Best Ships in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord (War Sails). Tier List & Fleet Builds

Why “best ship” depends on your goal

War Sails doesn’t have one ship that’s best at everything. Different hulls are built for different jobs: boarding, ranged pressure, raiding/chasing, and trade logistics. The “best ship” is simply the one that matches your playstyle and campaign plan.

When choosing a ship, focus on what actually wins you fights and campaigns:

• Crew & deck capacity (boarding wins most close fights)
• Hull durability (staying power in long battles)
• Speed & handling (positioning is everything on water)
• Cargo capacity (profit + supplies)
• Seaworthiness (safer, more reliable travel)

Quick Tier List: Best Ships (pick fast)

S-Tier (best-in-role)

Dromon (Empire) – Best overall fleet anchor: durable, crew-heavy, reliable in big naval battles.
Drakkar (Nords) – Best boarding/piracy ship: closes fights fast and overwhelms decks.
Corbita (Trade) – Best money ship: massive cargo for fast profit runs (needs escorts).

A-Tier (elite, slightly more situational)

Ghurab (Aserai) – Heavy ship that excels at controlled fights and open-water pressure.
Roundship (Vlandia) – Best ranged platform: great lines of sight and stable “fortress” play.
Qalguk (Khuzait) – Strong skirmish flagship: reposition and pressure with range, then finish.
Lodya (Sturgia) – Best-value boarding heavy: durable and made to force deck fights.
Liburna (Empire) – Best balanced midgame warship: consistent, flexible, easy to fit in any fleet.

B-Tier (solid stepping stones)

Trade Cog (Trade) – Budget cargo ship: great inventory early, weak in combat without escort.
Longship (Nord) – Fast and fun, great early boarding feel, not as dominant as Drakkar.
Sambuk / Cog (Generalists) – Fine all-around ships until you can buy better hulls.

C-Tier (niche)

Birlinn (Battania) – Fast and agile, good for harassment, fragile if boarded.
Small galleys / starter lights – Good early mobility, limited in late-game fleet fights.
Fishing vessels – Not built to win battles; use for niche roleplay or very early travel.

Ship classes explained (Light vs Medium vs Heavy)

Light ships

Best for: scouting, raiding, chasing, flanking
Strengths: acceleration, turning, low cost
Weaknesses: low crew, low durability, struggle in prolonged boarding fights

Use them like cavalry: hit the edges, punish isolated targets, and never commit into heavy brawls.

Medium ships

Best for: generalist fleets, balanced combat, safe progression
Strengths: good mix of crew, durability, and mobility
Weaknesses: not the best at extremes (not fastest, not tankiest)

Your backbone: most players should build around medium ships early-to-midgame.

Heavy ships

Best for: decisive battles, boarding brawls, flagship role
Strengths: big crew, strong durability, best platform for upgrades
Weaknesses: slower turning and acceleration, positioning matters more

Your finisher: heavy ships win by forcing close fights and surviving long engagements.

Best ships by playstyle (what to use and why)

Best overall warship: Dromon (Empire)

If you want one ship that consistently performs in major fights, pick a heavy flagship-style hull like the Dromon. It’s the “I don’t want to lose my ship” choice—durable, crew-heavy, and reliable when battles drag on.

Best for: big naval battles, campaign safety, flagship role
How to play it: hold the line, absorb pressure, and force boarding when enemies are disorganized.

Best boarding/piracy ship: Drakkar (Nords)

Drakkar shines when you want fast wins through boarding. It’s built to close distance, bring bodies onto decks, and end fights quickly before ranged pressure bleeds you down.

Best for: piracy, aggressive fleets, fast boarding wins
How to play it: commit hard, close gaps quickly, and don’t give enemy ranged time to farm you.

Best ranged “fortress” ship: Roundship (Vlandia)

If you love ranged control—archers, crossbows, throwing weapons—the Roundship-style heavy platform excels. It’s stable, strong for line-of-sight, and punishes enemies who approach carelessly.

Best for: ranged-heavy crews, defensive fleets, controlling angles
How to play it: kite when needed, soften targets, then board only when the fight is already won.

Best heavy pressure ship: Ghurab (Aserai)

Ghurab is a strong heavy option for players who want controlled fights and consistent pressure. It performs best in open water when you can manage distance and avoid messy multi-ship collisions.

Best for: open-water battles, controlled engagements, pressure fleets
How to play it: keep formation, win positioning, then collapse onto isolated ships.

Best skirmish flagship: Qalguk (Khuzait)

Qalguk fits players who like mobility at sea—repositioning, forcing bad angles, and winning the ranged trade before committing to boarding.

Best for: skirmish fleets, ranged harassment, fast repositioning
How to play it: don’t brawl early—win the missile game, then finish with boarding.

Best “boarding heavy” value pick: Lodya (Sturgia)

Lodya is the kind of ship you pick when you want a heavy feel without paying the highest flagship cost. It’s built to push through pressure and force deck fights.

Best for: boarding-focused fleets, consistent heavy power, tough campaigns
How to play it: drive straight into the fight, keep support ships around, and overwhelm by numbers.

Best balanced midgame ship: Liburna (Empire)

Liburna is the safe pick when you want something that just works: not extreme, but reliable. Great for learning naval combat and building a stable fleet.

Best for: midgame progression, flexible fleets, learning naval fights
How to play it: support heavies, chase weakened ships, and fill gaps in your fleet composition.

Best trade ships (how to get rich safely)

Corbita (Top cargo)

If your goal is money, Corbita-style trade ships are your best friend. Big inventory means bigger profit runs—but you must protect it.

Best for: long trade routes, moving loot, supply runs
How to play it: never sail alone—use escorts and avoid high-risk waters.

Trade Cog (Budget cargo)

Trade Cog is the “start making real money early” option. Great cargo for cost, but vulnerable in fights.

Best for: early trading, budget economy builds
How to play it: one strong escort can save you from losing everything.

Best ship upgrades (what to prioritize)

Upgrades can turn a decent hull into a monster. Choose upgrades based on your job:

If you board

• Durability first (survive approach)
• Boarding pressure (anything that helps you close and win on deck)
• Crew efficiency (keep your deck advantage)

If you play ranged

• Better firing angles/positions (anything that improves ranged uptime)
• Survivability (so you can keep distance longer)
• Handling (so you control spacing)

If you trade

• Cargo + safety
• Speed/efficiency
• Escort strategy (fleet matters more than upgrades here)

Fleet builds (simple setups that work)

Fleet Build 1: “Naval Dominance” (balanced late-game)

• 1× Heavy flagship (Dromon/Ghurab/Roundship)
• 1–2× Heavy or Medium supports
• 1× Medium chaser (Liburna-style)

Why it works: you win endurance fights and always have a ship to clean up.

Fleet Build 2: “Pirate King” (boarding rush)

• 2–5× Drakkar/boarding-focused mediums
• 0–1× cheap fast ship for chasing runners

Why it works: boarding wins quickly before enemy ranged pressure matters.

Fleet Build 3: “Trade Empire” (profit + safety)

• 1–2× Corbita (cargo)
• 1× Trade Cog (extra cargo)
• Escorts: 1–2× Medium warships

Why it works: maximum money without getting farmed.

How to get better ships faster (practical tips)

• Buy from bigger ports (better ship selection)
• Upgrade ports/shipyards when possible (more medium/heavy options)
• Capture ships after wins (high-risk, high-reward)
• Don’t over-invest early—a strong escort fleet beats one expensive ship

FAQ

What’s the best ship overall in War Sails?

For the safest “wins most fights” answer, pick a durable heavy flagship like the Dromon: strong endurance and big crew for decisive boarding.

What’s the best ship for boarding?

The Drakkar is built for fast closes and deck dominance—perfect for piracy and aggressive fleets.

What’s the best ship for making money?

Corbita is the top cargo option, with Trade Cog as the budget alternative (always use escorts).