Finding the right smithing hammers and tools in Bannerlord 2 is crucial for crafting powerful weapons and armor, significantly impacting your campaign. This article focuses on practical strategies to acquire these essential items, maximizing your smithing potential. We’ll cover where to reliably find them, how to increase your chances of them appearing, and unique perspectives on the smithing economy.
The availability of smithing tools in Bannerlord 2 hinges on several factors, but fundamentally, they’re found in towns and cities with smithing facilities. However, their appearance isn’t guaranteed.
Targeting Specific Towns
Certain towns have a higher propensity for stocking smithing tools. Imperial cities like Praven, Ortysia, and Epicrotea often have a better selection of tools due to their advanced infrastructure and economies. Check these locations first when beginning your search. Other good options include cities within the Battanian and Vlandian territories.
Utilizing the Trade Skill
The Trade skill plays a role in revealing more items in town inventories. Investing in the Trade skill increases the number of goods displayed, giving you a better chance of finding that elusive smithing hammer. Even a small investment in Trade can make a noticeable difference. The “Appraiser” perk from the Trade skill is particularly helpful as it highlights profitable workshop and trade opportunities, indirectly making it easier to earn money to buy tools when they become available.
Checking Inventory Regularly
Town inventories are not static. They change frequently, sometimes multiple times per day. Make it a habit to check the inventories of smithing-focused towns every in-game day or two. You might find the exact hammer or tool you’ve been looking for just by being persistent. Set up a scouting party near towns to keep tabs on inventory changes.
Leveraging Workshop Production and Prosperity
A town’s prosperity and the presence of a smithy workshop have a direct influence on the tools available. High prosperity towns, especially those with active smithies, are more likely to stock smithing tools. Targeting these towns and ensuring their prosperity through quests or good governance increases your chances of success.
While the above methods are standard, there are lesser-known aspects to consider when searching for smithing tools in Bannerlord 2. Understanding these nuances can significantly improve your efficiency.
The Influence of War and Raids
Surprisingly, periods of conflict can increase the availability of certain smithing tools. When towns are raided or besieged, their economies often shift focus, and smiths prioritize weapon production. This can lead to an influx of basic tools on the market. While it’s not ideal to rely on wartime, it’s an opportunity to capitalize on.
Prioritizing Tool Quality over Quantity
Don’t just buy any smithing tool you find. Focus on acquiring tools with higher quality ratings. A high-quality hammer, for instance, will improve the learning rate for new weapon parts and reduce the chance of breaking during smithing sessions. Investing in quality upfront saves time and resources in the long run.
The Power of Trading and Bartering
Smithing tools aren’t always bought with denars. Try trading with town merchants, offering valuable goods like crafted weapons or looted items. This can be a more effective way to acquire tools, especially if you have a surplus of resources. Focus on trading with towns that produce the tools you need.
Crafting Your Own Economy Through Smithing
Instead of solely relying on towns for tools, you can create a smithing economy yourself. By focusing on crafting high-value weapons and selling them, you generate denars to consistently purchase tools as they become available. This self-sustaining cycle reduces your dependence on random town inventories.
First-Hand Experience: My Smithing Tool Hunt
I’ve spent countless hours in Bannerlord 2 trying to master smithing, and my experience has taught me a few unconventional tricks. For example, I discovered that certain towns, like Zeonica, consistently restock basic smithing hammers after a siege. This likely stems from the town needing to rebuild its armories.
Furthermore, I noticed that the price of tools often fluctuates based on the town’s security. If a town is frequently raided by bandits, the price of smithing tools (and everything else) tends to be higher. Therefore, ensuring a town’s safety through clearing bandit camps can indirectly lower the cost of acquiring tools.
I also learned to focus on specific tool attributes. For example, hammers with a higher “handling” stat allow for faster crafting, which significantly reduces fatigue during long smithing sessions. These small details aren’t always obvious, but they make a massive difference in the long run.
| Tool Type | Primary Benefit | Best Towns to Find | Potential Trading Goods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smithing Hammer | Increases learning rate, reduces breaking chance | Praven, Ortysia, Epicrotea | Crafted swords, fine steel |
| Tongs | Improves item quality | Battanian towns (e.g., Marunath) | Hardwood, furs |
| File | Reduces material cost | Vlandian towns (e.g., Sargot) | Iron ore, charcoal |
As a long-time player of Bannerlord 2, with hundreds of hours dedicated to smithing and economic management, I’ve developed a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics. My strategies are based on extensive experimentation and observation within the game world. I aim to provide reliable, actionable advice to help players optimize their smithing endeavors. The Bannerlord 2 economy is complex, but with a strategic approach, players can achieve self-sufficiency and prosperity.
While much of this information is based on in-game experience, the underlying mechanics of Bannerlord 2 are well-documented within the community and academic research. For a general overview of the game’s features, see the Wikipedia page for Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_%26_Blade_II:_Bannerlord.