It’s time to trade in your horse, because TaleWorlds Entertainment has finally taken the fight to the high seas! The long-awaited War Sails expansion for Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord has officially launched, introducing fully integrated naval travel, extensive ship customisation, and, most importantly, massive sea battles to the vast sandbox of Calradia. This isn’t just a minor patch; it’s a significant evolution for the series.
War Sails
The War Sails expansion fundamentally changes the landscape of warfare and trade in Calradia. The expansion opens up new territories, specifically focusing on a newly chartered northern sea and its surrounding lands, which are home to the new, Viking-inspired Nords faction. TaleWorlds Entertainment is “thrilled to launch” the expansion, which introduces naval combat inspired by medieval sea battles.
You’ll need to master wind and water physics, learning how to best ram ships or board enemy vessels. You can cripple your foes by shattering their oars, sinking hulls, or tearing sails. Players can now sail past previous land barriers, allowing armies to strike deep into enemy lands via rivers and open waters, but you’ll need to keep your forces supplied and beware of powerful storms and attrition that can undo the best-laid plans. The entire naval system and the new Nord faction are seamlessly integrated into Bannerlord’s world, reshaping diplomacy, trade, and the balance of power.
To celebrate the launch, and the massive achievement of Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord surpassing 6 million units sold globally, TaleWorlds has made a limited-time 10% launch discount available on the expansion.
Features of MOUNT & BLADE II: BANNERLORD – War Sails:
- MEET THE NORDS: Chart a course to the Northern Kingdom, home of the fearless Nords. Trade, recruit, or fight in a land of jagged peaks and icy fjords. Will you join the North or take their riches?
- MASTER NAVAL WARFARE: War Sails brings naval warfare inspired by medieval battles. Master wind and water physics, board or ram ships, cripple foes by shattering oars, sinking hulls, or tearing sails.
- EXPLORE AN EXPANDED MAP: Calradia expands for naval warfare with a northern sea, islands, rivers, and open waters. Sail past barriers, resupply, and battle foes on land and sea.
- BUILD YOUR FLEET: Choose from 20 ships, each with unique handling shaped by wind and waves. Upgrade with siege engines, sails, and rams. Acquire vessels, upgrade ports, or win ships and figureheads.
- EMBARK ON A NAVAL CAMPAIGN: Sail rivers and seas to strike deep into enemy land. Keep armies supplied, sink foes, and blockade towns. But beware—storms and attrition can undo even the best-laid plans.
- EXPAND YOUR ARSENAL: Gather new companions, Nordic banners, hairstyles, tattoos, and armour. Develop your naval skills, craft unique weapons, and wield new spears, swords, and axes to rule land and sea.
- A LIVING, EVOLVING WORLD: Naval systems and Nord faction integrate into Bannerlord’s world, reshaping trade, warfare, and diplomacy.
- CUSTOM NAVAL BATTLES: Create and command your own fleet battles. Choose hero, faction, ships, and crew, then set wind, season, and time of day on River, Coastal, or Open Sea maps. No campaign needed.
About the Game
Initially released to Early Access on Steam in March of 2020, and to 1.0 across Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S in October of 2022, MOUNT & BLADE II: BANNERLORD combines realistic, thrilling medieval combat, with deep and complex strategy elements in the vast sandbox continent of Calradia. Enthusiasm for the open-world action-RPG has remained incredibly high since its release, with the game hosting substantial concurrent player numbers and an active modding community.
What We Think
I’ve always loved the sheer scale and tactical depth that Bannerlord offers, but let’s be honest, the one thing that felt missing from a game set in a massive continental sandbox was proper naval action. The addition of the Nords faction and, more importantly, the ability to build and command a full fleet, complete with ship customisation and real-time naval battles, is a huge game-changer. For anyone who has been waiting for the biggest reason to dive back into Calradia, the call to the high seas is definitely it.
I’ll definitely get around to this one, but I’m hooked on Arc Raiders for now, and may be a while. Check out the official website here for more details.
