Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord character creation: How to choose and upgrade skills

Learn how to unlock and upgrade skills, select perks, develop your character's culture and background

Guide by Rebecca Jones Former Guides Writer

Additional contributions by Dave Irwin

Updated on Oct. 24, 2022

What is the best character build in Bannerlord? I've seen complicated skill systems in the past, but I've never seen anything quite like the one found in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. Every skill has a bunch of perks that you can choose from, and upgrading your attributes requires you to take multiple factors into account.

On this page we'll help you get started with building your very own leader in Bannerlord. You'll learn how to increase your skill level, what focus points are and how to use them, and how to create a character. We'll also be listing the whole lot, and with good planning, you'll make your character a force to be reckoned with in battle.

How to increase your skill level in Bannerlord

Upgrading your character in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is incredibly complicated. It took me a fair while to wrap my head around it as it's not very well explained in-game. There are three specific areas to explain here: Attributes, Skills, and Focus Points.

Attributes: These are the six stats that have three skills each bound to them. For every third level up, you will also gain an attribute point which you can assign to an attribute by clicking the attribute in the character sheet (press "C" on world map to bring it up). Then click the plus sign in the window that appears and confirm by clicking "Done".
Skills: Your character's skills are initially defined by their culture and background (see below for more details on those), but are further upgraded by performing certain actions to gain skill points. Each one is bound to an attribute and you need to perform an action linked to that skill to increase its skill points. You can find the actions in the table below.
Focus Points: When you level up your character by gaining enough skill points, you will gain "focus points". Spending these focus points will allow you to increase your proficiency in that skill up to a maximum threshold. This is indicated by the green area. Any skill increases beyond the green area requires more focus points to be spent on that trait. It does not increase after spending the point automatically based on your performance prior to the threshold increase.

With all that explained, here is a list of all actions required to increase every single skill in the game:

Skill	Associated attribute	How to increase skill level
One handed	Vigor	Attack with one-handed weapons (excluding polearms). Can have shield equipped.
Two handed	Vigor	Attack with two-handed weapons (excluding polearms).
Polearms	Vigor	Attack with polearms (both one-handed and two-handed).
Bow	Control	Shooting enemies with bow and arrows and firing long-distance shots.
Crossbow	Control	Firing bolts with crossbows.
Throwing	Control	Hit enemies with thrown weapons.
Riding	Endurance	Ride around on horseback in the world map and in battle.
Athletics	Endurance	Run around on foot in the world map and in battle.
Smithing	Endurance	Crafting gear, refine materials, and smelt old equipment in a smithy.
Scouting	Cunning	Finding tracks and hideouts in the world map, as well as travelling on difficult terrain such as forests and mountains.
Tactics	Cunning	Ordering your troops in battle, winning while outnumbered/outclassed, or escaping encounters.
Roguery	Cunning	Bribery, raiding enemy towns and caravans, leading bandit troops, or escaping from captivity.
Charm	Social	Improving relationship with your companions, performing social actions with nobles such as playing Talbut, and bartering with traders.
Leadership	Social	Maintain a high morale score and amass larger number of troops in your army.
Trade	Social	Generate a profit when trading, and operating caravans.
Steward	Intelligence	Gain party morale from increased food variety, improving settlement prosperity with constructing new buildings, and spending time in your settlements.
Medicine	Intelligence	Have soldiers heal in settlements.
Engineering	Intelligence	Build and operate siege weapons.

Unlocking skill perks in Bannerlord

As well as increasing your skill points, increasing the skill up to certain levels will unlock perks. These are additional bonuses that are applied to actions you perform or while you have equipped a certain type of weapon or armour.

These will grant you various perks that can help in battle. To unlock a perk, you will need to do the following:

Press "C" on your keyboard in the world map to bring up the character sheet.
Click the skill you wish to upgrade.
Click a highlighted logo in the timeline view of the skill in that trait. To see in advance what they do, just go into the skill and hover your mouse over it.
Click the perk you wish to unlock and confirm the selection by pressing "Done".

Bannerlord perks list

Here is a list of every single perk currently in Bannerlord:

Note: If there is more than one perk listed with the same skill level requirement, you can only choose one of the two perks to unlock.

Perk name	Associated skill	Skill level requirement	Perk effect
Edge Placement I	One-handed	25	+4% one-handed weapon damage
Extra HP I	One-handed	25	+3 HP
Raider I	One-handed	50	+4% weapon speed bonus if one-handed weapon is equipped
Shield Bash I	One-handed	50	Shield Bash causes +50% damage.
Bruiser I	One-handed	75	+10% damage if one-handed mace is equipped
Long Strides	One-handed	75	Half weight effect of shields on movement speed in combat.
Bulwark I	One-handed	100	-25% to damage received to shields
Sword Master I	One-handed	100	+8% damage if one-handed sword weapon equipped.
Arrow Catcher	One-handed	125	Larger shield protection area against ranged weapons on shields.
Edge Placement II	One-handed	125	+5% one-handed damage.
Bulwark II	One-handed	150	-25% to damage received to shields
Bury the Hatchet	One-handed	150	+10% damage if one-handed axe is equipped.
Sword Master II	One-handed	175	+10% damage if one-handed sword is equipped.
Shield Bash II	One-handed	175	Shield Bash causes an additional +50% damage
Raider II	One-handed	200	+4% weapon speed bonus if one-handed weapon is equipped
Duelist	One-handed	225	+10% damage when wielding a one-handed weapon without a shield.
Basher	One-handed	225	+20% damage and extended stun duration with Shield Bashes.
Steel Core Shields	One-handed	250	-15% damage to shields.
Secondary Experts	One-handed	250	+10% damage with axes and maces.
Shield Bearer	One-handed	275	Shields don't affect character's combat weight.
Extra HP	Two-handed	25	+3 HP
Extra Damage	Two-handed	25	+1.5 extra two-handed damage
Garrison Capacity	Two-handed	50	+10 garrison limit
Reduced Wage	Two-handed	50	-5% garrison wages
Power Basher	Two-handed	75	+2% speed and +5% damage to two handed weapons with less than 85 speed
Speed Basher	Two-handed	75	+1% speed and +2% damage to two handed weapons with more than 100 speed
Notorious	Two-handed	100	+10% renown gain after battles
Quick Plunder	Two-handed	100	+5% raiding speed
Multi-hit	Two-handed	125	+40% hit damage for secondary successful hits
Edge Placement	Two-handed	125	+3% cut damage
Shield Breaker	Two-handed	150	+10% damage against shields
Eviscerator	Two-handed	150	+30% morale loss to enemies when using two handed weapons
Mounted Two Handed	Two-handed	175	Lower attack penalty while mounted
Berserker	Two-handed	175	Speed bonus modifier increased while player is on foot
Legendary Two Handed	Two-handed	200	Enemy begins with -1 morale
Inspiring Leader	Two-handed	200	+40% XP gain for up to 5 troops within a 10m radius whenever you defeat an enemy
Horse Slaughter	Two-handed	225	+20% damage to horses
Vandal	Two-handed	225	+40% damage to objects
Dominator	Two-handed	250	+10% chance to crush through with two handed weapons
Knock Down	Two-handed	250	Increased chance to knock down an enemy with a successful attack
Two Handed Mastery	Two-handed	275	+0.2% speed and +0.5% damage for every skill point beyond 200.
Deflect Arrows	Two-handed	275	A chance to block arrows with two handed weapons
Extra HP	Polearm	25	+3 HP
Standard Bearer	Polearm	50	+15% morale to troops in formation at the start of battle
Horse Killer	Polearm	75	+70% damage to horses
Footwork	Polearm	75	+2% combat movement speed while wielding a polearm
Lancer	Polearm	100	+30 couched lance damage
Push Back	Polearm	125	Enemies are pushed back when blocking polearm thrust attacks with shields
Powerful Thrust	Polearm	150	+2% thrust damage with polearms
Howling Swing	Polearm	150	+2% swing damage with polearms
Expert Infantry	Polearm	175	+2% damage with polearms while on foot
Expert Cavalry	Polearm	175	+2% damage with polearms while on horseback
Rapid Lancer	Polearm	200	Reduced cooldown for couching lances
Keep at Bay	Polearm	225	Push opponents with successful attacks
Slaughter	Polearm	250	Faster swings with polearms
Tight Grip	Polearm	275	+30% couched lance damage
Marksman	Bow	25	+10% accuracy with bows
Strong Pull	Bow	50	+15% to hold aim duration
Faster Aim	Bow	50	+10% arrow readying speed
Marsh Hunter	Bow	75	+0.5% food in marshes
Forest Hunter	Bow	75	+0.5% food in forests
Mounted Archer	Bow	100	Can use any bow on horseback
Large Quiver	Bow	100	+3 extra arrows per quiver
Intimidate Archers	Bow	125	-2 morale for enemy archers at the start of battle
Intimidate Infantry	Bow	125	-2 morale for enemy infantry at the start of battle
Merry Men	Bow	150	+3 party size
Instructor	Bow	175	An archer in your party with a lower bow skill gets bow XP while waiting
Instinctive Shot	Bow	200	+10% faster to max aiming accuracy
Battle Equipped	Bow	200	+6 extra arrows per quiver
Howling Bolt	Bow	225	+3% flight speed and +7% damage for arrows
Pick Targets	Bow	225	+10% accuracy for nearby troops
Ranger	Bow	250	The player is better at firing arrows while moving
Archery Renown	Bow	275	-30% ranged unit recruitment cost
Fast Reload	Crossbow	25	+10% reload speed
Hasty Reload	Crossbow	50	+15% reload speed
Crossbow Cavalry	Crossbow	75	Reload any crossbow on horseback
Plain Hunter	Crossbow	100	+0.5 food on grasslands
Improved Aim	Crossbow	125	+10% faster to max aiming accuracy
Maintenance	Crossbow	150	+7% damage
Recruiter	Crossbow	175	-20% crossbow unit recruitment cost
Renowned Marksman	Crossbow	200	+5% post-battle XP for all ranged troops
Volley Commander	Crossbow	225	+10% reload speed for all ranged troops
Without Honor	Crossbow	250	+20% damage to enemies hit from behind
Bone Bolts	Crossbow	275	-1 enemy morale for each unit you kill with a crossbow
Steady Hand	Throwing	25	+15% accuracy
Skull Crusher	Throwing	50	+20% headshot damage
Fully Armed	Throwing	75	+1 extra thrown weapon per pack
Skirmishers	Throwing	100	+5 party size
Concealed Carry	Throwing	125	Use throwing weapons while entering settlements as civilians
Battle Ready	Throwing	150	+2 thrown weapons per pack
Master Thrower	Throwing	175	+10% weapon flight speed and +20% damage
Perfect Accuracy	Throwing	200	Increased accuracy
Well Prepared	Throwing	225	+1 throwing weapon ammo for troops
Mounted Thrower	Throwing	250	Reduced horseback penalty to thrown weapons
Running Throw	Throwing	275	No penalty when throwing weapons while moving
Vigorous	Riding	25	+6% horse HP
Spare Arrows	Riding	50	+3 arrows in quivers when starting battles on horseback
Spare Throwing Weapon	Riding	50	+1 throwing weapon when starting battles on horseback
Squires	Riding	75	+2 party size
Sharpshooter	Riding	75	+15% accuracy on horseback
Mounted Archer	Riding	100	-10% ranged attack penalty on horseback
Cavalry	Riding	100	-10% melee attack penalty on horseback
Bow Expert	Riding	125	Use any bow on horseback
Crossbow Expert	Riding	125	Use any crossbow on horseback
Horse Grooming	Riding	150	+50% production in horse farms
Conroi	Riding	175	+4 party size
Trampler	Riding	200	+50% charge damage
Iron Steed	Riding	225	-50% chance a horse is lamed when wounded
Filled to Brim	Riding	250	+20 carrying capacity for pack animals
Nomadic Traditions	Riding	275	+30% mounted unit speed
Extra Arrows	Athletics	25	+2 arrows in quivers when starting a battle on foot
Extra Throwing Weapon	Athletics	25	+1 throwing weapon quantity when starting a battle on foot
Close Quarters Training	Athletics	50	+2 melee damage while on foot
Ranged Training	Athletics	50	+2 ranged damage while on foot
Endurance	Athletics	75	+4% HP
Dexterous	Athletics	75	+3% movement speed
Powerkick	Athletics	100	Increased kick damage
In Good Shape	Athletics	125	+2% foot soldier HP
Furious Charge	Athletics	150	+10% foot soldiers speed
Salt the Wound	Athletics	175	Extra damage while lower than half max HP
Unburdened	Athletics	200	Lower penalty for being over-encumbered
Peak Form	Athletics	225	+10% HP
Spartan	Athletics	250	-5% party food consumption and wages
Mighty Blow	Athletics	275	Bashes and kicks knock enemies down
Efficient Iron Maker	Smithing	25	3x Crude Iron for 1x Iron Ore
Efficient Charcoal Maker	Smithing	25	2x Charcoal for 1x Hardwood
Steel Maker	Smithing	50	2x Iron into 1x Steel. 1x Crude Iron by-product
Curious Smelter	Smithing	50	+100% chance to learn new designs while smelting
Steel Maker II	Smithing	75	2x Steel into 1x Fine Steel. 1x Crue Iron by-product
Curious Smith	Smithing	75	+100% chance to learn new designs while smithing
Steel Maker III	Smithing	100	2x Fine Steel into Thamaskene Steel. 1x Crude Iron by-product
Experienced Smith	Smithing	100	+10% chance to craft "fine" weapon if difficulty requirements are met
Practical Refiner	Smithing	125	-50% stamina cost to refining
Practical Smelter	Smithing	125	-50% stamina cost to smelting
Vigorous Smith	Smithing	150	+1 Vigor
Strong Smith	Smithing	150	+1 Strength
Practical Smith	Smithing	175	-50% stamina cost to smithing
Artisan Smith	Smithing	175	-50% penalty when trading smithed weapons
Master Smith	Smithing	200	+10% masterwork weapon crafting chance if difficulty requirements are met
Enduring Smith	Smithing	225	+1 Endurance
Fencer Smith	Smithing	225	+1 focus points for One-handed and Two-handed skills
Sharpened Edge	Smithing	250	+2% cut damage for crafted weapons
Sharpened Tip	Smithing	250	+2% thrust damage for crafted weapons
Legendary Smith	Smithing	275	+5% legendary weapon crafting chance if difficulty requirements are met, that is increased +1% for every smithing skill point above 300.
Pathfinder	Scouting	25	+2% party movement speed during daytime
Night Vision	Scouting	25	+2% party movement speed during nighttime
Navigator	Scouting	50	+1% party movement speed
Investigator	Scouting	75	Tracks give more information
Farsighted	Scouting	100	Increased chance to spot other roaming parties
Eye for Ambush	Scouting	125Q	Spot hideouts from further away
Forest Lore	Scouting	150	+5% movement speed and -50% food consumption while on forests
Desert Lore	Scouting	150	+5% movement speed and -50% food consumption while on deserts
Hills Lore	Scouting	175	+5% movement speed and -50% food consumption while on hills
Marshes Lore	Scouting	175	+5% movement speed and -50% food consumption while on marshes
Forced March	Scouting	200	Bonus speed with high party morale
Grassland Navigator	Scouting	225	+5% movement speed while in grasslands
Healthy Scout	Scouting	250	+8% HP
Lay of the Land	Scouting	275	+3% movement speed on map
Companion Cavalry	Tactics	25	+10% enemy morale loss with cavalry attacks
Tactical Superiority	Tactics	50	+5% troop damage in simulations
One Step Ahead	Tactics	75	Place all troops before battles begin
Logistics	Tactics	100	+20% ammo for ranged units
Ambush Specialists	Tactics	125	+60% archer damage in simulations while in forests
Phalanx	Tactics	150	+50% infantry damage vs cavalry in simulations
Hammer & Anvil	Tactics	150	+50% cavalry damage vs archers in simulations
Elusive	Tactics	175	-50% troops left behind when retreating
Swift Regroup	Tactics	200	-50% disorganised duration
Bait	Tactics	225	+30% reinforcement distance for allies
Trusted Commander	Tactics	250	Reduced army cohesion decay
Rational Leader	Tactics	275	Decreased army supply consumption and disorganised duration
Raiding Party	Roguery	25	+10% faster village raids
Eye for Loot	Roguery	25	+5% loot from village raids
Commanding Presence	Roguery	50	Lower relationship penalty when using intimidation
For the Thrill	Roguery	75	+10% morale from raiding villages
Scavenger	Roguery	100	More loot from enemies
Concealed Blade	Roguery	125	Can use one handed weapons as a civilian
Slip Into Shadows	Roguery	125	-20% chance of being caught while sneaking in towns
Negotiator	Roguery	150	+50% easier bribes
Briber	Roguery	150	Higher chance a bribe option appears in dialogue
Camoflague	Roguery	175	-10% chance to alarm enemy settlements when passing nearby
Escape Artists	Roguery	200	+30% faster when escaping captivity
Bribe Master	Roguery	225	-50% bribe amount
Slave Trader	Roguery	250	+20% better deals with ransom broker
Merry Men	Roguery	275	Recruit bandits to party
Ice Breaker	Charm	25	+10% chance to gain +2 relations when introducing yourself to lords
Diplomacy	Charm	25	-15% barter penalty
Adventure Stories	Charm	50	+1 renown for each issue resolved
Show Your Scars	Charm	50	+20% more renown from battles
Forgivable Grievances	Charm	75	-20% persuasion critical failure chance
Meaningful Favors	Charm	75	+10% chance to have doubled persuasion success
In Bloom	Charm	100	+20% relationship gain with those of the opposite gender
Young and Respectful	Charm	100	+20% relationship gain with those of the same gender
Champion	Charm	125	+10 influence from winning tournaments
Respectful Opposition	Charm	125	+30% chance to negate relationship penalty from kingdom decisions
Effort For The People	Charm	150	+10% chance for governor to gain +1 relation with random notable person (lord or noble) per day
Promoter	Charm	150	+1 notable relations with settlement owner for every project completed
Our Great Leader	Charm	175	+20% influence from personal actions
Pro Familia	Charm	175	Clan member parties gain +10% influence from actions
Moral Leader	Charm	200	+10 security bonus for towns
Natural Leader	Charm	200	+10 loyalty bonus for towns
Courtship	Charm	225	+1 influence per day for each allied lord's party not currently in an army, and while waiting in the same town
Parade	Charm	225	+5 loyalty per day when you visit your settlements
Charm	Charm	250	This perk is not currently enabled
Immortal Charm	Charm	275	+1 influence per day for every 5 charm skill points after 250
Combat Tips	Leadership	25	Small XP boost each day to your party
Raise the Meek	Leadership	25	Medium XP boost each day for troops of tier 1-3
Inspiring Attacker	Leadership	50	+20 morale in battles when you're attacking
Star Defender	Leadership	50	+20 morale in battles when you're defending
Stiff Upper Lip	Leadership	75	+20% security effectiveness of town garrisons
Gratitude	Leadership	75	+20% town loyalty gain
Levy Sergeant	Leadership	100	-15% wages for troops of tier 1-4
Veterans Respect	Leadership	100	-15% wages for troops of tier 4-6
Dispenser of Justice	Leadership	125	+5 town security while waiting
Disciplinarian	Leadership	125	Convert bandits into regular troops
Drill Master	Leadership	150	+20% XP for garrison
Citizen Militia	Leadership	150	+20% chance that militia spawns with more experienced troops
Inspiring Leader	Leadership	175	-20% influence needed to call parties to army
Assuring Presence	Leadership	175	-20% army cohesion decay
Public Talker	Leadership	200	+10% more effective boosts from forum, festival, arena, temple, and market place
Inspiring Warrior	Leadership	200	+20% faster notable recruit replenishment
Swords As Tribute	Leadership	225	+20% XP for heroes under your command
Companions	Leadership	225	+20% XP for troops under your command
Leader	Leadership	250	This perk is not currently enabled
Ultimate Leader	Leadership	275	+1 party capacity for every leadership skill point above 250
Appraiser	Trade	25	+5% selling price for your equipment and profits are marked
Whole Seller	Trade	25	+5% selling price for your trade goods and profits are marked
Caravan Master	Trade	50	-20% wages for caravans and +30% party carry weight
Town Merchant	Trade	50	-20% wages for workshops and +30% party carry weight
Traveling Rumors	Trade	75	Caravans gather trade rumours and mark item prices relative to the average price
Local Connection	Trade	75	Workshops gather trade rumours and mark item prices relative to the average price
Distributed Goods	Trade	100	+10 income for every villager party that enters town
Toll Gates	Trade	100	+25 income for every caravan that enters town
Artisan Community	Trade	125	+1 renown for every profitable shop you own
Great Investor	Trade	125	+1 renown for every profitable caravan you own
Village Connections	Trade	150	+25% workshop production
Content Trades	Trade	150	+10% tariff income
Insurance Plans	Trade	175	Caravans have more elite troops and return 5000 gold when destroyed
Rapid Development	Trade	175	+70% town taxes while waiting and shops give 5000 gold when captured by an enemy
Granary Accountant	Trade	200	+20% production for grain, olive, fish, and dates in "bound villages"
Tradeyard Foreman	Trade	200	+20% production for clay, iron, raw silk, and silver in "bound villages"
Everything Has a Price	Trade	225	Trade settlements while bartering
Influential Trader	Trade	250	Caravans and workshops generate influence
Mercenary Trader	Trade	275	+15 party size
Tax Collector	Steward	25	+10% tax from villages
Supreme Authority	Steward	25	+1 influence if you're a ruler
Agriculture	Steward	50	+30% farm production
Prominence	Steward	50	+1 influence if you're a vassal
Nourish Settlement	Steward	75	Quadruple settlement prosperity growth while you wait there
Warmonger	Steward	75	Less influence needed to summon vassals for war
Bannerlord	Steward	100	+2 party size for each fief you own
Logistics Expert	Steward	100	Parties in armies you lead move faster
Prosperous Reign	Steward	125	Double village growth rate
War Rations	Steward	125	-20% food consumption
Enhanced Mines	Steward	150	+50% tax income from mines
Swords As Tribute	Steward	150	+10 party size for every vassal Does not work
Man-At-Arms	Steward	175	+5 party size for each fief you own. Does not work
Mount Expert	Steward	175	-10% trade penalty for horses
Reeve	Steward	200	+1 companion Does not work
Stand United	Steward	200	If you're leading a siege, any party that leaves or enters the area must engage your army first
Food Rationing	Steward	225	-40% food consumption in a settlement while you're under siege
Assessor	Steward	225	+10% taxes from villages
Ruler	Steward	250	+1 companion for each town you own
Agrarian	Steward	250	+30% farm production
Reconstruction	Steward	275	Faster recovery for villages after being raided
Self Medication	Medicine	25	+10% character healing rate
Preventative Medicine	Medicine	25	+10% HP
Triage Tent	Medicine	50	+20% healing rate for party while stationary on world map
Walk It Off	Medicine	50	+10% healing rate for party while moving on the world map
Mobile Aid	Medicine	75	-50% party speed penalty due to wounded members
Doctor's Oath	Medicine	75	Medicine recovery chance also applies to enemies
Best Medicine	Medicine	100	+10% healing rate when at high morale
Good Lodging	Medicine	100	+10% healing rate when resting in towns
Siege Medic	Medicine	125	+30% chance of siege bombardment casualties being wounded instead of being killed
Pristine Streets	Medicine	150	+1 settlement prosperity each day
Bush Doctor	Medicine	150	+20% village hearth growth rate and +20% party healing rate when waiting in villages
Perfect Health	Medicine	175	+20% clan member fertility
Health Advice	Medicine	175	+10% clan life expectancy
Physician of People	Medicine	200	+1 settlement loyalty each day
Clean Infrastructure	Medicine	200	+1 prosperity each day for every town project related to health and sanitation
Cheat Death	Medicine	225	One-time chance to avoid death when terminally ill
Fortitude Tonic	Medicine	225	-50% chance of heroes dying in battle
Horse Healer	Medicine	250	+30% chance per day for a lame horse to recover
Minister of Health	Medicine	275	Troops gain bonus HP before battles
Construction Expert	Engineering	25	+30% construction speed for castles and walls
Ballistics	Engineering	50	+30% catapult effectiveness
Imperial Fire	Engineering	75	Enables construction of fire-throwing siege engines
Improved Masonry	Engineering	100	Stronger fortifications
Armorcraft	Engineering	125	+10% armour effectiveness
Good Materials	Engineering	150	+20% HP for siege engines
Heavier Siege Engines	Engineering	175	+20% increased bombardment damage vs other siege engines
Wall Breaker	Engineering	200	Increased damage to walls during sieges
Resolute	Engineering	225	Lower morale loss during sieges
Builder	Engineering	250	1.5x building development speed
Everyday Engineer	Engineering	275	+60% effectiveness for default town projects

The character creation screen for Bannerlord which can determine some starting skills.

Choosing your culture

A lot of your initial skill points and perks will come from your character's creation at the beginning of the game. Your first task when creating a character is to choose your culture.

There are six cultures to choose from and they're all named after one of the kingdoms or regions. Your choice therefore, is the region your character grew up in.

They comes with their own bonuses. Some cultures affect how troops move in certain terrains, while others give bonuses to experience or reduction in costs.

Vlandians: 20% more upgrade XP to troops from battles.
Sturgians: 20% less speed penalty from snow.
Empire: 20% construction speed bonus to town projects, wall repairs and siege.
Aseri: Caravans are 30% cheaper build cost and 10% less trade penalty.
Khuzaits: 10% speed bonus for horsemen on campaign map.
Battanians: 10% less speed penalty from Forest.

Since you start out in areas that are not covered in snow, picking the Sturgians might give you a bit of a hard time when compared to the other cultures.

If you want my opinion on which ones are the best for beginners, go with either Empire or Vlandians, as their bonuses can help with fortifying your towns or troops. Try the Aseri if you're looking for a more trade-focused campaign, while Khuzaits help out with amassing a superior cavalry.

Deciding your background

It's not just your culture that you can choose. Later on in character creation, you'll be asked to define your background. Picking one of the options available will give you some skill level and focus points to spend on that skill.

You'll also get attribute points which affect all three skills in that attribute's scope (for example, Vigor has one handed, two handed, and polearm skills).

There are six questions you'll need to answer to create your character. It's worth noting that question five gives some additional renown and some points in unrelated stats to the ones used for levelling up.

To make it easier for you, click the following links to go to the question you need to answer.

Family
Early Childhood
Adolescence
Youth
Young Adulthood
Story Background

Family

A Lord's Retainers

Riding: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Polearm: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Vigor: +1 attribute point

Urban Merchants

Trade: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Charm: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Social: +1 attribute point

Freeholders

Athletics: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Polearm: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Endurance: +1 attribute point

Urban Artisans

Smithing: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Crossbow: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Intelligence: +1 attribute point

Foresters

Scouting: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Bow: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Control: +1 attribute point

Urban Vagabonds

Roguery: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Throwing: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Cunning: +1 attribute point

Early Childhood

your leadership skills

Leadership: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Tactics: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Cunning: +1 attribute point

your brawn

Two handed: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Throwing: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Vigor: +1 attribute point

your attention to detail

Athletics: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
One handed: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Control: +1 attribute point

your aptitude with numbers

Engineering: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Trade: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Intelligence: +1 attribute point

your way with people

Charm: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Leadership: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Social: +1 attribute point

your skill with horses

Riding: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Medicine: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Endurance: +1 attribute point

Adolescence

herded the sheep

Athletics: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Throwing: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Control: +1 attribute point

worked in the village smithy

Two handed: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Smithing: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Vigor: +1 attribute point

repaired projects

Smithing: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Engineering: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Intelligence: +1 attribute point

gathered herbs in the wild

Medicine: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Scouting: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Endurance: +1 attribute point

hunted small game

Bow: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Tactics: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Control: +1 attribute point

sold produce at the market

Trade: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Charm: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Social: +1 attribute point

Youth

joined a commander's staff

Steward: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Tactics: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Cunning: +1 attribute point

trained with the cavalry

Riding: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Polearm: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Endurance: +1 attribute point

stood guard with the garrisons

Crossbow: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Engineering: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Intelligence: +1 attribute point

rode with the scouts

Riding: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Bow: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Endurance: +1 attribute point

trained with the infantry

Polearm: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
One handed: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Vigor: +1 attribute point

joined the skirmishers

Throwing: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Bow: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Control: +1 attribute point

Young Adulthood

You defeated an enemy in battle

One handed: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Two handed: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Vigor: +1 attribute point
+1 Valor
+20 Renown

You led a successful manhunt

Tactics: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Leadership: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Cunning: +1 attribute point
+1 Calculating
+10 Renown

You invested some money in land

Trade: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Smithing: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Intelligence: +1 attribute point
+1 Calculating
+10 Renown

You hunted a dangerous animal

Bow: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Crossbow: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Control: +1 attribute point
+5 Renown

You had a famous escapade in town

Athletics: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Roguery: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Endurance: +1 attribute point
+1 Valor
+5 Renown

You treated people well

Charm: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Steward: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Social: +1 attribute point
+1 Mercy, Generosity, and Honor
+5 Renown

Story Background

you subdued a raider

One handed: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Athletics: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Vigor: +1 attribute point

you drove them off with arrows

Bow: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Tactics: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Control: +1 attribute point

you rode off on a fast horse

Riding: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Scouting: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Endurance: +1 attribute point

you tricked the raiders

Roguery: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Tactics: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Cunning: +1 attribute point

you organised the travellers to break out

Leadership: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Charm: +10 Skill level and +1 Focus Point
Social: +1 attribute point

We hope that this is helpful for deciding which skills to unlock, and how to upgrade your character in Bannerlord. You can check out our other guides for the game, such as tips to get started in the campaign, and other complicated parts such as sieges and workshops.