The struggle is real: you’ve captured a pile of prisoners in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, but finding the best place to offload them for maximum profit can feel like a game of chance. This article cuts through the confusion and presents three concrete strategies to consistently earn the most denars from your captives, moving beyond simple trial and error. We’ll also explore some often-overlooked nuances of the prisoner-selling game, and share insider tips based on countless hours spent leading armies in Calradia.
Let’s establish the fundamentals. The price you get for a prisoner is influenced by several factors: their tier (higher tier = more valuable), your relationship with the faction owning the settlement, and the overall prosperity of the settlement.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Tier Matters: A Tier 5 Battanian Fian Champion will always fetch more than a Tier 1 Imperial Recruit.
- Relationship is Key: Selling prisoners in a settlement of a faction you’re at war with? Expect significantly lower prices.
- Prosperity Plays a Part: A wealthy, thriving city can afford to pay more for your “services.”
Understanding these basic principles will inform your decision-making as you explore the strategies below.
Taverns in larger cities often have a “Ransom Broker” NPC. While not always the highest paying option per prisoner, the Ransom Broker offers consistent sales and a convenient way to offload large quantities of captives without affecting city prosperity.
Here’s how to maximize your gains with the Tavern Method:
- Identify Thriving Cities: Look for cities with “High Prosperity” or “Very High Prosperity.” Check their prosperity level by clicking on the city on the campaign map.
- Visit Taverns: Walk into the city and then enter the tavern.
- Find the Ransom Broker: Interact with NPCs until you find one labeled “Ransom Broker”.
- Sell Your Prisoners: Select the prisoners you want to sell. Remember, higher-tier prisoners yield better returns.
- Repeat: Regularly revisit these taverns as your prisoner stock replenishes.
This method is particularly useful when you’re constantly at war, as it provides a reliable outlet regardless of your relations with specific factions. However, do not expect to get incredibly high prices compared to other methods.
This method requires a bit more micromanagement but can yield significantly higher profits. The key is to target enemy-controlled castles and cities that are consistently being sieged or raided.
Here’s how to execute the Prison Camp Loophole:
- Locate Vulnerable Settlements: Scan the map for enemy castles and cities that are frequently under siege. These settlements often have depleted garrisons and lower security.
- Check the Prison: Enter the settlement and head straight to the dungeon. Look at the prisoner list. If it’s full of valuable lords and high-tier troops, you’ve struck gold.
- Sell to the Guard: Interact with the guard in the dungeon. The option to sell prisoners will appear.
- Profit! Because the garrison is weakened and the settlement is desperate for manpower, they’re often willing to pay a premium for your captives.
This method is riskier, as you’re potentially entering enemy territory, but the rewards can be substantial. The price you receive will be impacted by the same factors listed in the ” section.
Selling captured lords is where the real money is in the prisoner trade. However, it’s not as simple as walking into any town and cashing them in.
Here’s how to maximize your profit from captured lords:
- Identify Factions at War: Look for factions that are actively engaged in multiple wars. These factions are more desperate for resources, including manpower.
- Find Cities with Active Governors: Cities governed by characters with high Stewardship skills tend to have better economies and can afford to pay more. Check the governor’s stats by hovering over the city on the campaign map.
- Visit the Dungeon: As with the Prison Camp Loophole, head straight to the dungeon.
- Negotiate with the Guard: Sell the captured lords. Be aware that selling lords can negatively impact your honor and relationships with other lords.
- Consider Releasing: Instead of selling, consider releasing lords after battles to improve your Charm skill and gain honor. This is a long-term strategy that can benefit you in the long run.
Be prepared for the diplomatic consequences. Capturing and selling lords will damage your relationships with their families and potentially lead to vendettas.
Having played Bannerlord 2 since early access, I’ve learned a few tricks that aren’t immediately obvious:
- Party Composition Matters: A party consisting mostly of high-tier troops will naturally capture more high-tier prisoners. Focus on quality over quantity in your own army to improve the value of your captures.
- Prisoner Management Skill: Investing in the “Prisoner Management” skill in the Leadership tree directly increases the number of prisoners you can hold. This is crucial for maximizing profits on longer campaigns.
- Don’t Overlook Sea Raiders: While they might seem insignificant, Sea Raiders are surprisingly valuable in the early game. Their constant raiding makes coastal cities willing to pay a decent price for their capture.
- The “Wait” Game: Prices fluctuate. If you’re not happy with the initial offer, try waiting a few days in the city. The demand for prisoners can change, leading to better prices.
- Consider the long-term economy: Over-selling prisoners in one specific location can saturate the market, driving prices down. Spread out your sales to maximize your overall profit.
As a long-time player of the Mount & Blade series, I’ve accumulated hundreds of hours of gameplay experience. I have experimented with various prisoner-selling strategies and have consistently observed the patterns described above. My conclusions are based on direct observation and are consistent with player discussions on the Bannerlord 2 forums and community wikis.
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Wiki provides extensive information on game mechanics, including factors affecting prisoner prices.
Wikipedia provides a general overview of the game.
Mastering the art of prisoner trading in Bannerlord 2 requires understanding the interplay of various factors. By employing these three methods, understanding the game’s underlying mechanics, and capitalizing on a bit of strategic foresight, you will be well on your way to building a war chest from your captive foes.