Conan Exiles is an open-world survival game set in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age where you're an exile condemned to die in a harsh wasteland. The thrall system — capturing NPCs, breaking them on the Wheel of Pain, and deploying them as fighters, crafters, or dancers — is the defining mechanic. Named thralls with unique stats become powerful companions that rival player characters in combat strength. The Age of Sorcery update added a full magic system with corrupted attributes, summoning, and teleportation. Building ranges from sandstone shacks to massive T3 fortress compounds that must withstand Purge attacks.
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
Desert
Key resources: Basic resources, Sinkhole dungeon, iron in cliff faces, T1 thralls Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Predatory Blade upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Highlands
Key resources: Named thralls (New Asagarth), Brimstone, Unnamed City access Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Predatory Blade upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Jungle
Key resources: Midnight Grove dungeon, Jhebbal Sag religion, exotic resources Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Predatory Blade upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Frozen North
Key resources: Star Metal, Black Ice, Frost Temple, Named thralls (Cimmerian settlements) Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Blade of the Adventurer max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Volcano
Key resources: Obsidian, Dragonpowder, Well of Skelos, endgame crafting materials Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Blade of the Adventurer max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Desert — Highlands)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on Predatory Blade once accessible
Mid Game (Jungle)
- Push Predatory Blade to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Blade of the Adventurer
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Frozen North — Volcano)
- Max out Blade of the Adventurer — 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 Jungle 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
- Dalinsia Snowhunter (Named Fighter from Mounds of the Dead) is widely considered the best combat thrall. She has the highest HP and damage of any follower. Farm her spawn location repeatedly.
- Farm Jungle 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 Conan Exiles Guides
- Conan Exiles Conan Exiles Overview
- Conan Exiles Best Builds
- Conan Exiles Tier List
- Conan Exiles Walkthrough
- Conan Exiles Beginner's Guide
- Conan Exiles Tips & Tricks
- Conan Exiles Weapons Guide
- Conan Exiles Combat Guide
- Conan Exiles Boss Guide
- Conan Exiles Maps & Locations
- Conan Exiles Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Conan Exiles, check out these related guides:
- Palworld Crafting Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- Rust Crafting Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- ARK: Survival Evolved Crafting Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
