Ubisoft Mainz released Anno 1800 on 16 April 2019 and built it around five Old World population tiers that each demand more goods than the one below. Sunken Treasures followed on 30 July 2019 with Cape Trelawney and Crown Falls, a continental island roughly three times the size of anything in the base game and 103 Influence to settle. Later sessions add the New World, the Arctic and Enbesa, each with its own residents, goods and shipping problem.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schooner | S | First expeditions and short Old World trade routes | The cheap early sail ship with three cargo slots, fast enough to run expeditions and small enough that its Influence cost barely registers. |
| Clipper | A | Transoceanic plantation routes before steam | Four cargo slots and the best sail speed in the game, which matters on the long haul between the Old World and the New World session. |
| Cargo Ship | A | Bulk supply lines feeding an Engineer or Investor city | The steam hauler with six cargo slots. |
| Ship of the Line | B | Escorting trade routes through pirate waters | Heavy sail warship with broadside cannons and enough hull to survive a pirate ambush. |
| Monitor | B | Breaking an enemy harbour defence chain | Ironclad steam warship built for shore bombardment and for punching through defended harbours in the late game. |
S-Tier: Schooner
The cheap early sail ship with three cargo slots, fast enough to run expeditions and small enough that its Influence cost barely registers.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | First expeditions and short Old World trade routes |
| Key Mechanic | Five Old World population tiers |
| Recommended Build | Farmers |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Schooner: Pairs naturally with Farmers thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Clipper
Four cargo slots and the best sail speed in the game, which matters on the long haul between the Old World and the New World session.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Transoceanic plantation routes before steam |
| Key Mechanic | Island-wide shared workforce |
| Recommended Build | Workers |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Clipper: Pairs naturally with Workers thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Cargo Ship
The steam hauler with six cargo slots. It ignores wind entirely, so route timing becomes predictable instead of weather dependent.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Bulk supply lines feeding an Engineer or Investor city |
| Key Mechanic | Influence spent on islands and ships |
| Recommended Build | Artisans |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Cargo Ship: Pairs naturally with Artisans thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Ship of the Line
Heavy sail warship with broadside cannons and enough hull to survive a pirate ambush. Slow to turn and expensive in Influence.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Escorting trade routes through pirate waters |
| Key Mechanic | Trade Union item slots |
| Recommended Build | Engineers |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Ship of the Line: Pairs naturally with Engineers thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Monitor
Ironclad steam warship built for shore bombardment and for punching through defended harbours in the late game.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Breaking an enemy harbour defence chain |
| Key Mechanic | Expeditions to other sessions |
| Recommended Build | Investors |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Monitor: Pairs naturally with Investors thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Old World
- Clipper → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Cargo Ship → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Schooner → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying. One strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Read the fertility list in the island panel before you plant a flag. An island without Grain fertility can never bake its own Bread, and hauling Bread across the map for 5,000 Workers costs more shipping than the island is worth.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Anno 1800 Guides
- Anno 1800 Anno 1800 Overview
- Anno 1800 Best Builds
- Anno 1800 Tier List
- Anno 1800 Walkthrough
- Anno 1800 Beginner's Guide
- Anno 1800 Tips & Tricks
- Anno 1800 Combat Guide
- Anno 1800 Boss Guide
- Anno 1800 Maps & Locations
- Anno 1800 Crafting Guide
- Anno 1800 Classes & Characters
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- Manor Lords Weapons Guide: city-builder game with similar mechanics
- Timberborn Weapons Guide: city-builder game with similar mechanics
