Crusader Kings II ran from 2012 to 2020 and went free to play in 2019, which is why it still holds a live player base alongside its sequel. You play a dynasty rather than a country, starting anywhere from 769 with the Charlemagne expansion or 867 with The Old Gods through to 1337, and the game ends the moment no landed member of your dynasty is left to inherit. Everything else, the wars, the marriages, the murders, exists to stop that from happening.
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
Duchy of Munster, 1066
Key resources: The Kingdom of Ireland title, and a working understanding of claims and succession Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Pikemen upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Byzantine Empire, 1066
Key resources: Enormous starting strength, and the hardest lesson in the game about plots Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Pikemen upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Scandinavia, 867
Key resources: Raid income, the Norse reformation, and the shortest route from petty king to emperor Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Pikemen upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Francia, 769
Key resources: The chance to build the Holy Roman Empire from its actual starting position Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Heavy Infantry max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Kingdom of England, 1337
Key resources: A compressed campaign that finishes rather than running for six hundred years Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Heavy Infantry max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Duchy of Munster, 1066 to Byzantine Empire, 1066)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Pikemen once accessible
Mid Game (Scandinavia, 867)
- Push Pikemen to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Heavy Infantry
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Francia, 769 to Kingdom of England, 1337)
- Max out Heavy Infantry. 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 Scandinavia, 867 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
- Fix succession before anything else. Gavelkind splitting a kingdom between three sons undoes fifty years of work in one death screen, and changing the law requires crown authority you have to raise years in advance.
- Farm Scandinavia, 867 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 Crusader Kings II Guides
- Crusader Kings II Crusader Kings II Overview
- Crusader Kings II Best Builds
- Crusader Kings II Tier List
- Crusader Kings II Walkthrough
- Crusader Kings II Beginner's Guide
- Crusader Kings II Tips & Tricks
- Crusader Kings II Weapons Guide
- Crusader Kings II Combat Guide
- Crusader Kings II Boss Guide
- Crusader Kings II Maps & Locations
- Crusader Kings II Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Crusader Kings II, 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
