Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Money Making Guide: Smithing, Trade & Economy
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord does not have a "season" system like typical online games. Developer TaleWorlds Entertainment continuously balances the game, adds new features, and fixes bugs through ongoing patch updates. As of May 2026, the latest version is v1.4.5 for the main game and v1.2.5 for the "War Sails" expansion. This article provides information based on these latest versions.
To become the ruler of Calradia, a powerful army is essential. And to maintain that army, enormous Denars (funds) are required. This article thoroughly explains the three major money-making methods—'smithing,' 'trade,' and 'economic management'—with specific steps and data, to most efficiently build wealth in the latest version (v1.4.5) of Bannerlord. This money-making guide is a must-read for all players, from beginners struggling with early-game finances to veteran lords seeking further riches.
Unrivaled Denar Efficiency! The Strongest Money-Making Method: "Smithing"
In Bannerlord as of 2026, the most Denar-efficient money-making method remains "smithing." By unlocking high-Tier parts and crafting specific weapons for sale, it's possible to earn exceptional profits of tens of thousands of Denars per weapon, setting it apart from other money-making strategies. Consciously raising your smithing skill from the early game is the shortest path to economic success.
Early Game Smithing Procedure and Leveling
The basic steps to efficiently raise your smithing skill and generate enormous profits are as follows. By repeating this cycle, your skill level and assets will increase remarkably.
- Secure Charcoal: First, purchase two "Hardwood" in a city and produce "Charcoal" in the "Refine" tab of the forge. Repeat this to raise your smithing skill to 25. Once skill 25 is reached, acquire the "Efficient Charcoal Maker" perk. This allows you to refine two charcoals from one hardwood, dramatically increasing efficiency.
- Classic Material Gathering: "Tribal Throwing Daggers": Head to Aserai cultural cities (e.g., Askar, Sanala) and buy as many "Tribal Throwing Daggers" as possible. Despite their relatively low price, these weapons yield excellent materials when smelted.
- Material Acquisition and Leveling via Smelting: Smelt the purchased daggers at the forge to secure large quantities of materials like iron, steel, and valuable "Fine Steel." Smelting also increases smithing skill, allowing you to level up and gather materials simultaneously.
- Craft and Sell High-Value Weapons: Use the acquired materials to craft weapons. "Two-handed swords" and "javelins," in particular, can reach tens of thousands of Denars in selling price when combined with high-Tier parts (especially Tier 5 blades, etc.). In the early game, craft any weapons you can, but as new parts unlock, create and sell increasingly valuable weapons.
Recommended Weapon Categories
Among weapons crafted through smithing, two-handed swords are the most popular and tend to fetch high prices. Their value increases exponentially by using high-Tier parts for components such as blades, grips, and scabbards. Javelins are also cost-effective, as relatively expensive ones can be made with fewer materials. It's important to note that performance values like "damage" and "swing speed" of the crafted weapon significantly influence its selling price. Experimenting with various part combinations to discover the most valuable weapon recipes is one of the joys of smithing.
Traverse All of Calradia! High-Profit Trade Routes
While smithing is the strongest money-making method, "trade" is an indispensable element for early-game funding, developing trade skills, and above all, enjoying the adventure. Bannerlord's economy is constantly fluctuating, and adapting to wars and city conditions, rather than just following fixed routes, leads to significant profits. Here, we introduce some classic trade routes that tend to yield high profits.
The table below shows example routes for goods that tend to have significant price differences. Prices constantly fluctuate, so use them only as a guide. As your "trade" skill increases, the prices of trade goods in each city will be displayed in color on the map, making trading much easier.
| Item | Region for Cheap Purchase (e.g.) | Region for High Sale (e.g.) | Estimated Price Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood | Battania (Seonon, Marunath) | Aserai, Southern Khuzait | Large |
| Horses (especially Desert Horses) | Aserai, Khuzait | Sturgia, Vlandia | Very Large |
| Salt | Southern Desert Villages | All Northern Regions, especially Battania | Large |
| Dates | Aserai (Villages around Askar) | Imperial Territory, Northern Regions | Medium |
| Furs | Sturgia (Varcheg, Omor) | Aserai, Khuzait | Large |
| Wine, Olives | Vlandia, Southern Imperial Territory | Khuzait, Sturgia | Medium |
| Silver | Northern Imperial Territory (around Ortysia) | Khuzait | Large |
| General Foodstuffs (Grain, Fish, etc.) | Villages and Cities in Peacetime | Besieged or Recently Liberated Cities | Very High (High Risk) |
Buying and selling foodstuffs, especially by taking advantage of wars, offers a chance for a quick fortune if successful, but the risk of being captured by enemy troops is also very high. When attempting this, it is necessary to make efforts such as equipping fast horses and keeping your party (use 'warband' or 'party' contextually) size small.
Establishing Passive Income: Workshop and Caravan Management
By investing funds obtained from smithing and trade into workshops and caravans, you can build a "passive income" system that generates Denars daily without any player action. This allows you to focus on wars and adventures without worrying about the upkeep costs of your party (use 'warband' or 'party' contextually) or Garrison.
Workshop Management and Investment Priorities
The secret to maximizing workshop profits is to match the workshop type with the specialty goods of the surrounding villages that supply raw materials to that city. For example, a "Wine Press" in a city near villages that produce grapes, or a "Pottery Shop" if there are nearby villages specializing in clay, will generate high profits. When investing, it is advisable to refer to the following priorities.
- Workshops in cities with abundant raw materials: This is the highest priority as it promises the most stable profits. Click on villages on the map, check their specialty goods, and then purchase or change the city's workshop accordingly.
- Caravans entrusted to companions with high trade skills: Caravans generate stable income when entrusted to companions with high trade skills. Acquiring perks like "Caravan Master" at Trade skill 125 further reduces raid risk and improves profits.
- Workshops within your own territory: These are considered safe investments because there's no risk of confiscation even if a war with another nation begins.
Balancing Upkeep Costs
As the game progresses and the player becomes a clan leader or king, the upkeep costs of their party (use 'warband' or 'party' contextually) and multiple fiefs begin to strain their income. Even temporary large sums from smithing will eventually be depleted by daily deficits. At this stage, stable daily income from workshops and caravans becomes crucial. Constantly checking your balance in the "Finances" tab of the clan screen and maintaining an "income > expenditure" state is key to stable nation management. Sometimes, it's necessary to decisively sell low-profit workshops and reinvest in more lucrative ventures. The "Artisan Community" perk at Trade skill 125, which increases the workshop limit, is very powerful for economic management.
Conclusion: Combine Money-Making Strategies to Conquer Calradia's Economy
This article has explained the three major money-making methods in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord: "smithing," "trade," and "workshop/caravan management." These methods are not independent but rather complement each other.
In the early game, earn initial funds and trade skills through escort missions and trade, then use those funds to acquire smithing materials. With the immense profits from smithing, establish workshops across the land and entrust caravans to skilled companions to build a foundation of passive income. This stable income then supports a powerful army, essential for seizing dominion over the continent.
The methods introduced here are merely one of the classic paths to success. Calradia's economy is constantly in motion. This game offers the enjoyment of building wealth in your own way, whether by developing unique trade routes or pursuing original weapons that boast the highest selling prices. Use this guide as a reference and aim to become the wealthiest magnate in Calradia.
