​Battle Brothers is a pain in the♥♥♥♥♥ Period. Moderators are crazy and will ban you at the slightest HINT you have an issue with the game. Fan boi's will shred you in the forums, providing no helpful critique while simply telling you to "git gud sun" as though that is the tell all for the game. Guides for the game are brutally over complicated while somehow managing to be completely uniformative and outdated. The game is riddled with flaws, glitches, RNG where there shouldn't be and learning curves that end with a "game over" with you forced to restart and try again.
 
So why play this POS?
 
To be honest half the time I am playing out of spite (I'll get to that in more detail later), most of the time I am not having fun, and the rest of the time I am left wondering what the game COULD have been if it had any REAL leadership in the development team.
 
So ... why play this POS?
 
Turn based games happen to be some of my favorite games, if there were better turn based games around that I haven't put in 1000+ hours into each I'd not be playing this game. Rogue-like seems to have infested the turn based strategy game genre and have made it their own, this is just reality now. XCOM to XCOM 2 is a perfect example of this. If you are like me and want more of a strat game and less of a rogue like game this guide will help you.

People in the forums and the game itself during its "hints" will tell you "losing is fun!" and that "you really should play the game as it was meant to be played, on veteran and ironman!"
 
If you have pride issues like me, listening to this over and over again is angering and so you forge ahead into veteran ironman and proceed to get rekt.
 
Well I got news for you, you are supposed to have fun and if "losing ISN'T fun" to you (welcome to the club, you aren't a beta-male) I have just the thing to make playing veteran ironman not desireable in the slightest. My save files.
 
You heard me right, f*** this game, I'm uploading my save files for Battle Brothers on my website and you can download an ironman game at crisis #1 and another at crisis #3. I'm also uploading a save with on veteran on day 364. Why? So you can load up the games, get the hardest achievements (f*** this game and the devs) in the game and then you can focus on just playing the game to have fun. With the achievements already unlocked there is nothing to draw you into harder playstyles that just are not fun. Play my ironman saves, see how fun it is even with an amazing team, if it seems like something you would still be interested in than forge ahead.
 
Also this is where that "spite" comes into play. People in the forums trashing on newer players "to git gud sun", well guess what guys- everyone is going to get the achievements now! So all that hard work you put into being turds in the forums because you were "better"? Nah... Now EVERYONE is just as "gud" as you!​

Not all maps are equal. Not even close. What makes a good map?
 
1. Starting Brothers: You start with three, but they are all not created equal, not by a long shot. Most important of the three is your crossbow brother (most commonly called) as he is the most likely to be taken to the end game, the other two need some amazing rolls + a lot of traits to make them worthy of the end game.
a. Most important traits for crossbow: Eagle Eyes ***, Iron Lungs**, Bright*, Strong*
b. Most important traits for the other two: Strong ***, Dexteritous**, Sure Footing **, Iron Lungs *
 
2. Closeness of Cities: maps with close cities vs maps with far apart cities you will find by day 75 you are worlds apart- money, exp, everything. If you have a tight pack circle of cities that belong to the same faction it will make things A LOT easier. If you zoom in and can't see at least five cities your map is crap. Zooming in and seeing ten cities in a circle means amazing map.
 
3. Trade items: Quality wood is a must (IMO) because fiding unique bows/crossbows seems to be BY FAR the hardest to come by and quality wood is needed. If your map doesn't spawn with a "lumber yard" next to a settlement it is strong negative in my view. Everything else is just valued based on its actual valye with things like gems costing a lot but also giving the best profit. If your map has a lot of high end value tradable items to sell it is good, if it has none of very little it is bad.
 
4. Forges, Blast Furnace, etc.: Your castles will have these sometimes and they mean better items to buy. Some people swear by these but I found that getting 55K (for unique armor) was no small feat to reproduce over and over again and so having multiple good set ups it just meant I SAW more awesome red items but was unable to buy them. This is an EXTREME late game bonus. IMO you need to have a couple of these set ups but unless you are planning on playing a map for 1000+ days it shouldn't be a top priority.

Best bet for Swordmaster:
​*Strong Trait is a must but is completely unpredictable. If you get a useful background such as historian or caravan hand it is a bonus*
 
Main Based Desired Stats and Increases:

1. Melee Defense: 3* and 0+, 2* and 5+, 1* and 10+, 0* and 20+, Every level up to 45
2. Melee Skill: 3* and 50+, 2* and 55+, 1* and 60+, 0* and 75+, Every level
3. Initiative: 3* and 100+, 2* and 110+, 1* and 120+, 0* and 130+, Every level up until level 11

Secondary Stat: (When above stats hit limit and/or post level 11)

1. Health (up to 80)
2. Fatigue (up to 130)
3. Resolve (up to 50)

Perks:

1. Student
2. Dodge
3. Brawny
4. Sword Mastery
5. Underdog
6. Nimble
7. Battle Forged
8. Duelist
9. Berserk
10. Killing Frenzy
11. Gifted/Dagger Mastery/Footwork

Equipped Gear:
Before Sword Mastery:

1. Best spear, best armor, best shield, dagger, net

After Sword Mastery:

1. Replace spear with sword

After Battle Forged:

1. Noble Sword or Unique Sword
2. Direwolf Hide Armor, Direwolf Mail Armor or Unique Armor greater than 175 and fatigue penalty <20
3. Nasal Helmet with Rusty Mail/Nasal Helmet with Mail or Unique Helm with < -15 fatigue and > 250 armor
4. Falcon/War dog or unique necklace

Inventory Gear:

1. Dagger

Does well against: Multi-hit enemies such as goblin wolf riders, necrosavants, direwolf etc
Does poor against: Two handed weapon users, nets, ranged

Best bets for Master Archers:
You should only end up with 4 max which should include one bowyer (for/using the masterwork bow), one historian (useful class which only ever builds well into this build), your companion (if he is good), and one to two hunters (depending on your starting companion) for pure stats.  

Main Base Desired Stats and Increases:

1. Ranged Skill: 3* and 50+, 2* and 55+, 1* and 60+, 0* and 70+, Every level
2. Ranged Defense: 3* and 0+, 2* and 5+, 1* and 10+, 0* and 20+, Every level up to 45
3. Initiative: 3* and 100+, 2* and 110+, 1* and 120+, 0* and 130+, Every level up to 160

Secondary Stats: (when above two choices reach desired number)

1. Fatigue (no max)
2. Health (up to 60)

Perks:

1. Student
2. Dodge
3. Anticipation
4. Bow Mastery
5. Pathfinder
6. Nimble
7. Berserk
8. Killing Frenzy
9. Bullseye
10. Crippling Strike
11. Executioner

Equipped Gear:

1. Bow
2. Dark Rugged Surcoat, Blotched Gambeson
3. Closed Mail Coif
4. Dog

​Inventory Gear:

1. 2x Quiver of arrows
2. Dagger*

Does well against: Living
Does poor against: Undead

Best bets for Arbalesters: Wildman

Desired Stats and Increases:

1. Fatigue (up to 160)
2. Resolve (up to 64)
3. Ranged Skill (up to 100)
4. Melee Skill (up to 85)
5. Health (up to 80)

 
Perks:

1. Student
2. Quick Hands
3. Brawny
4. Crossbow Mastery
5. Axe Mastery
6. Footwork
7. Fortified Mind
8. Rally the Troops
9. Recovery
   
10. /11. Berserk + Killing Frenzy

Equipped Gear:

1. Crossbow plus equipped bolts
2. Best armor possible
3. Padded Flat Top Helmet, Zweihander’s Helmet or Unique Helm with only -1 vision and less than -10 fatigue (this changes if he has eagle eye to -2 vision penalty)
4. War dog (invaluable against Necrosavants)

Inventory Gear:

1. Throwing Net
2. Longaxe (range of 2)

Does well against: Orcs and Undead
Does poor against: Humans and Goblins

Best bets for Zweihanders:

1. Solid Bet: Militia
   
2. Expensive Safe Bet: Hedge Knights
3. Cheap Low Risk Bet: Brawler
4. Wildcard: Wildman (make the best zweihanders but stats are extremely random)

Main Based Desired Stats and Increases:

1. Melee Defense: 3* and 0+, 2* and 5+, 1* and 10+, 0* and 20+, Every level up to 45
2. Melee Skill: 3* and 50+, 2* and 55+, 1* and 60+, 0* and 70, Every level
   
3. Fatigue: 3* and 100+, 2* and 110+, 1* and 120+, 0* and 130+, Every level up to 160

 
Secondary Stats: Start filling these post level 11

1. Health (up to 64)
2. Resolve (up to 50)

Perks:

1. Student
2. Colossus
3. Brawny
4. Recovery
5. Underdog
6. Battle Forged
7. Sword Mastery
8. Reach Advantage
9. Footwork
10. Berserk
11. Killing Frenzy

Equipment:
Before Battle Forged:

1. Spear, best armor, shield, throwing net and bandages

After Battle Forged + 230 armor and helm + 2 handed sword:

1. Best 2 handed sword you have
2. 230+ armor and helm
3. Bandages/Unique Necklace
4. Dagger and throwing net in inventory

​Does well against: Everyone Mid to Late game
Does poor against: Everyone Early to Mid game

Best bets for Meat: Anyone who you hire who does not meet minimum spec requirements for any of the above classes and who you don’t immediately fire.
 
Stats and Increases:

1. Health (every level)
2. Resolve (every level)
3. Fatigue (every level)

 
Perks:

1. Colossus
2. Gifted
3. Shield Mastery
4. Taunt
5. Rotation
6. Quick Hands
7. Spear Mastery
8. Underdog
9. Battle Forged
10. Brawny

Equipment:
Equipped:

1. Spear, shield, best armor, best helmet, bandages

Inventory:

1. 2 Throwing Nets

​Purpose: Keep useful party members alive during early to mid Ironman games. If a meat dies shrug it off and get a new one; if a useful party member dies ALT + F4. 

​Early Game: 0-50 days

Only hire Brawler, Cultist, Gravedigger, Poacher, Wildman

*Bowyer (only need one, keep firing until you find a useful one)
*Tailor (only need one, keep firing until you find a useful one or direwolf armor becomes outdated)
*Historian (only need one, keep firing until you find a useful one)
*Caravan Hand (only need one, keep until he upgrades your inventory size or keep firing until you find a useful one)

Mid Game: 50-100 days

You can start hiring Militia, and Witchhunter in addition to above

*Always keep 1-2 spaces open in your party (18-19 total)
*Number your swordmasters, zweihanders and arbelists from best to worst using projected rolls (if not at level 11). Dismiss lower numbered people as you find better ones.

​Late Game: 100+ days

You can start hiring Adventurous Noble, Hedge Knight, Hunter, Raider, and Sellsword in addition to above
​
*Be careful not to replace lower tier background people with higher tiered slightly better people, paying twice as much for someone slightly better is not a good trade off.

In early to mid game you are mostly only fighting humans (Brigand Thugs/Raiders), Undead (Wiedergangers/Ancient Auxillaries), Beasts (Direwolves/ Nachzehrers) and Orcs (Orc young). You shouldn’t be fighting Goblins, avoid at all costs. There are only two formations you are going to use:

Formation 1: (against Humans and Orcs)

*On Ironman these will be your meat class
​
The Shield + Spear people will be your early game Zweihanders and Swordmasters. Your Bow/XBow will be your early game Arbalesters and Master Archers.

Formation 2: (against Creatures and Undead)

*On Ironman these will be your meat class
​
The Shield + Spear people will be your early game Zweihanders and Swordmasters. Your Ranged 2 Weapon will most likely be pitchforks (early) and phase into longaxes, ideally these will be your future Arbalesters.

​Formation 1: (against Humans and Goblins)

​Formation 2: (against Orcs)

​Formation 3: (against Undead)

80% of all money made in the game is made from selling loot. The difference between players who make some money and those who make a lot of money rests solely on repairing gear before selling it (Ctl + clicking on item in inventory will allow you to repair items that aren't equipped). Repairing gear costs tools and tools cost money so knowing which ones will yield a ROI is what makes that difference. Tools cost between $200-400 ($300 average) and come with 20 tools that repair 15 points of durability each. That puts the cost at $0.66-1.33 per point repaired. When selling to a settlement you can sell items between 10-30% of their value. Only sells items in large trading cities which you have good relationships with (do quests for them without bartering in the contract). Keep a fang in your inventory (found from the Nachzehrers) because they have a value of 100 which makes it very easy to tell the percentage the town is buying at (ie. If they are buying the fang from you for $17 they are selling at 17%). Try to buy tools under $300 and try to sell 15%- average conditions. Below is a chart that shows you ROI on repairing items and selling them at average conditions.

Any helmet with a durability >150 has a chance of profit

Undead: any armor with durability greater than 125 
Human: any armor with durability greater than 210