Grim Dawn is Crate Entertainment's action RPG built on the Titan Quest engine, offering one of the deepest character build systems in the ARPG genre through its dual mastery and devotion constellation systems. Set in a dark Victorian-era world ravaged by two warring otherworldly forces, the game combines satisfying click-to-kill combat with build theory that rivals Path of Exile in complexity. The dual mastery system (pick 2 of 9 classes to combine) creates 36 unique class combinations, each with distinct synergies. Two major expansions — Ashes of Malmouth and Forgotten Gods — extend the campaign and add three more masteries, pushing combinations to 66 total. Grim Dawn is the thinking person's ARPG.
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
Devil's Crossing
Key resources: Starting quests, bounty system access, basic augments Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Ultos Warder Set upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Homestead
Key resources: Act 2 quests, MI farming areas, expanded bounties Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Ultos Warder Set upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Fort Ikon
Key resources: Bastion of Chaos, Nemesis spawns, high-level bounties Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Ultos Warder Set upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Malmouth
Key resources: Krieg set pieces, expansion story, endgame quest lines Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Krieg Death Knight Set max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Forgotten Gods
Key resources: Shattered Realm, cult augments, endgame blueprints Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Krieg Death Knight Set max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Devil's Crossing — Homestead)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on Ultos Warder Set once accessible
Mid Game (Fort Ikon)
- Push Ultos Warder Set to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Krieg Death Knight Set
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Malmouth — Forgotten Gods)
- Max out Krieg Death Knight Set — 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 Fort Ikon 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
- Cap all resistances at 80% before entering Elite difficulty. Overcapping by 20-30% accounts for enemy resistance reduction effects. Uncapped resistances in Elite and Ultimate are a death sentence.
- Farm Fort Ikon 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 Grim Dawn Guides
- Grim Dawn Grim Dawn Overview
- Grim Dawn Best Builds
- Grim Dawn Tier List
- Grim Dawn Walkthrough
- Grim Dawn Beginner's Guide
- Grim Dawn Tips & Tricks
- Grim Dawn Weapons Guide
- Grim Dawn Combat Guide
- Grim Dawn Boss Guide
- Grim Dawn Maps & Locations
- Grim Dawn Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Grim Dawn, check out these related guides:
- Elden Ring Crafting Guide — rpg game with similar mechanics
- Baldur's Gate 3 Crafting Guide — rpg game with similar mechanics
- Cyberpunk 2077 Crafting Guide — rpg game with similar mechanics
