TaleWorlds Entertainment recently launched a new beta update for Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. Beta Patch v1.0.3 implemented various improvements to the Mangonel, as well as other siege engines in the game.
The Mangonel is a simple yet effective weapon when sieging in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. That said, Beta Patch v1.0.3 made it a lot better, so players should use them more often.
One of the biggest changes is that the minimum firing range of all mangonels has been reduced, which means that players can use them to fire at nearby targets. This is quite good, especially if a sizable chunk of enemies are within the mangonel’s vicinity.
As a direct result of the change in the mangonel’s minimum range, the HP of battering rams and siege towers is increased to compensate.
The targeting behavior of mangonels has been tweaked as well. Now, mangonels will prioritize shooting at siege towers and battering rams before aiming at clumps of enemies. Furthermore, fire mangonels now make targeting enemy troops a top priority instead of looking for buildings first.
Here are the other changes made to mangonels and siege engines in this update:
- Regular mangonels with multiple projectiles
- Increased the number of projectiles.
- Decreased the single-hit damage of each stone.
- Decreased the damage area of each projectile.
- Regular mangonels are still effective against troops but no longer overshadow their fire mangonel counterparts.
- Fire mangonels
- Slightly increased the area of effect.
- Increased the damage reduction towards the edges of the hit area.
- Increased the hit damage of a projectile.
- It’s harder to hit enemy engines or formations with them in comparison to the regular mangonel but the payout is much better. Not every unit hit by the fire mangonel will die due to the increased damage reduction towards the edges of the hit area.
- Trebuchets
- Increased the number of projectiles.
- Decreased the single-hit damage of each stone.
- Decreased the damage area of each projectile.
- We are working on further improvements to them.
- AI behavior of ranged siege engines
- The AI now properly leads targets.
- Improved the overall accuracy calculation, resulting in fewer over or undershooting.
- Adjusted the target boxes of siege towers. Defending mangonels can now target them when they are closer.
- Troop AI Changes
- Attacking archers now use line formation spacing instead of tight formation spacing when taking positions.
- Defending troops now start on walls as the siege begins.
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Beta Patch v1.0.3 is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
