Beyond the Sword is the second expansion for Civilization IV, released in July 2007, and it is still the version most long term Civ 4 players run. It bolts three systems onto the 2005 base game: seven corporations that convert spare resources into food, production or cash, a full espionage economy with its own commerce slider, and the Apostolic Palace, a religious voting body that can hand you a diplomatic win centuries before the United Nations exists. It also brings ten new civilisations, six new leaders for existing ones, twenty five units, and eleven scenarios ranging from a squad tactics mission against the undead to a space colonisation mod.
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
Afterworld
Key resources: Squad tactics practice, a complete change of pace from the main game Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Executive upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Broken Star
Key resources: Fast paced modern warfare without a long buildup Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Executive upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Charlemagne
Key resources: Coronation as Holy Roman Emperor, religious diplomacy practice Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Executive upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Final Frontier
Key resources: Star system colonisation, a completely reworked tech tree Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Spy max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Next War
Key resources: Extended future technologies, late era unit variety Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Spy max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Afterworld to Broken Star)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Executive once accessible
Mid Game (Charlemagne)
- Push Executive to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Spy
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Final Frontier to Next War)
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 Charlemagne 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
- Found a corporation only when you already control the input resources, because a corporation with nothing to consume still charges you maintenance in every city it reaches.
- Farm Charlemagne 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 Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword Guides
- Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword Overview
- Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword Best Builds
- Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword Tier List
- Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword Walkthrough
- Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword Beginner's Guide
- Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword Tips & Tricks
- Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword Weapons Guide
- Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword Combat Guide
- Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword Boss Guide
- Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword Maps & Locations
- Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword, 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
