Throwing knife

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

This guide answers two questions for the throwing knife: 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). With NavalDLC active no result beats the base game, so there are no rows labelled "NavalDLC" here. How smithing works in general is in the Crafting guide; slots, usages and an example recipe are in Weapon templates.

Usages and damage

The throwing knife has four slots, blade, guard, handle and pommel, and two usages on the same item, both held in one hand.

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

Thrown damage: 3.3 × the thrust strength. Thrown weapons leave out the extra mass of a melee thrust.
Missile speed: 3.9 × the thrust speed, rounded down.
Stack size: the throwing knife is the first usage, so you get the blade's stack, 3 for every throwing-knife blade.
Tier score: the throwing knife usage counts 1.2 times.
Dagger: a melee usage with swing and thrust, swing drag 1.17 per unit of reach.
Damage type: cut, pierce or blunt, set by the blade.

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 knife 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 knife is to turn, so a heavy pommel costs handling and swing speed far beyond its weight.
Weight overall: thrust strength grows with the weight, so a heavier knife usually hits harder. It also thrusts slower, and strength grows with the square of the thrust speed. A slower thrust also means a lower missile speed.
Length overall: more length adds swing drag and turning weight, so a longer knife swings slower in the Dagger usage.

Smithing calculator

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

Loading pieces…

How far each goal goes

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

Thrown damage: 24, up to 61 from tier 4.
Length: 43, up to 48 from tier 3.
Weight (lightest): 0.39 kg at every tier.
Missile speed: 34 at every tier.
Value: 119, up to 3,221.

In the Dagger usage: swing damage 26 up to 37 from tier 3, thrust damage 30 up to 64 from tier 4, swing speed 130, thrust speed 104 and handling 120 at every tier. Length, weight and value are the same as in the Throwing knife usage.

Best recipes by highest piece tier

Each row is the best design when no piece above that tier is allowed.

Throwing knife usage

Goal	Highest piece tier	Pieces from	Blade	Guard	Handle	Pommel	Stat
Thrown damage	1	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_34	vlandian_pommel_10	24
Thrown damage	2	Base game	dagger_blade_13	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_34	vlandian_pommel_1	32
Thrown damage	3	Base game	dagger_blade_14	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_9	46
Thrown damage	4	Base game	dagger_blade_11	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_9	61
Thrown damage	5	Base game	dagger_blade_11	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_9	61
Length	1	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_12	cleaver_pommel_4	43
Length	2	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_12	cleaver_pommel_4	43
Length	3	Base game	dagger_blade_14	aserai_dagger_guard_4	aserai_grip_1	aserai_pommel_1	48
Length	4	Base game	dagger_blade_14	aserai_dagger_guard_4	aserai_grip_1	aserai_pommel_1	48
Length	5	Base game	dagger_blade_14	aserai_dagger_guard_4	aserai_grip_1	aserai_pommel_1	48
Weight (lightest)	1	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	0.39
Weight (lightest)	2	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	0.39
Weight (lightest)	3	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	0.39
Weight (lightest)	4	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	0.39
Weight (lightest)	5	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	0.39
Missile speed	1	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sickle_grip_1	cleaver_pommel_4	34
Missile speed	2	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sickle_grip_1	cleaver_pommel_4	34
Missile speed	3	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sickle_grip_1	cleaver_pommel_4	34
Missile speed	4	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sickle_grip_1	cleaver_pommel_4	34
Missile speed	5	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sickle_grip_1	cleaver_pommel_4	34
Value	1	Base game	dagger_blade_12	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_34	vlandian_pommel_10	119
Value	2	Base game	dagger_blade_13	empire_dagger_guard_3	wood_grip_1	vlandian_pommel_6	204
Value	3	Base game	dagger_blade_14	aserai_dagger_guard_3	sturgian_grip_35	aserai_pommel_9	783
Value	4	Base game	dagger_blade_11	aserai_dagger_guard_3	sturgian_grip_37	aserai_pommel_9	2,740
Value	5	Base game	dagger_blade_11	aserai_dagger_guard_3	aserai_grip_8	aserai_pommel_8	3,221

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_12	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_34	vlandian_pommel_10	26
Swing damage	2	Base game	dagger_blade_12	aserai_dagger_guard_4	sturgian_grip_34	vlandian_pommel_1	28
Swing damage	3	Base game	dagger_blade_14	aserai_dagger_guard_3	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_9	37
Swing damage	4	Base game	dagger_blade_14	aserai_dagger_guard_3	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_9	37
Swing damage	5	Base game	dagger_blade_14	aserai_dagger_guard_3	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_9	37
Thrust damage	1	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_34	khuzait_pommel_6	30
Thrust damage	2	Base game	dagger_blade_13	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_1	36
Thrust damage	3	Base game	dagger_blade_14	aserai_dagger_guard_1	aserai_grip_1	vlandian_pommel_1	45
Thrust damage	4	Base game	dagger_blade_11	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_9	64
Thrust damage	5	Base game	dagger_blade_11	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_34	aserai_pommel_9	64
Swing speed	1	Base game	dagger_blade_12	sturgian_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	130
Swing speed	2	Base game	dagger_blade_12	sturgian_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	130
Swing speed	3	Base game	dagger_blade_12	sturgian_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	130
Swing speed	4	Base game	dagger_blade_12	sturgian_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	130
Swing speed	5	Base game	dagger_blade_12	sturgian_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	130
Thrust speed	1	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	104
Thrust speed	2	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	104
Thrust speed	3	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	104
Thrust speed	4	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	104
Thrust speed	5	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	104
Handling	1	Base game	dagger_blade_10	sturgian_dagger_guard_1	sickle_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	120
Handling	2	Base game	dagger_blade_10	sturgian_dagger_guard_1	sickle_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	120
Handling	3	Base game	dagger_blade_10	sturgian_dagger_guard_1	sickle_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	120
Handling	4	Base game	dagger_blade_10	sturgian_dagger_guard_1	sickle_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	120
Handling	5	Base game	dagger_blade_10	sturgian_dagger_guard_1	sickle_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	120
Length	1	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_12	cleaver_pommel_4	43
Length	2	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_12	cleaver_pommel_4	43
Length	3	Base game	dagger_blade_14	aserai_dagger_guard_4	aserai_grip_1	aserai_pommel_1	48
Length	4	Base game	dagger_blade_14	aserai_dagger_guard_4	aserai_grip_1	aserai_pommel_1	48
Length	5	Base game	dagger_blade_14	aserai_dagger_guard_4	aserai_grip_1	aserai_pommel_1	48
Weight (lightest)	1	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	0.39
Weight (lightest)	2	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	0.39
Weight (lightest)	3	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	0.39
Weight (lightest)	4	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	0.39
Weight (lightest)	5	Base game	dagger_blade_10	aserai_dagger_guard_1	wood_grip_1	sturgian_pommel_7	0.39
Value	1	Base game	dagger_blade_12	aserai_dagger_guard_1	sturgian_grip_34	vlandian_pommel_10	119
Value	2	Base game	dagger_blade_13	empire_dagger_guard_3	wood_grip_1	vlandian_pommel_6	204
Value	3	Base game	dagger_blade_14	aserai_dagger_guard_3	sturgian_grip_35	aserai_pommel_9	783
Value	4	Base game	dagger_blade_11	aserai_dagger_guard_3	sturgian_grip_37	aserai_pommel_9	2,740
Value	5	Base game	dagger_blade_11	aserai_dagger_guard_3	aserai_grip_8	aserai_pommel_8	3,221

All pieces at scale 100. Weight in kg.

Line charts of the best throwing knife result for each goal by highest piece tier, 1 to 5, every piece at scale 100, base game only, values in order. Throwing knife: Thrown damage 24, 32, 46, 61, 61; Length 43, 43, 48, 48, 48; Weight (lightest) 0.39 kg at every tier; Missile speed 34 at every tier; Value 119, 204, 783, 2,740, 3,221. Dagger: Swing damage 26, 28, 37, 37, 37; Thrust damage 30, 36, 45, 64, 64; Swing speed 130 at every tier; Thrust speed 104 at every tier; Handling 120 at every tier; Length, Weight and Value as for the throwing knife.

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 4 and you want the hardest-hitting knives. The table gives blade dagger_blade_11, guard aserai_dagger_guard_1, handle sturgian_grip_34 and pommel aserai_pommel_9, for Thrown damage 61. With tier-3 pieces the best is 46 with dagger_blade_14.

Practical tips

Thrown damage climbs up to tier 4. It goes 24, 32, 46, then 61 at tier 4; tier 5 adds nothing.
The best thrower is also the best stabber. From tier 4 the same four pieces give the best Thrown damage, 61, and the best Dagger thrust damage, 64.
Missile speed and weight do not need high tiers. The fastest and the lightest knives are both built on the tier-1 dagger_blade_10.
NavalDLC adds nothing here. It brings no new throwing-knife blades and no better recipe.
A dagger is not a substitute. A throwable Dagger is a single knife and its best Thrown damage is 37.