Quick Summary: Mastering “Manor Lords equipment for attack” involves choosing the right tools and units. Focus on infantry with spears and axes for early game sieges, upgrading to crossbows and better armor for sustained assaults. Strategic equipment choices directly translate to conquering your enemies and expanding your settlement.
So, you’ve established your village in the challenging world of Manor Lords. You’ve built your houses, set up your essential resources, and now the time has come to expand. But before you send your villagers charging headfirst into the unknown, we need to talk about something crucial: your attack equipment. It’s not just about having enough men; it’s about equipping them smart. Getting this right can be the difference between a glorious victory and a heartbreaking defeat. Don’t worry, though! We’re going to break down exactly what you need to know to outfit your forces for successful attacks, step by step.
Manor Lords Equipment For Attack: Your Guide to Conquest
In Manor Lords, the equipment your units carry is a cornerstone of your offensive strategy. It’s not always obvious which weapon is best for a particular situation, or when you should prioritize armor over a sharper blade. This guide will walk you through the essentials of outfitting your attack forces, from the earliest stages of your settlement to more advanced tactics. We’ll look at what to produce, what to scavenge, and how to deploy your troops effectively based on their gear.
Early Game Assaults: The Humble Beginnings
When you first start out, resources are scarce, and your production chains are simple. Your primary goal is to arm your Retinue with the best you can craft or find. For early game attacks, particularly against bandit camps or small enemy outposts, simpler equipment will suffice.
Essential Early Game Weapons:
- Spears: These are your bread and butter early on. Spearmen are effective against unarmored or lightly armored foes and are crucial for holding the line. They’re relatively easy to produce once you have a working Logging Camp and a Fletcher.
- Axes: A good, solid axe can still pack a punch against early-game threats. They are excellent for damaging enemy shields and can be useful in close-quarters combat. You’ll need a Working Man’s Lodge to start producing basic axes.
- Militia Gear: Don’t underestimate the power of well-equipped militia. While they might not have specialized weapons initially, ensuring they have basic tunics and helmets can significantly improve their survivability.
Shields and Armor: A Crucial Investment
Even with basic weapons, your soldiers need protection. For early game attacks, focus on providing shields. A shield can absorb a significant number of incoming blows, keeping your units alive longer. Wooden ones are a start, but iron-banded shields offer better durability. As for armor, simple padded or leather armor pieces are a good starting point. They offer a noticeable defensive bonus without breaking the bank in terms of resources.
Mid-Game Offensive Equipment: Stepping Up Your Game
As your settlement grows, so should your ambition and your arsenal. In the mid-game, you’ll be facing tougher garrisons and more organized resistance. This is where specialized equipment and improved production become vital.
Advanced Weaponry for the Mid-Game:
- Crossbows: The introduction of the Crossbow has a significant impact. Crossbowmen provide devastating ranged support, capable of chipping away at enemy defenses and units before they even reach your melee lines. Mastering crossbow production requires a fletcher and a sawmill for proper bolt shafts.
- Swords: While axes are good, swords become more effective against armored opponents in the mid-game. They deal more consistent damage and are less reliant on breaking through shields. However, iron for swords is a resource you’ll need to actively mine and process.
- Spears (Upgraded): Even spears can be improved. Higher-quality spears deal more damage and are still excellent against cavalry if you face any.
The Importance of Quality Armor:
Mid-game enemies will often have better weapons. To counter this, you need to invest in better armor. Chainmail is a significant step up from leather or padded armor. It offers a substantial increase in damage resistance. You’ll need an iron mine, a mine for extra resources like coal, and a smithy to produce these higher-tier armor pieces. Helmets also become more critical, with better designs offering more protection to the head.
Late Game Siege Equipment and Elite Units: The Pinnacle of Attack
In the late game, you’re likely eyeing larger castles, heavily fortified towns, and perhaps even engaging in ambitious campaigns. This is where the most advanced equipment and strategic unit composition come into play.
The Arsenal of Late Game Conquest:
- Plate Armor and Enhanced Swords: For your most elite troops, plate armor is the ultimate defense. It’s incredibly resource-intensive to produce, requiring extensive iron mining, coal, and a high-level smithy. Paired with masterwork swords, these units become nearly unstoppable in melee.
- Longbows: While crossbows offer piercing power, longbows provide a higher rate of fire and can be devastating in large volleys, especially against massed infantry. They still require skilled fletchers and access to good wood.
- Spearmen with High-Tier Gear: Even spearmen can be vital in the late game, especially for holding choke points. Equipping them with the best available spears and the highest tier of armor you can afford ensures they can withstand intense pressure.
Siege Weapons: Breaking Down Walls
Direct assaults on heavily fortified positions are often suicidal without siege weaponry. While Manor Lords doesn’t have traditional siege engines like trebuchets, you can improvise or rely on the power of your units to breach defenses.
- “Breacher” Units: Axemen, in particular, can be effective at damaging gates and wooden defenses. You’ll need a steady supply of them armed with good axes.
- Quantity and Quality: The strategy here is often overwhelming force with superior equipment. Your best-armed and armored units, when sent against gates or weaker sections of walls, can eventually break through.
Producing and Managing Your Equipment
Knowing what to use is only half the battle. Effectively producing and managing your equipment is key to sustaining your offensive campaigns.
Building the Right Production Chains:
Your settlement’s infrastructure directly dictates your military might. Here’s how to set up for success:
- Resource Gathering: Ensure you have efficient Logging Camps, Stone Mines, Clay Pits, and Iron Mines. For advanced gear, an extended mining operation for coal and iron is essential.
- Crafting Buildings:
- Toolmaker: Essential for producing tools, which improve the efficiency of all other crafting.
- Armorer: For leather, chainmail, and plate armor.
- Blacksmith: For axes, swords, and spears.
- Fletcher: For bows, arrows, and crossbow bolts.
- Currier: For crafting horseshoes, which improve movement speed and combat effectiveness.
- Weaponsmith: A higher-tier building for advanced weapon crafting.
- Resource Management: Pay close attention to your stockpiles. Running out of iron for swords or leather for armor can halt all offensive preparations. Utilize Granaries and Storehouses effectively.
The Role of Trade and Scavenging
Don’t forget that you don’t have to produce everything yourself. Trade routes can be a powerful way to acquire specific resources or finished goods you might be struggling to produce at scale. Likewise, attacking neutral or bandit camps can yield valuable equipment that you can then equip your troops with.
A wise trader can supplement your production. For example, if you’re producing plenty of axes but struggling with iron for swords, look to trade for iron ore or even finished swords if available. The Manor Lords Wiki has more on trade specifics and optimal routes.
Equipping Your Retinue Effectively
Your Retinue is your core fighting force, the soldiers you directly control and upgrade. Equipping them is paramount.
Retinue Gear Tiers:
You can equip your Retinue with better gear as you unlock higher-tier production and acquire resources. The progression typically looks like this:
| Tier 1 (Early) | Tier 2 (Mid) | Tier 3 (Late) |
|---|---|---|
| Spears, basic Axes, Wooden Shields, Padded Armor | Better Axes, Swords, Iron-banded Shields, Leather Armor, Chainmail | Masterwork Swords, Plate Armor, Longbows, Crossbows, High-Quality Shields |
How to Equip Your Retinue:
- Select Your Retinue: Click on your Retinue unit.
- Open Equipment Panel: You’ll see slots for weapons, shields, and armor.
- Drag and Drop or Assign: If you have the appropriate gear in your stockpiles, you can drag items to the unit’s inventory or assign them directly through the unit interface. Ensure you have enough of the chosen equipment available.
Beyond the Retinue: Levying and Equipping Militia
While your Retinue is your professional army, your militia can significantly bolster your forces, especially in defensive situations or overwhelming enemy numbers. Equipping them is a bit different.
Militia Equipment Considerations:
Militia units are typically equipped with whatever is available in your region’s stockpile. This means a well-prepared settlement with plenty of good gear will field stronger militia.
- Availability is Key: The game automatically equips militia from your region’s available gear. If you want stronger militia, simply have more high-quality weapons and armor in your general storehouse.
- Focus on Mass Production: For militia, you’re often looking for quantity. Ensure you can produce large numbers of okay-quality spears, axes, and basic armor to arm a significant portion of your levied townsfolk.
- No Direct Control: You cannot individually equip militia members. Their gear is determined by what’s stockpiled and what the game assigns when they are levied.
Strategic Considerations: When to Use What Equipment
The best equipment is useless if deployed incorrectly. Think about the strengths and weaknesses of each gear choice.
Matching Equipment to Mission:
- Sieges (Attacking Walls/Gates): Axemen excel here. Waves of well-armed axemen can chip away at defenses. Crossbowmen can suppress defenders on the walls.
- Field Battles (Open Terrain): A balanced force is best. Spearmen to hold the line, swordsmen to flank and engage tougher targets, and archers/crossbowmen to soften the enemy.
- Farming and Resource Raids: Speed might be more important than heavy armor. Equipping units with lighter armor and perhaps horseshoes can allow for quicker hit-and-run tactics.
- Vs. Heavily Armored Foes: Swords and axes that bypass armor or deal bonus damage to shields are crucial. High-tier armors are essential for your own troops.
- Vs. Unarmored or Lightly Armored Foes: Spears and even simple cleavers can be very effective here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Manor Lords Equipment for Attack
Q1: What is the best early game weapon for attacking in Manor Lords?
For early game attacks, the spear is generally the best all-around weapon. It’s effective against unarmored enemies and relatively straightforward to produce. Axes are also a good secondary choice for damaging shields and close combat.
Q2: How do I get better armor for my soldiers?
To get better armor, you need to establish dedicated crafting buildings and gather the necessary resources. This includes a Tanning Rack or Currier for leather armor, and a Smithy for chainmail and eventually plate armor. Iron and hides are key resources.
Q3: Can I equip specific individuals in my militia?
No, you cannot individually equip members of your militia. Militia units are automatically equipped with whatever suitable weapons and armor are available in your region’s general stockpile when you levy them.
Q4: What role do horseshoes play in combat?
Horseshoes, crafted by a Currier, significantly improve the movement speed of your units, particularly cavalry if you recruit them. Faster units can flank more effectively, retreat faster, or reach objectives quicker, giving you a tactical advantage.
Q5: Is it better to have more men with basic gear or fewer men with elite gear?
It depends on the situation. For overwhelming weak defenses, more men with basic gear can work. However, for tougher late-game challenges and sieges, having fewer, but highly trained and well-equipped units (your Retinue) is usually more effective and survivable. A balanced approach with both well-equipped Retinue and bulked-up militia is often optimal.
Q6: How do I ensure my soldiers have enough food and drink during an attack?
While not directly equipment, soldiers’ morale and effectiveness are tied to their needs. Ensure your food production and storage are sufficient before launching an offensive. You can also set up Beer production for higher morale.
Conclusion: Forge Your Path to Victory
Conquering the lands of Manor Lords is a journey that requires careful planning and strategic foresight, and at the heart of every successful offense lies well-chosen equipment. From the basic spears and axes of your fledging militia to the gleaming plate armor and masterwork swords of your seasoned Retinue, every piece of gear plays a role. By understanding which weapons and armor best suit your needs, establishing efficient production chains, and deploying your forces intelligently, you can turn the tide of any battle. Remember to adapt your strategy based on your enemy and the terrain, and always strive to equip your soldiers with the best you can manage. Your enemies await, and with the right gear, victory will be within your grasp.