Civilization VI is the definitive entry in Firaxis' legendary 4X strategy franchise, with the Gathering Storm and Rise & Fall expansions creating the deepest and most complex Civ experience ever made. The district system forces meaningful city planning decisions, the policy card system allows flexible government adaptation, and the loyalty/era mechanics add narrative drama to empire management. Six distinct victory conditions ensure every game tells a different story. With both DLC expansions and the New Frontier Pass content, Civ VI offers near-infinite replayability across dozens of unique civilizations.
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: Palace (+2 all yields), extra Housing from fresh water, foundation of empire Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Nuclear Missile upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Industrial Zone
Key resources: Production bonus, Factory area effect, Workshop/Power Plant buildings Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Nuclear Missile upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Campus District
Key resources: Science output, Great Scientist points, tech tree acceleration Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Nuclear Missile upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Theater Square
Key resources: Culture output, Great Work slots, Tourism generation, Great Artist/Writer/Musician points Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Giant Death Robot max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Holy Site
Key resources: Faith output, Great Prophet points, religion founding, faith purchasing Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Giant Death Robot max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Capital City — Industrial Zone)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on Nuclear Missile once accessible
Mid Game (Campus District)
- Push Nuclear Missile to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Giant Death Robot
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Theater Square — Holy Site)
- Max out Giant Death Robot — 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 Campus District 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
- Plan all district placements at city founding. Use the settler lens to preview adjacency bonuses before settling. A well-planned city is worth 3 poorly-planned ones.
- Farm Campus District 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 VI Guides
- Civilization VI Civilization VI Overview
- Civilization VI Best Builds
- Civilization VI Tier List
- Civilization VI Walkthrough
- Civilization VI Beginner's Guide
- Civilization VI Tips & Tricks
- Civilization VI Weapons Guide
- Civilization VI Combat Guide
- Civilization VI Boss Guide
- Civilization VI Maps & Locations
- Civilization VI Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Civilization VI, 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
