mount and blade with fire and sword units

However, unless you're using a mod that lets you get their spectacular Tsar Bodyguarduard (.who I also don't really use, but who is definitely worth remembering), they're pretty well rounded but average. The Russians are not to be dismissed, especially since they tend to be more durable than the average and generally well rounded (especially in the all important ranged realm). Which isn't such a problem in sieges or if you are using wagon forts to counter superior enemy cavalry.

The fact that they have the single best Militia (recruit-from-villages) units in the game also helps.Ĭouple that with the extremely well rounded, well trained, and well equipped other forces that the Swedes (and their Scottish allies0 have, and you don't really have any spectacular weaknesses save maybe a lack of cavalry versatility. I still don't think melee will play the best with them, but they provide a far higher margin for error than-say- the average Cossack/Crimean/Polish-Lithuanian unit of the same tier does.įully Equipped and Upgraded (Western) European Mercenaries being amazing soldiers (even in comparison to other fully equipped and trained mercenaries) is just the clincher.

So many of their soldiers are armored well (and so many that arne't are also pretty hearty). The only other faction that *might* be able to compare in ranged are the Crimean Tartars, who have the best cavalry archers and respectable musketeers (both with the crackshot Jannissaries and the relatively durable Seyman), but they also tned to be glass cannons that are basically doomed if you bring their horses down or get a solid shot in on their bodies.Īdd that to the fact that while individual units from other factions can have better personal protection (Winged Hussars, I'm looking at you) the Swedes get props for the amazingly high standard more or less across the board. The only other force that even comes close for gunpowder are the Cossacks, and their troops are glass cannons who can't really take a lot of punishment and tend to die off if you don't take extreme care with them, denying you their ability to level up. But even that is a lot more bearable, especially if you invest in training your men up and cultivating their armored troops (like the Finnish). In contrast to the idea that the Swedes don't have anything that dominates another faction, I do believe they basically have utter superiority in the ranged department, especially if you can avoid having the enemy close ranks. That being said, I do have experience with more or less all the troops of the different factions and I have to say that they are still my go-to-troops. I would also have to say Sweden, even though my status as a massive Sweden player doesn't make me terribly impartial.

Mount and blade with fire and sword units