Guild Wars 2 is ArenaNet's buy to play MMO, live since August 2012 and available on Steam since 23 August 2022. There is no subscription, the level cap has been 80 since launch, and stat gear stops at ascended, so long term progression runs through masteries, elite specializations and map completion instead of a gear treadmill. Six expansions have shipped, most recently Visions of Eternity on 28 October 2025, which handed every one of the nine professions a new elite specialization.
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
Queensdale
Key resources: Early gear, the first vistas and points of interest, map completion progress toward a Gift of Exploration Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Staff upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Lion's Arch
Key resources: Trading post and bank access, asura gates to every capital, crafting stations in one place Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Staff upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Verdant Brink
Key resources: Gliding mastery, Heart of Thorns map currency, access to the deeper jungle maps Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Staff upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Crystal Oasis
Key resources: Raptor mount, Trade Contracts, the entry point to the Path of Fire story Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Greatsword max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Seitung Province
Key resources: Fishing and skiff masteries, Canthan crafting materials, the road into New Kaineng City Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Greatsword max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Queensdale to Lion's Arch)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Staff once accessible
Mid Game (Verdant Brink)
- Push Staff to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Greatsword
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Crystal Oasis to Seitung Province)
- Max out Greatsword. 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 Verdant Brink 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
- Buy a full set of exotic gear from the trading post the moment you hit 80 rather than saving for ascended. Exotic sits about five percent below ascended in stats, costs a fraction as much, and covers every open world map, story instance and strike mission you will touch in your first hundred hours.
- Farm Verdant Brink 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 Guild Wars 2 Guides
- Guild Wars 2 Guild Wars 2 Overview
- Guild Wars 2 Best Builds
- Guild Wars 2 Tier List
- Guild Wars 2 Walkthrough
- Guild Wars 2 Beginner's Guide
- Guild Wars 2 Tips & Tricks
- Guild Wars 2 Weapons Guide
- Guild Wars 2 Combat Guide
- Guild Wars 2 Boss Guide
- Guild Wars 2 Maps & Locations
- Guild Wars 2 Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Guild Wars 2, check out these related guides:
- New World: Aeternum Crafting Guide: mmo game with similar mechanics
- Lost Ark Crafting Guide: mmo game with similar mechanics
- The Elder Scrolls Online Crafting Guide: mmo game with similar mechanics
