Dagger

Bannerlord v1.4.8 · checked 2026-11-11 · updated 2026-11-12

This guide answers two questions for the dagger: which piece moves which stat, and what the best design is for each goal when the highest piece tier you can use is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. The formulas were read out of the game's own code: they were recovered from v1.4.6 and compared method by method against v1.4.8, where none of the compared methods changed (some could only be compared by their headers; Value and price has the details). Rows labelled "NavalDLC" give the best result with NavalDLC active, which adds pieces and changes which pieces each weapon type can use; they are listed only where they beat the base game. How smithing works in general is in the Crafting guide; slots, usages and an example recipe are in Weapon templates.

Usages and damage

The dagger has four slots, blade, guard, handle and pommel, and up to three usages on the same item, all held in one hand.

Usage	Blades in the base game	Blades with NavalDLC	Swing damage factor	Thrust damage factor
Dagger (alternative)	12	12	2 to 4.1	1.2 to 4.25
Dagger	22	24	1.2 to 4.1	1.2 to 4.25
Throwing knife	7	7	1.2 to 3.5	2 to 4.25

Swing drag: 1.17 per unit of reach in every usage.
Damage type: cut, pierce or blunt, set by the blade.
Dagger and Dagger (alternative): use the same grip numbers.
Throwing knife: only there if every piece you picked is allowed for it. Its Thrown damage is 3.3 × the thrust strength, without the extra mass of a melee thrust, and it counts 1.2 times for the tier score. Because it is not the dagger's first usage, a dagger you can throw is a single knife, not a stack.

Which piece drives which stat

Blade: sets both damage factors and the damage type, adds length, and counts most for difficulty.
Guard and handle: add weight and length. Weight far from your hand makes the dagger harder to turn than weight near it.
Pommel: adds weight but no length. The game counts it as if it sat past the blade tip when it works out how hard the dagger is to turn, so a heavy pommel costs handling and swing speed far beyond its weight.
Weight overall: swing and thrust strength grow with the weight, so a heavier dagger usually hits harder. It also swings and thrusts slower, and strength grows with the square of the speed.
Length overall: more length adds swing drag and turning weight, so a longer dagger swings slower.

Smithing calculator

Every piece at scale 100. Pick a piece for each slot.

Loading pieces…

How far each goal goes

Best result in the Dagger usage with tier-1 pieces, then with tier-5 pieces:

Swing damage: 25, up to 64 (NavalDLC is better at tier 2 with 48 and tier 3 with 56).
Thrust damage: 18, up to 65 from tier 4.
Swing speed: 125, up to 127 from tier 2.
Thrust speed: 100, up to 105 from tier 3.
Handling: 119, up to 120 from tier 2.
Length: 43, up to 61 from tier 3.
Weight (lightest): 0.67 kg, down to 0.34 from tier 3.
Value: 95, up to 6,103 (NavalDLC is better at tier 2 with 676).

The Dagger (alternative) table lists thrust damage, thrust speed, handling, length, weight and value; in the base game its results are the same as for the Dagger usage.

Throwing knife has no recipe with tier-1 or tier-2 pieces. From tier 3: Thrown damage 34, then 37 from tier 4; length 51, then 52; weight 0.44 kg; missile speed 34; value 590, then 1,037.

Best recipes by highest piece tier

Each row is the best design when no piece above that tier is allowed. A NavalDLC row is only listed where the result with NavalDLC active beats the base game.

Dagger (alternative) usage

Goal	Highest piece tier	Pieces from	Blade	Guard	Handle	Pommel	Stat
Thrust damage	1	Base game	dagger_blade_20	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sickle_grip_1	aserai_pommel_2	18
Thrust damage	2	Base game	dagger_blade_5	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_4	38
Thrust damage	3	Base game	dagger_blade_3	aserai_dagger_guard_6	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_1	58
Thrust damage	4	Base game	dagger_blade_7	aserai_guard_9	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_6	65
Thrust damage	5	Base game	dagger_blade_7	aserai_guard_9	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_6	65
Thrust speed	1	Base game	dagger_blade_20	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	aserai_pommel_2	100
Thrust speed	2	Base game	dagger_blade_5	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	aserai_pommel_1	103
Thrust speed	3	Base game	dagger_blade_3	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	105
Thrust speed	4	Base game	dagger_blade_3	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	105
Thrust speed	5	Base game	dagger_blade_3	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	105
Handling	1	Base game	dagger_blade_22	khuzait_dagger_guard_1	sickle_grip_1	cleaver_pommel_4	119
Handling	2	Base game	dagger_blade_5	khuzait_dagger_guard_9	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	120
Handling	3	Base game	dagger_blade_5	khuzait_dagger_guard_9	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	120
Handling	4	Base game	dagger_blade_5	khuzait_dagger_guard_9	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	120
Handling	5	Base game	dagger_blade_5	khuzait_dagger_guard_9	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	120
Length	1	Base game	dagger_blade_20	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_12	aserai_pommel_2	43
Length	2	Base game	dagger_blade_2	aserai_dagger_guard_1	aserai_grip_1	aserai_pommel_1	52
Length	3	Base game	dagger_blade_3	aserai_dagger_guard_1	khuzait_grip_18	aserai_pommel_1	61
Length	4	Base game	dagger_blade_3	aserai_dagger_guard_1	khuzait_grip_18	aserai_pommel_1	61
Length	5	Base game	dagger_blade_3	aserai_dagger_guard_1	khuzait_grip_18	aserai_pommel_1	61
Weight (lightest)	1	Base game	dagger_blade_20	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	0.67
Weight (lightest)	2	Base game	dagger_blade_5	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	0.42
Weight (lightest)	3	Base game	dagger_blade_3	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	0.34
Weight (lightest)	4	Base game	dagger_blade_3	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	0.34
Weight (lightest)	5	Base game	dagger_blade_3	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	0.34
Value	1	Base game	dagger_blade_20	empire_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_4	95
Value	2	Base game	dagger_blade_2	battania_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_14	aserai_pommel_4	532
Value	3	Base game	dagger_blade_3	battania_dagger_guard_5	vlandian_grip_5	aserai_pommel_3	2,586
Value	4	Base game	dagger_blade_9	aserai_guard_9	sturgian_grip_37	battania_pommel_7	4,159
Value	5	Base game	dagger_blade_9	aserai_guard_9	aserai_grip_24	battania_pommel_5	6,103

All pieces at scale 100. Weight in kg.

Dagger usage

Goal	Highest piece tier	Pieces from	Blade	Guard	Handle	Pommel	Stat
Swing damage	1	Base game	dagger_blade_20	aserai_dagger_guard_4	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_4	25
Swing damage	2	Base game	dagger_blade_2	aserai_dagger_guard_4	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_4	43
Swing damage	2	NavalDLC	coh_dagger_blade_2	coh_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_4	48
Swing damage	3	Base game	dagger_blade_9	aserai_dagger_guard_3	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_4	55
Swing damage	3	NavalDLC	dagger_blade_9	coh_dagger_guard_1	khuzait_grip_18	aserai_pommel_4	56
Swing damage	4	Base game	dagger_blade_9	aserai_guard_9	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_4	62
Swing damage	5	Base game	dagger_blade_9	aserai_guard_9	sturgian_grip_34	battania_pommel_5	64
Thrust damage	1	Base game	dagger_blade_20	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sickle_grip_1	aserai_pommel_2	18
Thrust damage	2	Base game	dagger_blade_5	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_4	38
Thrust damage	3	Base game	dagger_blade_3	aserai_dagger_guard_6	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_1	58
Thrust damage	4	Base game	dagger_blade_7	aserai_guard_9	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_6	65
Thrust damage	5	Base game	dagger_blade_7	aserai_guard_9	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_6	65
Swing speed	1	Base game	dagger_blade_22	khuzait_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	cleaver_pommel_4	125
Swing speed	2	Base game	dagger_blade_5	battania_dagger_guard_8	wood_grip_1	aserai_pommel_1	127
Swing speed	3	Base game	dagger_blade_5	battania_dagger_guard_8	wood_grip_1	aserai_pommel_1	127
Swing speed	4	Base game	dagger_blade_5	battania_dagger_guard_8	wood_grip_1	aserai_pommel_1	127
Swing speed	5	Base game	dagger_blade_5	battania_dagger_guard_8	wood_grip_1	aserai_pommel_1	127
Thrust speed	1	Base game	dagger_blade_20	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	aserai_pommel_2	100
Thrust speed	2	Base game	dagger_blade_5	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	aserai_pommel_1	103
Thrust speed	3	Base game	dagger_blade_3	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	105
Thrust speed	4	Base game	dagger_blade_3	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	105
Thrust speed	5	Base game	dagger_blade_3	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	105
Handling	1	Base game	dagger_blade_22	khuzait_dagger_guard_1	sickle_grip_1	cleaver_pommel_4	119
Handling	2	Base game	dagger_blade_5	khuzait_dagger_guard_9	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	120
Handling	3	Base game	dagger_blade_5	khuzait_dagger_guard_9	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	120
Handling	4	Base game	dagger_blade_5	khuzait_dagger_guard_9	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	120
Handling	5	Base game	dagger_blade_5	khuzait_dagger_guard_9	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	120
Length	1	Base game	dagger_blade_20	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_12	aserai_pommel_2	43
Length	2	Base game	dagger_blade_2	aserai_dagger_guard_1	aserai_grip_1	aserai_pommel_1	52
Length	3	Base game	dagger_blade_3	aserai_dagger_guard_1	khuzait_grip_18	aserai_pommel_1	61
Length	4	Base game	dagger_blade_3	aserai_dagger_guard_1	khuzait_grip_18	aserai_pommel_1	61
Length	5	Base game	dagger_blade_3	aserai_dagger_guard_1	khuzait_grip_18	aserai_pommel_1	61
Weight (lightest)	1	Base game	dagger_blade_20	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	0.67
Weight (lightest)	2	Base game	dagger_blade_5	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	0.42
Weight (lightest)	3	Base game	dagger_blade_3	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	0.34
Weight (lightest)	4	Base game	dagger_blade_3	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	0.34
Weight (lightest)	5	Base game	dagger_blade_3	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	0.34
Value	1	Base game	dagger_blade_20	empire_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_4	95
Value	2	Base game	dagger_blade_2	battania_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_14	aserai_pommel_4	532
Value	2	NavalDLC	coh_dagger_blade_2	battania_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_4	676
Value	3	Base game	dagger_blade_3	battania_dagger_guard_5	vlandian_grip_5	aserai_pommel_3	2,586
Value	4	Base game	dagger_blade_9	aserai_guard_9	sturgian_grip_37	battania_pommel_7	4,159
Value	5	Base game	dagger_blade_9	aserai_guard_9	aserai_grip_24	battania_pommel_5	6,103

All pieces at scale 100. Weight in kg.

Throwing knife usage

Goal	Highest piece tier	Pieces from	Blade	Guard	Handle	Pommel	Stat
Thrown damage	3	Base game	dagger_blade_4	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_9	34
Thrown damage	4	Base game	dagger_blade_4	aserai_guard_9	sturgian_grip_34	khuzait_pommel_7	37
Thrown damage	5	Base game	dagger_blade_4	aserai_guard_9	sturgian_grip_34	khuzait_pommel_7	37
Length	3	Base game	dagger_blade_4	aserai_dagger_guard_1	aserai_grip_1	aserai_pommel_1	51
Length	4	Base game	dagger_blade_4	aserai_dagger_guard_1	aserai_grip_24	aserai_pommel_1	52
Length	5	Base game	dagger_blade_4	aserai_dagger_guard_1	aserai_grip_24	aserai_pommel_1	52
Weight (lightest)	3	Base game	dagger_blade_4	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	0.44
Weight (lightest)	4	Base game	dagger_blade_4	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	0.44
Weight (lightest)	5	Base game	dagger_blade_4	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	0.44
Missile speed	3	Base game	dagger_blade_4	aserai_dagger_guard_1	aserai_grip_1	cleaver_pommel_4	34
Missile speed	4	Base game	dagger_blade_4	aserai_dagger_guard_1	aserai_grip_1	cleaver_pommel_4	34
Missile speed	5	Base game	dagger_blade_4	aserai_dagger_guard_1	aserai_grip_1	cleaver_pommel_4	34
Value	3	Base game	dagger_blade_4	battania_dagger_guard_5	sturgian_grip_35	aserai_pommel_9	590
Value	4	Base game	dagger_blade_4	aserai_guard_9	sturgian_grip_37	aserai_pommel_9	1,037
Value	5	Base game	dagger_blade_4	aserai_guard_9	sturgian_grip_37	aserai_pommel_9	1,037

All pieces at scale 100. Weight in kg. No recipe when the highest piece tier is 1 or 2.

Line charts of the best dagger result for each goal by highest piece tier, 1 to 5, every piece at scale 100, base game values in order. Dagger (alternative): Thrust damage 18, 38, 58, 65, 65; Thrust speed 100, 103, 105, 105, 105; Handling 119, 120, 120, 120, 120; Length 43, 52, 61, 61, 61; Weight (lightest) 0.67, 0.42, 0.34, 0.34, 0.34 kg; Value 95, 532, 2,586, 4,159, 6,103. Dagger: Swing damage 25, 43, 55, 62, 64 (NavalDLC better: tier 2 48, tier 3 56); Thrust damage, thrust speed, handling, length and weight as for Dagger (alternative); Swing speed 125, 127, 127, 127, 127; Value 95, 532, 2,586, 4,159, 6,103 (NavalDLC better: tier 2 676). Throwing knife, tiers 3 to 5 only: Thrown damage 34, 37, 37; Length 51, 52, 52; Weight (lightest) 0.44 kg; Missile speed 34; Value 590, 1,037, 1,037.

Every recipe here has every piece at scale 100, its default size. Scaling changes a piece's weight and length; see Scaling a piece in the crafting guide. What the solver research found about scale is in Getting the best weapon from your pieces.

Worked example. Your best pieces are tier 3 and you want the hardest stab. The table gives blade dagger_blade_3, guard aserai_dagger_guard_6, handle sturgian_grip_34 and pommel aserai_pommel_1, for thrust damage 58. With tier-1 pieces the best is only 18, with tier-2 pieces 38.

Practical tips

Thrust damage climbs fast up to tier 4. It goes 18, 38, 58, then 65 at tier 4, and tier 5 adds nothing.
Speed and handling barely change. Swing speed goes from 125 to 127 and handling from 119 to 120, so tier-1 pieces already make a quick dagger.
NavalDLC helps little. It only beats the base game on swing damage at tiers 2 and 3 and on value at tier 2.
A throwable dagger needs tier-3 pieces. For a stack of knives with more Thrown damage, use the Throwing knife type: its best Thrown damage from tier 4 is 61, against 37 here.