I Used Robert The Bruce's Tactics To Dominate The Battlefield!

English vs Scottish - it's a classic rivalry in history! And since everyone loves an underdog, we're going to look at the tactics used by one of Scotland's greatest commanders - Robert the Bruce and a tactic he used to great effect at the battle of Bannockburn. But how effective is this tactic in Mount and Blade 2 Bannerlord? Let's find out!

I decided to run this one from the ground the whole time, hopefully it's a bit more helpful seeing how it's doing without the RTS Camera mod! I also included an AI vs AI result to compare the difference.

Check the description of this video for the full mod list and load order!

[waleedkhalid]

Wow. This makes me want to play the commander role more in battles than the usual Elite warrior role I usually play.

[tailung]

i love this concept of reproducing historic battles in bannerlord, this game is so realistic and has so much tactical depth with the different units and terrain

[lordulberthellblaze]

I kinda laughed when I first saw the thumbnail describing it as a Schiltron. Because in the Total war games, this formation is also used and is lovingly called the "Noob box"

[vaasmontenegro]

Robert the Bruce. The First man to use the noob box

[Nick-higx]

Small nitpick, schiltrons are more ovular than square, sometimes circular. Which is where it gets its name, "schiltron" is a hedgehog. Small, circular formations of large spears (kinda JUST on the cusp of becoming pikes) began to be used in Scotland maybe as early as the 12th, Robert Bruis made them far more effective and by that point pikes were beginning to show up. He figured out a way to drill his men effectively in moving the schiltron to reposition it. Prior to Bannockburn, they had been used to guard flanks, or as static position defense. In fact, it was probably the inability to move the schiltron that cost Wallace his battle at Falkirk; they got shot to shit and then charged as they broke from the arrows.

The history of the schiltron is interesting. There are currently two primary theories, that the Scots either learned it from the Swiss or the Brabantines. Both were early adopters of pike formations.

This is a Hollow Square formation, used by Romans and Chinese. The Romans made use of it famously at Carrae to keep themselves from being shot and charged on flanks. Didn't save Crassus. Or poor Publius.

[anylco]

I hope they add bigger battle maps, and better AI tactics. I love this tactic videos

[c.w.simpsonproductions]

The battle of Falkirk showed the glaring flaws with the schiltrons. Yes, it's fearsome against calvary and infantry, but when Wallace's calvary deserted the field, King Edward I sent forth his archer force and the archers, crossbowmen and slingers began raining projectiles on the inexperienced and poorly-armoured Scottish spearmen. The schiltrons were an easy target; they had no defence and nowhere to hide. If the force isn't heavily armored, they'll get cut to pieces and run down by calvary.

[JD]

You know mount and blade has come a long way when these real life tactics really work.

[renaultmckinnon]

You are by far my favourite Bannerlord youtuber. You're videos are consistently top quality and really interesting. Keep up the awesome work!

[floran]

please do more of this. historical battles emulated in M&B is what should've been done a long time ago

[crimsonlight]

Fun fact, if your outnumbered by a lot of cavalry, the ai npc will actually tell you to surround the archers with the infantry to keep the cavalry from getting to them. It was super effective for me.

[jammonkey]

interesting fact: the English were well famed for their powerful longbows able to shoot farther than any other bow at that time period, when William Wallace tried using a schiltron to fight against the King of England with this strategy in an open field the longbowmen simply shot from afar before the English knights swept up the last of the remaining Scottish peasants who were rebelling and captured William Wallace, not long after this event William Wallace was tortured and executed

[HeadbutKneecap]

When you first leap over your soldiers was pretty badass. I could already tell you were gonna win

[ryanwood]

Legend has it, this game is the entance test to West point academy

[ansonbock]

Love seeing all the different factions he plays as in these, was not expecting to see the Rodoks

[alexmagana]

Seeing the effectiveness of real world tactics in banner lord is pretty dope, hope you do more of these

[billylionisnotagoat]

the amount of control you have is wild ...i cant even imagine doing that on the xbox haha

[davidnewton]

I'm really enjoying this series of testing historic formations. A lot of games real world tactics don't often translate well to them, so it's a beautiful relief to see them work as they should do. Mirroring what someone else said, these videos have made me want to be more of a commander and less of an elite warrior in battles. It sure gives you a lot more time to make decisions and observe the battle properly... until you get an arrow to the face :'D

[alphacentauri]

Watching these videos show me just how bad of a commander I am.

Gotta step up my thinking!

[evantyler]

Loving these tactic videos, they are my favorite and I watch every single one!