5 Smart Ways: Bannerlord 2 Where to Find Smithing Materials

Smithing in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is crucial for creating powerful weapons and armor, becoming a self-sufficient warrior, and boosting your economy. But finding the right materials can be a grind. This article provides practical solutions to the common problem of locating smithing resources in Bannerlord 2.

Instead of endlessly wandering the map, focus on these proven strategies to efficiently acquire the materials you need.

Villages: Your Early Game Goldmine

Don’t underestimate villages, especially those linked to towns that have smithies or mines.

• Check Village Production: When you enter a village, look for notables. Talk to them. They will usually tell you what the village produces. Villages associated with mines (like iron ore or silver mines) will often sell those materials in the village market.
• Regular Visits: Villages replenish their stock regularly, so make it a habit of revisiting villages near towns you frequent. This is especially helpful early game when you don’t have a lot of money to invest in caravans or workshops.
• Focus on Specific Resources: If you need charcoal, target villages near wood workshops. If you’re after iron, look for villages linked to towns with iron mines.

Towns and Cities: The Merchant’s Hub

Towns and cities are your primary source for buying materials in bulk.

• Check the Market: Always check the market in every town you visit. Use the search function to quickly find the materials you’re looking for.
• Smithing Towns: Prioritize towns with smithies, as they often have a higher supply of iron, steel, and other related materials.
• Price Fluctuations: Pay attention to price fluctuations. If a material is unusually cheap, buy it in bulk. If it’s expensive, come back later.
• Influence Matters: Your relationship with a town can affect prices. Improve your standing by doing quests for the notables.

Loots: Smelting Down Enemy Gear

Looting weapons and armor from defeated enemies can be a very consistent and profitable source of materials.

• Target Specific Factions: Different factions use different weapons. If you need specific materials, like fine steel, target factions known for using high-quality weapons.
• Maximize Looting: Increase your looting skill (part of the Rogue skill tree). This will significantly increase the amount and quality of loot you receive.
• Smelting is Key: Smelt down everything you don’t need. Even low-tier weapons can provide valuable materials.
• Focus on Tournaments Tournaments are a great way to earn good quality loot early on. Many players ignore tournaments, which is a mistake. It’s a great way to train up you and your companion’s skills, earn experience, and gear yourself with high quality armor and weapons.

Let’s delve into some less common but highly effective methods for material acquisition.

The Caravan Ambush Strategy: Calculated Risk, High Reward

While not the most honorable, ambushing caravans can be a surprisingly effective way to get materials, especially in the early game.

• Target Rich Caravans: Look for caravans traveling to and from wealthy cities. These caravans are more likely to carry valuable goods, including smithing materials.
• Party Composition: Make sure your party is strong enough to defeat the caravan guards, but not so strong that you suffer heavy casualties. A balanced party of infantry, archers, and cavalry is ideal.
• Reputation Hit: Be aware that ambushing caravans will damage your reputation with the faction the caravan belongs to. Only do this if you’re willing to accept the consequences.
• Location Matters: Ambush caravans in areas where you can easily escape if reinforcements arrive. Forests and mountains are good choices.

The Workshop Empire: Passive Income and Material Flow

Investing in workshops can provide a steady stream of income and, more importantly, a consistent flow of smithing materials.

• Strategic Locations: Choose workshops based on the resources available in the surrounding area. A wood workshop in a forest region, or a iron workshop in a mining region are good choices.
• Buy Low, Sell High: If you own a workshop, you can often buy resources from nearby villages at a lower price. This allows you to increase your profits and stockpile materials.
• Diversify Your Portfolio: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Own a variety of workshops in different locations to minimize the risk of losing income if a region is affected by war or famine.

War Profiteering: Capitalizing on Conflict

War creates opportunities. Supply the warring factions with weapons and armor.

• Forge Relationships: Build relationships with lords and kings. They will often commission you to create weapons and armor for their troops.
• Set Up Shop Near Battlefields: Establish a smithy near a war zone. This will allow you to quickly repair damaged equipment and sell new weapons to soldiers.
• Buy Low, Sell High (Again): Buy cheap materials from villages and towns, then sell high-quality weapons and armor to the warring factions.

Having spent countless hours hammering away at the virtual forge in Bannerlord 2, I’ve learned a few things the hard way.

• Early Game Focus: In the early game, villages and tournaments are your best friends. Don’t try to compete with established merchants. Focus on building your skills and accumulating wealth.
• The Charcoal Trap: Charcoal is essential for smithing, but it can be difficult to find in large quantities. Don’t be afraid to buy up all the charcoal in a village, even if it seems expensive. You’ll need it.
• Experiment with Smelting: Different weapons and armor yield different materials. Experiment with smelting to discover which items provide the most valuable resources.
• Don’t Neglect Stamina: Smithing consumes a lot of stamina. Make sure you have enough stamina to complete your projects. I’ve made the mistake of starting a complex weapon only to run out of stamina halfway through. Very frustrating.

I’ve been an avid player of the Mount & Blade series since the original game. I’ve spent hundreds of hours exploring the world of Calradia, mastering its combat system, and delving into its economic complexities. I also have a Bachelor’s degree in History and enjoy researching the historical context of the game. This background gives me a unique perspective on Bannerlord 2 and allows me to provide informed and insightful content.

• Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Wiki: https://mountandblade.fandom.com/wiki/Mount_%26_Blade_II:_Bannerlord (A comprehensive resource for all things Bannerlord 2)
• Wikipedia – Smithing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smithing (Background information on real-world smithing practices.)