Bannerlord War Sails Best Ships Guide | List of Best Ships
© GamerBlurb.com | Published on 11/29/2025 at 12:29 AM CST (USA)
Picking the right ship in War Sails changes everything. Some dominate boarding fights, others crush with siege fire, and a few simply exist to haul loot. This guide covers every real ship class and standout vessel confirmed in the expansion, based on their in-game performance and faction design.
Ship Classes Overview
Light Ships
Light ships are quick, cheap, and perfect for hit-and-run tactics. They accelerate fast, turn easily, and excel at flanking or scouting. The downside is low crew space, weak hulls, and poor weather resistance. Think of them as skirmishers of the sea.
Medium Ships
Medium ships are balanced. They can fight, trade, and survive long voyages without heavy upkeep. These are your general-purpose ships, ideal for early fleet building and for players who want one reliable all-rounder.
Heavy Ships
Heavy ships are beasts. They handle like floating fortresses with large crews, multiple upgrade slots, and enough durability to outlast anyone in a brawl. They cost a fortune and turn like bricks, but nothing beats them in sustained naval combat.
Trade Ships
Trade-designated vessels focus on cargo space, not combat. They have smaller crews, slower speeds, and few upgrades, but they’re critical for merchant runs and moving supplies between ports.
Best Light Ships
Birlinn (Battania)
Fast, maneuverable, and perfect for ambushes. The Birlinn is a square-sailed wooden dart that skims over calm waters. It’s fragile, but archers perform well on its open deck. Great for raiding convoys or coastal skirmishes.
Light Longship (Nord)
The Nord light ship packs speed and aggression. It’s built for boarding and closing distance before enemies can react. If you like fast-paced melee fights, this is the ship to lead with.
Best Medium Ships
Liburna (Empire)
Compact and tough, the Liburna is a flexible mid-tier warship. It can ram, hold a fair crew, and still move quickly in formation. It’s the perfect balance of offense and endurance for midgame campaigns.
Drakkar (Nord)
The iconic longship. The Drakkar is all about power and speed, ideal for heavy boarding tactics. It has wide decks and multiple bridges that let your troops storm enemy ships fast. Its weakness is missile fire, but it rarely gives archers the time to shoot back.
Best Heavy Ships
Lodya (Sturgia)
A powerhouse designed for icy waters and brutal melees. The Lodya combines galley oar strength with longship design, giving it unmatched push speed and boarding potential. Its high oar count lets it move faster than most heavies, even against the wind.
Dromon (Empire)
The Empire’s flagship and arguably the most complete ship in War Sails. It’s large, tall, and heavily armored with hybrid sails and multiple upgrade slots. Excellent for sieging from the sea or acting as a command vessel. Best suited for long, drawn-out fights.
Roundship (Vlandia)
Think of the Roundship as a floating castle. High decks, strong defenses, and incredible line-of-sight make it ideal for ranged warfare. It’s slower than most heavies, but near-unstoppable once positioned. Great for defensive fleets.
Qalguk (Khuzait)
A sleek, lateen-sailed beast made for high-speed assaults and long-range duels. The Qalguk thrives with archers and javelin troops, trading acceleration for top-end speed. Ideal for hit-and-run playstyles and long-range pressure.
Ghurab (Aserai)
Built for open-sea combat, the Ghurab mixes galley decks with sleek hull design. It’s fast once moving and boasts good wind coverage thanks to its lateen rig. Not the toughest ship, but it can control distance better than any other heavy.
Best Trade Ships
Trade Cog (Vlandia)
The classic merchant ship. It’s slow but reliable, with great cargo capacity and enough structure to survive small skirmishes. Use it to move trade goods or loot between ports, ideally under escort.
Customization Tips
Hybrid and lateen sails handle wind changes best, while square sails give faster starts
Braziers let your archers use fire arrows to damage sails
Figureheads add small combat bonuses like morale or speed
Avoid using Blarbs as they can slow your ship speed down greatly
Ports with higher levels unlock better ships and stronger upgrades
Dromons and Lodyas can mount ballistas, while smaller hulls rely on boarding
Final Blurb
Every ship in War Sails serves a purpose, from the fast Nord longships to the towering Empire dromons. If you want control and defense, go heavy. If you want fast raids, go light or medium. The sea belongs to whoever knows how to match their fleet to the fight — and sails straight into the storm with confidence.
FAQ
What’s the strongest overall ship
The Dromon dominates large-scale naval battles.
What’s best for raiding
The Drakkar or Light Longship for speed and boarding.
What’s the best trade vessel
The Trade Cog, no contest.
Which ship rams best
The Lodya, thanks to its oar power and reinforced prow.
What determines ship availability
Port level and region culture decide what’s for sale.
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