Economy and Money Making Guide

Money, or denars, is the lifeblood of your campaign in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. Whether you are paying your troops, bribing a noble, or buying peace, you will need a steady stream of income. This guide covers the essential strategies for making money at every stage of the game.

Introduction

In the early game, your expenses are low, but so is your income. As you grow your clan and army, your daily wages will skyrocket. It is crucial to transition from active income (fighting) to passive income (workshops, caravans, fiefs) as you progress.

Early Game Strategies

When you first start, you have no capital. Your goal is to build a "seed fund" of around 15,000 - 20,000 denars to buy your first workshop or caravan.

1. Tournaments

Tournaments are excellent for renown and money. If you bet the maximum amount on yourself in every round, you can walk away with ~1,500 denars plus a prize item. High-tier horses won as prizes can sell for 15,000+ denars.

2. Hunting Looters and Bandits

Fighting looters helps train your troops and provides loot. While looter gear is cheap, it adds up. More importantly, selling prisoners can be lucrative.

3. Horse Trading

A simple route is to buy Aserai or Steppe horses cheap in their native lands and sell them in Vlandia or the Empire. Mule trading can also be profitable.

See Early Game Money-Making for more details.

Mid Game Strategies

Once you have capital, invest it. You want your daily passive income to cover your party wages.

1. Workshops

Workshops Guide covers this in detail. Key tip: Buy a workshop in a high-prosperity town that has connected villages producing the raw material (e.g., a Brewery in Sanala if it has grain villages).

2. Caravans

Caravans Guide explains the risks. Caravans make more money than workshops but can be destroyed. They also level up your companion's Trade and Scouting skills.

3. Mercenary Work

Signing a mercenary contract with a kingdom at war allows you to get paid for every battle you fight. The influence you gain converts to denars.

Late Game Strategies

1. Fief Income

Towns and castles generate tax and tariff income. See Economy & Trade Guide for managing fiefs. High prosperity is key.

2. Smithing

Smithing for Profit is widely considered the most broken money-making method. Crafting high-tier Javelins or Two-Handed Swords can net you 20k-100k per weapon.

3. Battle Loot

Large battles against enemy lords yield tens of thousands of denars in loot and high-tier prisoners.

Comparison Table

By diversifying your income, you ensure that losing a single workshop or caravan doesn't bankrupt your clan.