Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition is the remaster that kept a 1999 classic alive and thriving into competitive esports. You guide a civilization from the Dark Age to the Imperial Age, balancing economy, military, and timing against a clock that never stops. The skill ceiling is enormous, but the core loop of build, boom, and attack is easy to learn.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary equipment | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your build's key synergies |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary equipment | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Arabia
Key resources: Rewards strong micro, scouting, and timing pushes Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Arbalester upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Arena
Key resources: Boom-friendly, monk and siege play, late-game tech wars Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Arbalester upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Black Forest
Key resources: Safe booming, chokepoint defense, huge late armies Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Arbalester upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Islands
Key resources: Galley and fire ship battles, water economy, amphibious attacks Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Paladin max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Nomad
Key resources: Diplomacy chaos, flexible builds, early scouting value Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Paladin max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Arabia to Arena)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Arbalester once accessible
Mid Game (Black Forest)
- Push Arbalester to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Paladin
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Islands to Nomad)
- Max out Paladin. This is your top priority
- Complete your build's core gear set
- Craft endgame consumables
- Optional: upgrade secondary equipment for variety
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple equipment: Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials: Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear: Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring Black Forest farming: This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early: Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency Tips
- Keep your Town Center making villagers nonstop until you hit your economy cap.
- Farm Black Forest during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build. Some classes farm faster in certain areas
More Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Guides
- Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Overview
- Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Best Builds
- Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Tier List
- Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Walkthrough
- Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Beginner's Guide
- Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Tips & Tricks
- Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Weapons Guide
- Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Combat Guide
- Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Boss Guide
- Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Maps & Locations
- Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, check out these related guides:
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Crafting Guide: strategy game with similar mechanics
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Crafting Guide: strategy game with similar mechanics
- RimWorld Crafting Guide: strategy game with similar mechanics
