Building your settlement in Manor Lords is one thing, but protecting it is a whole other case! While you won’t always be at war or stopping bandits from stealing, having a solid military is crucial for those “just in case” moments. Your own militia is the backbone, but sometimes you need an extra boost – that’s when mercenaries come in.
How To Recruit Mercenaries
You’ll need to unlock the “Army” tab at the bottom of the screen. This happens when you get your first shipment of military gear. Click that big “Plus” icon in the Army tab.
Here, you can choose what kind of basic militia units to create – like Archers or Spearmen. Remember, they’ll need the right weapons and armor to be effective!
Mercenaries aren’t cheap! You’ll need Personal Wealth, which comes from setting up a Personal Manor and taxing those villagers. In the Army tab, look for the icon with a hand and coins on the far right. This opens the mercenary hiring screen.
| Unit Type | Attack Style | Armor | Speed | Cost (Approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brigand | Melee | Light | Fast | Low | Weak individually, good in numbers |
| Light Mercenary Infantry | Melee | Medium | Average | Mid-range | Decent all-rounder |
| Light Mercenary Spearman | Melee | Medium | Average | Mid-range | Strong against cavalry |
| Light Mercenary Archer | Ranged | Light | Fast | Mid-range | Vulnerable in close combat |
| Heavy Mercenary Archer | Ranged | Medium | Slow | High | Powerful ranged damage |
How To Choose The Right Mercenary Company
Each month, different mercenary groups become available for hire. Some are cheap but less experienced, while others are battle-hardened but pricier. They offer both melee fighters and ranged specialists, helping you fill gaps in your army. Keep an eye on your Treasury! You have to pay those mercenaries every month to keep them around.
| Company Name | Unit Specializations | Cost (Treasury) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local Thugs | Basic Melee | 15 | Cheapest option, less experienced |
| Brigands For Hire | Basic Melee (x2) | 30 | Double the manpower, still low-tier |
| Wayward Sons | Mixed (Archer + Heavy Archer) | 45 | Offers ranged support |
| Battle Brothers | Mixed (Infantry + Spearmen) | 50 | Good for filling melee gaps |
| Brotherhood of the Forest | Varied (Brigand + Archer) | 60 | More diverse, but pricier |
| Flock of Crazy Geese | Versatile (Archer + Infantry + Spearmen) | 90 | Covers many needs, very expensive |
| Greencaps | Mixed Focus (Archer + Infantry x2) | 90 | Good if you need archers and melee |
| Ravenous Vultures | Strong Infantry (Infantry x3) | 110 | Pure melee muscle, for advanced players |
How To Use Mercenaries
Hired some archers? Great! Use them to rain arrows on the enemy. Infantry are best up close and personal. No need to spend extra time training or equipping mercenaries – they bring their own gear.
Need to save money or switch to a different group? It’s easy to disband units in your Army tab.
Final Words
As your game progresses, you may find mercenaries become unavailable to hire. This is normal, and it’s part of how the game’s story unfolds. Focus on building your regular militia when this happens! I hope this makes the world of Manor Lords mercenaries clearer!
Find Us on Socials