Bannerlord built upon its predecessor's economy mechanics by letting you start a caravan, which helped me earn money to spend on my army and supplies. To keep your caravan prosperous and safe from looters, here are the best caravan companions in Mount and Blade 2.
Best caravan companions in Bannerlord
There's no go-to companion that works best for each purpose, but you should be on the lookout for certain combinations of traits and perks when searching for the best companions to lead your caravan in Mount and Blade Bannerlord.
Best caravan companion traits in Bannerlord
To find the best characters to lead your caravan, you'll need to look for companions with these titles:
- The Swift
- Trade 80
- Steward 80
- Roguery 100
- The Spicevendor
- Trade 100
- Steward 80
These titles indicate their skill sets are tailored to trade and stewardship. The steward trait shows how well they can lead and manage, and trade measures how well they can sell items. The roguery trait helps your party out in negotiations and clashes, allowing you to speed up raids, increase the gained loot, sneak through towns, bribe at a reduced rate, or even sell prisoners at the closest tavern.
Best perks for caravan leaders in Bannerlord
You can give your character and clan members perks when you level them up. I've listed the best trade skills in the order that you should acquire them.
- Whole Seller - Appraiser
- Either choice is good because it gives you a 15 percent decrease in sell price for equipment or trade goods.
- Caravan Master
- Lets the party carry 30 percent more weight, and item prices are shown relative to the average price.
- Local Connection - Traveling Rumors
- Both perks are a good choice because they give a 15 percent decrease in the sell price penalty for animals or a 15 percent decrease in the buy price from villages.
- Toll Gates
- The relationship gained by resolving issues with merchants is doubled. Every caravan entering the town this character oversees generates 20 gold income.
- Great Investor
- Every profitable caravan gives one renown daily, and hiring companions is 30 percent cheaper.
- Content Trades
- Increases tariff income by 10 percent. The party's wage is decreased by 50 percent while waiting in settlements.
- Insurance Plans
- When destroyed, your caravans return 5,000 Gold, which gives a 25 percent decrease in the buy price penalty for food items.
- Granary Accountant - Tradeyard Foreman
- Either perk is good since they give a 20 percent decrease in the sell price penalty for pottery, tools, cotton, and jewelry, or a 20 percent decrease in the sell price penalty for food trade goods.
- Sword for Barter
- 15 percent lower wages for caravan guard troops and hiring mercenaries is 20 percent cheaper.
- Silver Tongue
- Negotiation for safe passage barter is 50 percent cheaper, and caravans and villagers offer 15 percent better trade deals.
- Trickle Down
- Gives one relationship point with merchant notables if you buy more than 10,000 gold worth of trade goods in a town. Your governed town gains two prosperity points per day as long as it is building a project.
- Everything has a price
- Enables trade settlements when bartering.
Related: How to have children in Bannerlord
Best places to start caravans in Bannerlord
Once you've assembled the right caravan crew, you need to pick the best location to make the most profit. The best-earning caravans are the ones placed at the edge of the map, preferably within the borders of a faction, not at war. This will keep your caravan safe from any invading forces, and the prices will remain stable.
Make sure to have 3-4 wealthy villages with workshops nearby to maintain your supply line. Workshops use resources to create products, and the caravan distributes them across the map, which makes you money.
For more Mount and Blade guides, check out Best Governor Skills and Perks in Mount and Blade II: Bannerlord on Pro Game Guides.