Colossal Order's 2023 sequel simulates every citizen as an agent with a household, a job, an education level and a daily route between them. Twenty milestones gate progress from Tiny Village to Megalopolis, handing out 432 expansion permits and 232 development points along the way. The Economy 2.0 patch reworked rent, production and taxation after launch, so a lot of the advice written in the first months no longer matches the game.
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
Lakeland
Key resources: Grain fields, abundant fresh water, wide flat building room Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Water Pumping Station upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Sweeping Plains
Key resources: Flat unrestricted building space, mild climate, easy highway access Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Water Pumping Station upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Barrier Island
Key resources: Fishing industry, ship connections, coastal land value Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Water Pumping Station upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Great Highlands
Key resources: Heavy forest cover, dramatic terrain, forestry specialisation Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Coal Power Plant max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Waterway Pass
Key resources: Large buildable area, river freight routes, mixed resources Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Coal Power Plant max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Lakeland to Sweeping Plains)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Water Pumping Station once accessible
Mid Game (Barrier Island)
- Push Water Pumping Station to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Coal Power Plant
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Great Highlands to Waterway Pass)
- Max out Coal Power Plant. 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 Barrier Island 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
- Start with one two lane road off the highway connection and zone shallow along it. Deep zoned blocks create buildings that back onto nothing, and citizens who cannot reach a bus stop will drive instead, which is where early traffic problems begin.
- Farm Barrier Island 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 Cities: Skylines II Guides
- Cities: Skylines II Cities: Skylines II Overview
- Cities: Skylines II Best Builds
- Cities: Skylines II Tier List
- Cities: Skylines II Walkthrough
- Cities: Skylines II Beginner's Guide
- Cities: Skylines II Tips & Tricks
- Cities: Skylines II Weapons Guide
- Cities: Skylines II Combat Guide
- Cities: Skylines II Boss Guide
- Cities: Skylines II Maps & Locations
- Cities: Skylines II Classes & Characters
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