add troops via console commands your party size increases to 5,000. Imagine 5,000 Fian champions lol

[@bim_94]

Just added them to the description now if it was of interest

[@Marcus-qs6xh]

@@bim_94 Thanks! thats very kind of you

[@stepinside6579]

Best Bannerlord channel

[@bim_94]

Best comment account ^

[@zedreon5075]

do you play whit motion blur on or its only on youtube? i recommend to turn it off unless you like it

[@bim_94]

I'll have to check, I'm not going to lie I normally have 0 idea about most of the settings lol. I'll have a play around 🙂

[@zedreon5075]

@@bim_94 yeah most people turn it off and since the combat is base on mouse movement you should try it see if you like it, great video btw

[@KostasOikGR]

what ARE the best troops and army composition?

[@bim_94]

Probably 1,000 Fian Champions lol

[@theasxut2842]

khan guards can do it all, ranged, cav, infantry. just get like 1000 of those

[@redachibel7545]

Go for Khan's guard next , best unit in the game by far

[@bim_94]

I think that's the only unit that could compete with the Fian Champions like this!

[@zomboy8860]

Very cool, love them fians But may i ask what your pc specs are ? And your graphic settings ? Thanks

[@bim_94]

ASUS TUFF F15 gaming laptop, graphics are on the highest but max battle size is set to 800

[@su1thor760]

honestly with 300+ fian champion u most likely can fight any army with multi flank hit and run tactic encircling the most of opponent troops composition as u retreated each individual flank that got pushed. 50 - 100 m is the best range i think.

[@bim_94]

Literally! If I didn't fight they last battle and was more cautious I reckon k could have doubled the KDR, unlimited KDR even lol

[@su1thor760]

yeah u never lose unit that way, fian tanky armor is good and they probably can survive some cav charge before they start decimating them. but if u caught up with the higher number infantry in melee u will lose some unit, always.

[@dand7763]

hold my Jereed...

[@alanquiniones3990]

Nothing beats fians, you didn’t split them into a few teams and did retreat manoeuvres, but I don’t think any other troop would do better Only one that comes to mind would be 1000 khans utilising manoeuvres and would be a pain to control but would definitely hit atleast 20-30 kda Nice experiment :)

[@vv2955]

He definitely should have split the archers into more groups but retreat "maneuvers" are kind of an exploit, and I don't like seeing that. Khans definitely would perform the best overall out of any T6 troop and the Cav T6 would do better in open-field battles but worse in sieges.

[@bim_94]

Crazy how well they did without using any of these methods! Imagine if I chose captain perks on top of all that! Also their 2 stacks of arrows and sheer number of units in my opinion. Trumped any sort of formation tactic I could think of

[@alanquiniones3990]

@@bim_94 I’m a fían only enjoyer myself :) 100 fians and 40 cavalry can take on the world ;)

[@derkylos]

KG in 2 formations with 1 maneuvering to the enemy's rear does better than a single line of Fians, because lots of the Fians' arrows will hit shields, while most of the KGs' won't. It's much harder to get foot archers behind the enemy than it is with horse archers.

[@FireMN_Gamer]

super rad

[@bim_94]

No u

[@The-Enemy-Medic]

Battanian fians? God tier snipers that never die! Battanian fian champions? Died to auto resolve against 3 looters....

[@bim_94]

Hahaha of no. DONT AUTO RESOLVE, had my hand bitten so many times in ROME: Total War 🤣

[@BrandonTConklin]

I'm trying to play as Battania right now with the Fiant Champions, but fighting the Vlandians feels more annoying than any other faction I have fought.

[@juliangiacometti2470]

do elite imperial cataphract

[@bim_94]

Excellent suggestion!

[@reuben6347]

they cool and all that but the charge damage is so bad in this game

[@bim_94]

@@reuben6347they have the longest pole-arm in the game though I think? And are they also shieldless? I can't remember

[@reuben6347]

@@bim_94 i like the glaives more, also i know this goes to different topic but vlandian cav is kinda bad

[@bim_94]

I knowww! When I saw 'Banner Knight' and the look of their armour I thought they must be THE best unit in the game, having the game named after them even but nope lol

[@akatsuki5618]

Bro sounds like your average nature commentator😊

[@bim_94]

'Here we have the Fian champion in their natural habitat. They begin their routine by foraging some Vlandian bugs'

[@mrmysterium1638]

Khan's Guard next

[@bim_94]

Got the most votes so far!

[@ph4d3rfysh94]

Do KG next

[@bim_94]

The fan favourite!

[@Ghost_Here_10]

How u have this much troops without them deserting your party

[@bim_94]

@@Ghost_Here_10 when you add troops with console commands your party size increases to over 5,000 - I'm using cheats to conduct this 'test' 🙂

[@Ghost_Here_10]

@@bim_94 ohh thnxx

[@mzxu1]

Is it just me or the longer the game goes the more you hate the kuzaits .

[@bim_94]

Hey I love the Khuzait but what were they doing over here - hating on Battania that's what! 🤣

[@SpartonChannel]

arrow rain

[@bim_94]

Looks so good doesnt it!

[@venus5945]

tho u played it wrong with the fians hold your fire untill its time to shoot otherwise u are wasting arrows

[@bim_94]

Two stacks of arrows each, and they were just as useful with their swords - though you're absolutely right it did waste arrows but it's a nice indicator to know that the enemy are in range and you can wait for them to come to you there

[@venus5945]

@@bim_94 :) Yh fians got quite alot of arrows just that if u want to maximize the use of the fians split them up into more groups and then have som fighting with swords and some shooting from the sides so the soldiers cant block the arrows with their sheilds bc they are focused on the fians that are fighting them with swords. I very much enjoyed this video keep it up! Fians are prob the best troop ín the game

[@Kaz-jm2ut]

vladian bannerknights would desimate

[@bim_94]

Coolest looking faction in my opinion!

[@thomasechols8834]

Khans Guard are the best in my observation, for just bulldozing the enemy.

[@BigBirdMMA]

yeah the mobility is the big separator and they can be used mounted unmouted as regular cav or as 2 handed infantry they’re insanely versatile

[@thomasechols8834]

@@BigBirdMMA the biggest problem is to get enough mounts to have enough, largest amount I have ever had was 315 or so among 4 parties in an army and the entire army was unstoppable plowing over all other cultures, only by slowly taking out the khuzaits and being of the culture to control the lands was I able to get enough horses, Wish we could give other lords the horse quest so they could bring us the Steppe Hunters.

[@BigBirdMMA]

@@thomasechols8834 gotta get that money stockpiled but yeah that’s the worst part of any high tier cav, at least the trade off is the arguable best unit ever

[@thomasechols8834]

@@BigBirdMMA Money is not the problem, getting the steppe hunters is the biggest limitation for me, as I do not trust mounts of other cultures to carry the khans guards to victory.

[@bim_94]

100%! I found gradually gaining Khans Guards while building an army through the clan tiers was fine, but after a loss and an army wipe I could never get back on track with war horses, at one point I had over 200 troops ready for upgrading I was just kidding the war horses! I only ever find 1-4 horses at one time

[@MilkoDabek]

Now try Elite cataphract

[@bim_94]

I'd love see that!

[@unifiedhorizons2663]

I keep getting rekt by peasants then I see people play this game and fight entire armies solo

[@bim_94]

I saw start gaming RSA's a village by himself and fighting the villagers solo - I've tried that like 5 times and it's just impossible for me 🤣

[@Redtecho]

Fian's stronq

[@bim_94]

Absolute beasts!

[@kukirahubungankitaistimewa5982]

Blud using fian champion on early game

[@SM-iy9nm]

Nah forest bandits forever

[@bim_94]

I saw MrChicken compare these - due to low wages and ease of access I reckon you're absolutely right!

[@fkzx77AkaJonasTornqvist]

Just do Blaze! The most useless troop in the game! 🤣 They have 1 h sword and 3 stacks of throwing knives! I feel you need 10000 too last a year!

[@bim_94]

Hahahahah I love this idea!

[@unifiedhorizons2663]

I join the Britoniand there policies stupidly annoying because they employ a policy that reduces influence because of low charm ….. I have 17 charm

[@bim_94]

Oof. I reckon you'd be a better ruler. I'd bite for you

[@lucasjacob91]

1000 legionarys

[@bim_94]

Absolutely solid unit!

[@viviroswy9876]

Fian champion really need a nationalist edit

[@Medieval_Yt]

can you shout out me? lol

[@bim_94]

!so @sirvalor

[@Medieval_Yt]

@@bim_94 btw great video

[@markomarko2145]

Game fhkin broken

[@bim_94]

At least the AI doesn't know how to use them lol. Never seen more than say, 10 in any event party