Farming Simulator 22 shipped in November 2021 with three maps: Elmcreek in the American Midwest with 82 fields, Haut-Beyleron in southern France with 48, and the alpine Erlengrat with 25. Seasonal growth is the headline change, so each crop now has a sowing and harvesting window instead of growing whenever you feel like planting. Production chains are the other addition, with 13 plant types that turn raw harvest into flour, bread, cake, fabric, clothes and more.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arable crop farming | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Animal husbandry | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Forestry | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Production chain operator | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Contract work | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Farming Simulator 22 tier list.
A-Tier: Arable crop farming
Arable crop farming is a top-performing option in Farming Simulator 22.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | John Deere 8R | A large row crop tractor from the base game with enough power for heavy tillage, big drills and full trailers. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Seasonal growth cycles | Each in game month advances crops one growth stage, and sowing outside a crop's window means nothing comes up. |
How to Play Arable crop farming
Arable crop farming focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: John Deere 8R does the damage and Seasonal growth cycles keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Animal husbandry
Animal husbandry is a strong option in Farming Simulator 22.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Claas Lexion 8900 | A high capacity combine harvester in the base game, paired with wide cutters and a grain tank sized to keep going while the unloading tractor catches up. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Production chains | There are 13 production plants you can buy and place on your land. |
How to Play Animal husbandry
Animal husbandry focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pair Claas Lexion 8900 with Production chains and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Forestry
Forestry is a strong option in Farming Simulator 22.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Krone BiG X 1180 | The most powerful vehicle in the base game at 1156 horsepower, a self propelled forage harvester for chopping maize and grass into silage. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Field state management | Fields track lime, fertiliser in stages, plough state, weeds and rolling. |
How to Play Forestry
Forestry focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Field state management covers the gap Krone BiG X 1180 leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Production chain operator
Production chain operator is a specialized option in Farming Simulator 22.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Grimme Ventor 4150 | A self propelled potato harvester that lifts, cleans and holds the crop on board, replacing a tractor and trailed lifter combination. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Contracts and leasing | Contracts pay you to mow, plough, sow, fertilise or harvest on other farms, and you can lease the exact machine required for a fraction of its purchase price. |
How to Play Production chain operator
Production chain operator focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: This one leans on Contracts and leasing rather than raw numbers, and Grimme Ventor 4150 is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Contract work
Contract work is a specialized option in Farming Simulator 22.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Fendt 900 Vario | A large continuously variable tractor in the base game, strong enough for heavy work while staying precise at low speed for planting and loader tasks. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Construction and terrain shaping | Build mode places sheds, silos, production plants, fences and roads, and the terrain tools raise, lower, flatten and paint ground. |
How to Play Contract work
Contract work focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Fendt 900 Vario and Construction and terrain shaping pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Animal husbandry: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Arable crop farming once you understand core mechanics and have access to John Deere 8R
- Keep a Forestry setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Contract work for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Start with contracts and leased implements. A leased plough for one job costs a fraction of buying one, and contract income funds your first field far faster than harvesting a starter plot does.
- Sowing windows are real. Planting outside a crop's window produces nothing at all, so check the calendar and the crop list before you buy seed, particularly for maize, sunflowers and sorghum.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Farming Simulator 22 Guides
- Farming Simulator 22 Farming Simulator 22 Overview
- Farming Simulator 22 Tier List
- Farming Simulator 22 Walkthrough
- Farming Simulator 22 Beginner's Guide
- Farming Simulator 22 Tips & Tricks
- Farming Simulator 22 Weapons Guide
- Farming Simulator 22 Combat Guide
- Farming Simulator 22 Boss Guide
- Farming Simulator 22 Maps & Locations
- Farming Simulator 22 Crafting Guide
- Farming Simulator 22 Classes & Characters
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