Sid Meier's Civilization V is the quintessential 4X strategy game where you guide a civilization from 4000 BC to the modern era, competing against AI or human opponents through diplomacy, war, science, and culture. Despite Civilization VI's release, Civ V with its Brave New World and Gods & Kings DLC remains the preferred version for many strategy fans due to its elegant one-unit-per-tile combat, balanced victory conditions, and refined late-game mechanics.
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 synergies |
| 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
Capital City
Key resources: National College, Palace, all national wonders, identity Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Giant Death Robot upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Border Cities
Key resources: Strategic resources, territory control, military staging Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Giant Death Robot upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Natural Wonders
Key resources: Massive tile yields, happiness, Spain civilization bonus Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Giant Death Robot upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
City-States
Key resources: Free food, units, culture, unique luxuries, UN votes Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Nuclear Missile max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Strategic Resources
Key resources: Specific unit/building production, trade leverage Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Nuclear Missile max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Capital City — Border Cities)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on Giant Death Robot once accessible
Mid Game (Natural Wonders)
- Push Giant Death Robot to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Nuclear Missile
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (City-States — Strategic Resources)
- Max out Nuclear Missile — 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 Natural Wonders 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
- Rush National College by turn 100 — it gives +50% science in your capital. Build only 4 cities (Tradition) before turn 100 and get Libraries in all of them.
- Farm Natural Wonders 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 Sid Meier's Civilization V Guides
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Sid Meier's Civilization V Overview
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Best Builds
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Tier List
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Walkthrough
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Beginner's Guide
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Tips & Tricks
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Weapons Guide
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Combat Guide
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Boss Guide
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Maps & Locations
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Sid Meier's Civilization V, check out these related guides:
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Crafting Guide — strategy game with similar mechanics
- RimWorld Crafting Guide — strategy game with similar mechanics
- Stellaris Crafting Guide — strategy game with similar mechanics
