Battle Brothers is Overhype Studios' turn-based mercenary company sim, released on 24 March 2017 and now published by Hooded Horse. You hire named men with backgrounds, eight attributes, and permanent death, take contracts across a procedurally generated world map, and try to be strong enough when the late-game crisis arrives. Four expansions extend it: Beasts and Exploration, Warriors of the North, Blazing Deserts, and the free Of Flesh and Faith.
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
Noble house territory
Key resources: High-value contracts, noble-tier equipment, war loot during the crisis Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Billhook upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Greenskin camps
Key resources: Orc cleavers and armor, camp clearing payouts Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Billhook upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Undead crypts
Key resources: Ancient armor and weapons, crypt loot caches Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Billhook upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
The northern barbarian lands
Key resources: Barbarian equipment, origin-specific campaigns, legendary location bosses Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Warbrand max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
The southern city states
Key resources: Southern weapons and armor, arena winnings, new contract types Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Warbrand max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Noble house territory to Greenskin camps)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Billhook once accessible
Mid Game (Undead crypts)
- Push Billhook to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Warbrand
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (The northern barbarian lands to The southern city states)
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 Undead crypts 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
- Know which content comes from where. Beasts and Exploration adds beasts, taxidermist crafting, and hidden locations; Warriors of the North adds barbarians and origins; Blazing Deserts adds the south, firearms, grenades, and arenas; Of Flesh and Faith is free and adds the Oathtakers and Anatomists origins.
- Farm Undead crypts 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 Battle Brothers Guides
- Battle Brothers Battle Brothers Overview
- Battle Brothers Best Builds
- Battle Brothers Tier List
- Battle Brothers Walkthrough
- Battle Brothers Beginner's Guide
- Battle Brothers Tips & Tricks
- Battle Brothers Weapons Guide
- Battle Brothers Combat Guide
- Battle Brothers Boss Guide
- Battle Brothers Maps & Locations
- Battle Brothers Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Battle Brothers, 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
