If you’re looking to stack your coffers in Wartales and turn your mercenary band into a well-funded, efficient powerhouse, you’re in the right place. This guide breaks down five top-tier, proven methods to farm crowns fast. From chaining up Outlaws to setting up trade routes that practically print money, these side hustles can be worked into your regular play without dragging you away from the fun. So, let’s dive into the big-money blueprint.
1. Prisoner Capture and Jail Runs
One of the most consistent early-game money-makers is capturing Outlaws and Deserters, then turning them in at regional jails. Start this venture from Tiltren County—Stromkapp is a perfect central hub. The Tiltren jail, while small, is your early gateway into this income stream. Capture enemies, house them in your camp stocks (upgrading it allows up to four prisoners), and deliver them when you’re near a jail.
Handing in a prisoner not only nets you a good sum of crowns, but also drops your suspicion level by 20 points per head—up to four times per jail. This gives you a steady way to manage your wanted level. Keep in mind that the number of prisoners each jail can accept varies. For example, Tiltren only holds three, while others like Vertruse can handle four. Use the icons on enemy groups—bandanas for Outlaws and chains for Deserters—to find the right targets. Archers are particularly easy to capture with minimal risk.
The key to mastering this method lies in timing your rests (always stock your prisoners before sleeping to prevent escapes) and making efficient jail runs. Don’t forget: prisoners at full fatigue are far more likely to escape. Camp wisely.
2. Refugee Capture and the Lumber Mill Scam
If catching bandits isn’t quite your style or you’re looking for an easier alternative, refugees offer a high-profit, low-risk income source. These knapsack-carrying NPCs can be attacked and captured en masse. Once you’ve bagged a few, head to the Tiltren Lumber Mill.
Siding with the morally questionable faction here opens up a repeatable questline with Inez. She accepts civilians and pays out hefty rewards: 500 crowns, 25 lumber, and 50 influence per batch. There’s no hard cap on how many refugees you can process through this method, making it one of the most spammable money routes in the game. Unlike with criminal captures, this won’t help lower your suspicion—but with those payouts, you might not care.
3. Contracts and Negotiation Hustles
Contracts are a reliable income source that gets juicier the deeper you get into the game. But there’s a twist that can turn decent pay into great pay: negotiation.
Unlocking the Negotiator perk from the Trade & Craftsmanship path lets you haggle for better pay before accepting jobs. Spend influence to raise your reward rate by 20–30%—turning a 200-coin job into 346 coins, easily. Best to keep negotiation chances between 75%–80% for consistent results. You can even save before trying if you want to play it safe.
As you level up these paths, you unlock even more options: more contracts at once, assassination missions through Crime & Chaos, and better influence returns for exterminating rats. Combine your contract runs with your other money-makers—catching prisoners, trading goods—and the synergy really starts stacking.
4. Trade Routes and Merchant Arbitrage
Establishing your own trade circuit between towns is one of the most satisfying long-term moneymaking methods in Wartales. Major villages like Stromkapp, Marheim, and Goosenberg all have specific production lines. For example, Stromkapp sells Woolen Cloth and Amber. Marheim offers spices and silver.
Buy goods cheap, then walk them to the next hub that pays more for those items. Each town’s central merchant typically sells five crates of each local good. With path upgrades, you can buy at a discount and sell at a markup—one Stromkapp-to-Marheim run netted a clean 355 crowns in minutes.
Pair this with stolen goods from high-value merchants. Use a thief with leveled thievery to reduce suspicion gain and swipe valuable gear. Store stolen items in the camp chest to launder them slowly over time. Once laundered, they’re yours to sell at full price. Add these to your trade runs for bonus profit.
5. Bandit Lairs and the Black Market
Bandit Lairs are more than combat challenges—they’re hidden goldmines. Once you’ve cleared their guards, you can use them as Black Market hubs. Clear out every squad to weaken the lair’s defense, then explore for high-value loot like blueprints, trade goods, and unique items.
Unlock the Black Market access path from Crime & Chaos to sell stolen gear here. It’s also where you can fence items that regular merchants won’t touch. Selling stolen gear here immediately launders it too, meaning you can buy it back without worry. You can also steal from the Black Market merchants themselves—though doing so raises your suspicion, so weigh the risk.
Certain accessories, like a special backpack, reduce the chance that stolen goods are flagged as stolen. With the right loadout and a high stealth rating, you can swipe premium items with near-zero consequences.
Final Thoughts: Combining Methods for Max Efficiency
The real trick to getting rich in Wartales isn’t just picking one of these methods—it’s combining them. While running contracts, you can be trading goods, laundering stolen gear, capturing prisoners, and visiting jails all along the way. Each system feeds into the others.
Stay near Stromkapp early on for fast refugee farming. Expand your jail network to keep prisoner runs fresh. Unlock paths that support your preferred hustle. And remember—coin is king, but smart play is what builds your empire. Good luck out there, mercenary.
If this guide helped you, leave a like and share your own favorite money-making tricks in the comments. Until next time—rest up, gear up, and cash in.
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