Crusader Kings III is Paradox Interactive's grand strategy RPG where you play as a medieval dynasty rather than a nation. Your character has traits, skills, relationships, and secrets that drive gameplay through marriages, murders, inheritance, and holy wars. When your ruler dies, you continue as their heir — and if your dynasty dies out, the game ends. CK3 spans 867-1453 AD with the entire medieval world playable, from Irish counts to the Emperor of China. The game excels at emergent storytelling where no two playthroughs tell the same story.
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
Ireland
Key resources: Safe learning environment, Kingdom formation, island isolation from continental wars Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Knights upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Iberian Peninsula
Key resources: Holy war expansion, Reconquista mechanics, formation of Spain Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Knights upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Byzantine Empire
Key resources: Massive starting realm, unique imperial government, challenging internal politics Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Knights upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Scandinavia
Key resources: Raiding income, Varangian Adventure, tribal-to-feudal transition, unique Norse content Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Men-at-Arms max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Indian Subcontinent
Key resources: Unique religious mechanics, large expansion space, diverse cultural traditions Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Men-at-Arms max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Ireland — Iberian Peninsula)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on Knights once accessible
Mid Game (Byzantine Empire)
- Push Knights to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Men-at-Arms
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Scandinavia — Indian Subcontinent)
- Max out Men-at-Arms — 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 Byzantine Empire 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
- Start as Ireland in 1066 for a safe learning game — the island is divided into weak counties you can consolidate without interference from major powers. Form the Kingdom of Ireland, then look to Scotland or Wales.
- Farm Byzantine Empire 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 III Guides
- Crusader Kings III Crusader Kings III Overview
- Crusader Kings III Best Builds
- Crusader Kings III Tier List
- Crusader Kings III Walkthrough
- Crusader Kings III Beginner's Guide
- Crusader Kings III Tips & Tricks
- Crusader Kings III Weapons Guide
- Crusader Kings III Combat Guide
- Crusader Kings III Boss Guide
- Crusader Kings III Maps & Locations
- Crusader Kings III Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Crusader Kings III, 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
