Since the launch of Patch v1.2, workshops in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord are no longer simple "set-and-forget" passive income engines. The economy has been rewritten to closely simulate real supply and demand. Workshops now adjust their productivity dynamically based on local raw material supplies, nearby caravan trade, and town prosperity levels.
Core Workshop Rules for Success
To ensure your workshops consistently bring in 300 - 500+ denars per day, follow these three golden economic rules:
- Prioritize Prosperity: The higher a town's prosperity (aim for 6,000+), the wealthier its citizens. High prosperity increases the purchasing rate of expensive luxury goods like beer, wine, velvet, and jewelry, raising your margins.
- Secure Raw Materials: Check which raw goods are produced by the villages bound to the town. If a town has two bound villages producing grain, a Brewery will have a steady supply of cheap grain, ensuring constant production.
- Erase Competition: If a town already has a Brewery, and you build a second one, you will split the profits and drive down beer prices. Pro-Tip: Buy out competing workshops in the town, change their production type, and then sell them back to clear the local monopoly for yourself!
Consistent High-Yield Setups
While the economy of every sandbox campaign changes based on active wars and raided villages, the following setups are consistently rated as top earners by the community in v1.2:
| Recommended Town | Workshop Type | Bound Village Input | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanala (Aserai) | Brewery | Abundant Grain | Sanala has 3 bound villages producing grain. Raw material is extremely cheap, leading to highly stable, passive beer profits. |
| Marunath (Battania) | Winery | Grapes | Battania has multiple grape-yielding villages, and high local trade volume. Wine sells at high premiums in nearby imperial towns. |
| Ortysia (Empire) | Silversmith | Silver Ore | Highly secure town location. Silver is shipped from nearby mines. High prosperity drives up luxury silverware demand. |
| Sargot (Vlandia) | Olive Press | Olives | Castle-bound villages supply Sargot with endless olives. Olive oil sells for consistent mid-game profits. |
"Always check if a town is on the frontline of a war. If a town is frequently besieged, its prosperity will crash, and villages will be looted, rendering your workshops unprofitable."
— Calradia Trade Journal