World's Edge, Forgotten Empires and Tantalus Media relaunched Age of Empires III on 15 October 2020 with 4K art, reworked multiplayer and two fresh civilisations, the Incas and the Swedes. The base game carries 16 civilisations and four paid packs take the roster to 22, adding the United States, Mexicans, Ethiopians, Hausa, Italians and Maltese. Steam sits at 84 percent positive across roughly 18,900 reviews, and a Baltic Powers pack is listed on the store as coming soon.
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 combinations |
| 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
Great Plains
Key resources: Bison hunts, Trade Route experience, open ground for cavalry raids Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Skirmisher upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Deccan
Key resources: Dense resource cover, room for a fully walled base Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Skirmisher upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Texas
Key resources: Strong hunts, open flanks that reward Hussar raids Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Skirmisher upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Yucatan
Key resources: Abundant wood, close quarters infantry fights Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Musketeer max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Carolina
Key resources: Fish and whales, forested chokepoints for defence Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Musketeer max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Great Plains to Deccan)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Skirmisher once accessible
Mid Game (Texas)
- Push Skirmisher to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Musketeer
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Yucatan to Carolina)
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 Texas 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
- Deck construction beats micro at every level below expert. Build one deck per civilisation with a clear plan: economy cards for a boom, unit shipments for a rush, and never carry cards for an age you do not intend to reach.
- Farm Texas 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 III: Definitive Edition Guides
- Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition Overview
- Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition Best Builds
- Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition Tier List
- Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition Walkthrough
- Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition Beginner's Guide
- Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition Tips & Tricks
- Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition Weapons Guide
- Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition Combat Guide
- Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition Boss Guide
- Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition Maps & Locations
- Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Age of Empires III: 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
