War Sails - Bannerlord Takes to the High Seas

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord - DLC Review

Released: November 26, 2025 · TaleWorlds Entertainment · PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

Overview

After years confined to Calradia's plains and walled cities, Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord finally raises its anchor. War Sails, the game's first paid expansion, launched on November 26, 2025, bringing full naval warfare to Bannerlord for the very first time. Players can now command fleets, engage in sea battles, and explore a newly expanded northern world - all integrated into the game's sandbox campaign.

A World Reborn

War Sails expands Calradia northward into the realm of the Nords, a Viking-inspired faction of legendary seafarers who inhabit jagged fjords, frozen taigas, and rugged coastlines. The new territories include Nordvyg, a dense northern region, Beinland Island with its whale oil and walrus ivory economy, and the strategically vital Jumne River Zone. Two major land bridges have been removed to open new sea routes, reshaping trade, movement, and warfare across the entire map.

The Nords are a fully fleshed-out faction. Deadly in close-quarters boarding combat, they can be traded with, recruited from, or challenged for control of their settlements. They feel genuinely integrated into Bannerlord's world rather than simply added on top of it.

Naval Combat

The naval system is the heart of the expansion, and it's built with real depth. Inspired by historical medieval sea battles, combat is shaped by wind direction and wave conditions that dynamically affect each ship's speed and handling. Players can board enemy vessels from multiple angles, ram hulls to shatter oars and compromise buoyancy, keep their distance and unleash ballista fire, or lash onto several enemies at once to pin them down for allies. Well-placed arrows and ballista bolts can ignite sails and force crews to abandon their stations. Ships can be captured or sunk outright.

A custom naval battle mode lets players set up standalone skirmishes outside the campaign, with control over factions, fleet compositions, weather conditions, and map type - river, coastal, or open sea.

Fleet Building

War Sails adds 20 ships in total: 15 warships, 4 trade vessels, and a civilian fishing boat. Each is based on historical designs and handles differently depending on its build. Ships can be equipped with siege engines, cargo holds, upgraded sails, and rams. Players acquire vessels through shipyards whose stock reflects the culture and development of their home town, and can upgrade ports to unlock better ships over time.

New Skills, Gear & Questline

Three new nautical skills covering navigation, sea tactics, and maritime stewardship expand the character system meaningfully. New Nord-themed gear - hairstyles, tattoos, beards, spears, axes, and swords - supports a northern warlord fantasy. The economy has also been overhauled: tariff revenue can now average over 30% and exceed 60% in major trade hubs, making coastal cities far more valuable than before.

A dedicated introductory questline guides new players from their first steps on deck to commanding a small fleet against a pirate confederacy, using cinematics and scripted missions to ease them into the naval systems.

Sound & Atmosphere

New Mediterranean and Nordic-inspired musical tracks accompany a revamped soundscape featuring piercing winds, crashing waves, creaking hulls, and the chaos of boarding actions. The audio work is a clear step up from the base game and does a lot to sell the sense of life at sea.

Strengths and Weaknesses

What Works

• Naval combat is deep, tactical, and genuinely enjoyable
• The Nords are a well-realised new faction
• The expanded northern world adds meaningful strategic depth
• Ship customisation rewards long-term investment
• The introductory questline is a welcome on-ramp
• Audio and atmosphere are excellent throughout
• Custom naval battle sandbox is a great addition

Where It Falls Short

• The War Sails content runs on a separate world map, which can feel disconnected
• Some base game map elements were removed to accommodate the new sea routes
• Launch Steam reviews were mixed, sitting around 55% positive
• The price point has divided opinion

Verdict

8 out of 10. War Sails is a bold, ambitious expansion that succeeds where it matters most: making naval warfare feel worthy of Bannerlord's sandbox legacy. The Nords are a fantastic faction, the sea battles are deep and thrilling, and the expanded world opens up strategic possibilities the base game simply couldn't offer. The disconnected world map and some rough edges at launch hold it back from being an essential purchase - but if you've ever wanted to raid coastal settlements from the prow of a longship, your time has finally come.

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord - War Sails is developed by TaleWorlds Entertainment and available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.