If you’re diving into smithing in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, you’ll quickly realize that iron ore is the bedrock of your crafting endeavors. This article focuses on the most effective methods for acquiring iron ore, moving beyond simply pointing out locations and digging into practical strategies that will drastically improve your smithing income. We cover efficient mining spots, smart trading tactics, and how to leverage workshops, providing you with a comprehensive approach to building your smithing empire. Forget aimless wandering – this is about optimizing your time and resources.
The most straightforward way to get iron ore is by mining it yourself. While tedious, it can be a reliable early-game source, especially if you’re short on capital. You’ll need to head to settlements with nearby mines. Look on the world map for resource icons adjacent to towns or castles. The most important things to note are:
Prime Mining Spots
Several settlements are known for their iron ore mines. Here are a few of the best options:
- Amprela (Battania): Northwest corner of the map. The mine is located directly north of the town.
- Varcheg (Vlandia): Centrally located, making it accessible. A mine is located relatively close to the town.
- Omor (Khuzait): Eastern side of the map, but worth the trip if you are playing as Khuzait.
Tips for Efficient Mining
While mining you have to be tactical to maximize the amount of iron you find. You can make the process go by faster by:
- Increase your character’s endurance: This will affect how long you can mine before you start to tire.
- Mining at night: This can help prevent being spotted by enemies.
- Hire Companions with High Skills: If you’re the leader of a caravan, having a companion with high scouting skills will increase your chances of finding mines.
Trading is often a more profitable and less time-consuming way to acquire iron ore than mining it yourself. The key is to understand supply and demand.
Identifying Profitable Trade Routes
Look for towns that produce a lot of goods and other that produce very little to none. The best example is:
- Towns near Mines: Buy iron ore in bulk from towns near iron mines, where it’s cheap due to high supply.
- War-Torn Regions: Sell the ore to towns that are experiencing shortages due to war. These towns will pay a premium.
Essential Trading Skills
Investing in trade skills will allow you to take advantage of the market to make a profit. Some include:
- Trade Skill: This skill reduces trade penalty.
- Steward Skill: This skill increases party size and reduces wages.
Workshops are passive income generators, and some can be strategically used to provide you with a steady supply of iron ore, or at least the funds to buy it.
Setting up the Right Workshops
The best option for generating iron ore is by finding mines that contain the most iron ore. These mines are usually located on the outskirts of towns. Here’s how to do it:
- Locate Towns with Iron Mines: Identify towns with nearby iron mines (as mentioned in the “Mining Locations” section).
- Establish a Smithy: In that town, purchase a workshop and convert it into a smithy. The raw materials it needs are directly available, maximizing your profit margin.
Managing Workshop Production
After you have your workshop set up it is important to manage it properly. Make sure to:
- Monitor Raw Material Prices: Ensure that the price of iron ore in the town remains relatively low to maintain profitability.
- Adjust Production: If iron ore prices fluctuate wildly, consider switching the workshop to produce something else temporarily.
While mining, trading, and workshops are the primary methods, there are a few other lesser-known strategies that can help you secure iron ore:
Looting After Battles
After a battle, particularly against looters or smaller mercenary bands, check the loot. Sometimes, they’ll be carrying small amounts of iron ore or smithing components that can be smelted down.
Completing Quests
Town notables and lords occasionally offer quests that reward you with goods, including iron ore or the funds to purchase it.
From my experience playing Bannerlord 2, smithing, while lucrative, is a time investment. You won’t become wealthy overnight. However, by focusing on a specific set of high-value weapons or armor, and mastering the process of acquiring iron ore efficiently, you can build a very profitable business. Don’t spread yourself too thin trying to craft everything – specialize! I’ve found that crafting two-handed swords and selling to nearby kingdoms is a fantastic way to make money.
The Smithing Grind: Embrace It
Let’s be honest, the smithing skill grind can be tedious. Early on, you’ll be stuck crafting low-tier items to increase your skill. **The key is to view this as an investment.** The higher your skill, the more valuable items you can craft, and the more efficient you become at using resources. **Don’t get discouraged by the initial slow pace.** Once you reach a smithing skill of around 125, you can consistently craft weapons worth thousands of denars.
When to Sell, When to Smelt
**Knowing when to sell crafted items and when to smelt them down is crucial.** Early on, when your smithing skill is low, smelting looted weapons is often a better source of materials than actively mining. As your skill increases and you can craft high-value items, selling becomes the primary source of income. **I personally smelt almost everything I loot until my smithing skill is above 100.** This allows me to build up a stockpile of valuable materials.
As a long-time player of the Mount & Blade series, with hundreds of hours spent in Bannerlord 2, I’ve experimented extensively with various smithing strategies. The information presented here is based on my own gameplay experience and observations. For more information on the mechanics of Bannerlord 2, you can refer to the Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Wiki1, which provides a comprehensive overview of the game’s systems.
| Location | Region | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Amprela | Battania | North of the town. |
| Varcheg | Vlandia | Centrally located, making it easily accessible. |
| Omor | Khuzait | Eastern side of the map. |
Amprela (Battania), Varcheg (Vlandia), and Omor (Khuzait) are all good locations, as they are near iron mines.
Is it better to mine or trade for iron ore in Bannerlord 2?Trading is generally more profitable and less time-consuming, especially if you can identify profitable trade routes.
How can I make money smithing in Bannerlord 2?Specialize in crafting high-value weapons or armor, efficiently acquire iron ore through mining, trading, or workshops, and sell your crafted items to towns that need them.