If you are an avid Mount and Blade fan and have played Warband, and all of its expansions, then you are probably accustomed to the powerful mechanic known as Couch Lance.
Back in the old days, this technique was the terror of multiplayer and cavalry-based battles. We are proud to announce that Couch Lance continues to dominate the lands of Calradia, even in Bannerlord.
Recommended Read: What to Do When Not at War in Bannerlord
The method, however, is not automatic anymore and actually requires a bit of skill and timing to use this time around.
So, since you are already tired of weak, short spears, here is how to Couch Lance in Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord and defeat all your enemies in one shot.
Table of contents
Couch Lance Requirements
There are many types of spears in the game. However, there are some that have a special attribute that allows them to use the most overpowered mechanic in Bannerlord.
The polearm weapons that can use this mechanic have a tag that sets them apart, which you can see in the inventory, named “Couch Lance” (you can also see it in the picture above).
If a spear or lance has this attribute, then it is a viable weapon to use the Couch Lance mechanic.
If a polearm, even if it is the longest you’ve seen in the game, does not have this specific attribute in the inventory screen, then it can’t be used for Couch Lance.
So, get a polearm with that attribute and equip it. It’s time to learn how to use it.
How to Couch Lance in Bannerlord
Here is how you can couch your lance during a battle in Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord:
- Charge with your horse (you need a fast horse. Otherwise, it won’t work).
- When you’ve reached a decent speed, press “X” on your keyboard.
- Aim the head of the lance toward enemies (you can press “R” to enter the first-person camera and aim properly).
And that should be it. Of course, if you have a really bad starting horse, then you won’t be able to Couch Lance. However, even heavy horses with armor should be able to reach the desired speed.
The only problem some people seem to have with this mechanic in Bannerlord is that you can miss very easily if you don’t aim properly.
This is why we suggested using the first-person camera if you are struggling to hit any targets on the battlefield.
You can figure out the mechanic worked if you see the character putting the lance under their armpit. The lance moves around quite a lot, so be careful since if you lose speed, you will get out of the animation.
Players can see if they used their couched lance if they see in the terminal to the right “Delivered couched lance damage”.
Most of the time, if your polearm is decent enough, you should get one-shot kills using the Couch Lance. If not, get yourself some better equipment through smithing.
Since it is such a powerful technique for horse riders, Couch Lance should almost feels like a cheat.
That’s everything you need to know about how to Couch Lance in Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord!
Have any input or suggestions for this guide? Let us know in the comment section below.
