Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord - War Sails Review

Naval combat has long been a niche but thrilling corner of strategy and RPG games. From the high-seas adventures of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag to the fleet management in Total War: Empire, commanding ships combines tactical positioning, resource management, and real-time action in a way that few land-based systems can match. 

In a sandbox as sprawling and reactive as Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, the idea of bringing this level of naval depth is both ambitious and exciting.

Enter the War Sails DLC, Bannerlord's first major expansion focused on life at sea. It introduces fully-fledged naval mechanics to Calradia, from commanding fleets of diverse ship types to engaging in ship-to-ship combat and coastal sieges. The DLC integrates with the core sandbox experience, letting players raid ports, protect trade routes, or even pursue a career as a pirate lord.

War Sails significantly reworks Bannerlord's map to accommodate its new naval gameplay. A northern region has been added, along with large lakes and seas, opening the world for maritime exploration and combat.

The lost land and moved terrain mean that many cities have been displaced, and it takes a little while to get used to it. All things considered, the changes to the map aren't bad, but much of it feels unnecessary. Many of the islands are now gone, all of which could've been interesting new locations for exploration.

Much of the southern coastline now lies in almost a straight line, which feels boring. But all of these are somewhat superficial and subjective.

This expansion introduces the Nord faction, which effectively serves as the DLC's protagonists. While similar to the Sturgians in flavour and gameplay at first glance, they are more distinct as the Sturgians have been tweaked a little, complete with reworked troop trees and several new units tailored for naval and coastal engagements.

With the map and seas now accessible, the economy system has also been updated. Coastal cities feature ports that facilitate trade, while players must contend with naval invasions, raids, and the occasional pirate, making the seas an active and strategic part of the campaign.

Getting to Know the Ships and How They Fight

War Sails introduces a variety of ships, each with unique characteristics that impact both travel and combat. Light, fast vessels excel at raiding and scouting, while heavier warships are slower but pack devastating firepower and can withstand more punishment.

Of course, the firepower in question is a bunch of balistae throwing pots of fire. Each ship class has its own crew requirements, speed, maneuverability, and weapon loadout, making fleet composition a meaningful strategic choice.

Naval combat combines Bannerlord's familiar real-time control with new mechanics tailored to the sea. You can board enemy vessels, ram them, or just sink them with the questionable artillery on your boats. Boarding is a particular highlight, reminiscent of chaotic, drawn-out sieges, that's part of the core experience of Bannerlord.

Managing a fleet, however, extends individual battles. You can get yourself numerous ships and coordinate formations for both combat and trade. The scale of naval warfare in War Sails, whether small skirmishes with pirates or large clashes between fleets, adds depth and consequence to Bannerlord's sandbox, making mastery of the seas just as important as controlling the land.

On the scale of the world map, you can take your troops into your ships and explore the seas, moving as you would normally do on land. You can dock at a port or on shore, leaving your ships behind. Of course, if you are not at a guarded port, your ships may be attacked and stolen.

Sailing ships are also surprisingly detailed and fun. It also allows you to kit out your ship with upgrades and customization. There are around 20 warships, some merchant ships, and a fishing vessel. There's a lot for you to do here, and a lot to choose from.

Other Additions That Actually Make a Difference

The DLC also expands Bannerlord's arsenal and equipment. A new sling weapon, a one-handed ranged option usable with shields, can be found on bandits and villagers. In contrast, other new gear reflects both the Nord and naval themes, letting players role-play as anything from a coastal raider to an imperial admiral, enriching their RPG experience.

War Sails introduces a new stealth system, expanding gameplay in this area. You can now sneak into towns or those annoying bandit hideouts. You can hide bodies and stage prison breaks. You can also use disguises, as well as some of the new stealth-oriented gear you can get your hands on now.

Some other QoL features include a morale and retreat system, so you don't really have to kill 200+ units when facing off against armies. There are also some random events that can pop up.

War Sails doesn't just tack a new mode onto Bannerlord's existing systems; it introduces a light dynamic campaign layer that ties naval presence into the broader sandbox. The expanded world map means the fleet and trade routes are more active parts of a campaign. And to supplement that, there are a bunch of new skills to help you out.

In practice, though, naval engagements are fairly rare until you actively pursue them. Again, ship battles don't just spawn organically as land conflicts, and the AI seems to be discouraged by it as well. To trigger the fun large-scale battles, you'll need to chase down fleets and positions.

Now, when they do, they're very memorable. Still, the game very much feels like the naval spice is optional. Despite this, the game adds a new layer of depth to its sandbox. The new areas are fairly distinct, the Nord are fun, and with the new weapons and troops, players have a lot of tools to really play around with.

Coastal settlements, ports, and trade routes are fully integrated into the dynamic, sandbox campaign, which transforms the economy and strategic options for those willing to engage with maritime systems. The new ports serve as hubs for naval operations, trade, and recruitment. The expanded sea allows players to just have more fun. 

Beyond mechanics, the presentation is solid. The UI for managing fleets and ships is intuitive, allowing players to quickly understand their vessels' state, assign actions, and issue orders. The ports aren't just skeleton additions; you can visit them like you would the town square and walk around. Graphically speaking, the ships, coasts, and water are all impressive, with notable environmental detail.

The audio overall complements everything, setting the mood for exploration and combat, and while the sound of battle adds weight to every engagement, the music maintains the immersion. Post-launch updates have addressed many pre-existing issues, such as the voice acting and many placeholder lines. 

Many balance issues have also been seemingly fixed, and some performance issues have been addressed as well.

Overall, Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord – War Sails is a strong addition for Bannerlord veterans looking to expand their sandbox experience. The DLC offers meaningful choices, enriches gameplay, and adds substantial content through progression opportunities, skills, and equipment.

The main core of the DLC, with its naval combat, remains its strongest selling point and delivers nicely enough, even though it is definitely lacking in other areas. War Sails isn't some revolutionary DLC, but it's a very good supplement that broadens the scope of Calradia and gives players a new way to diversify their Sandbox experience.