Hearts of Iron IV is Paradox Interactive's World War II grand strategy game where you control any nation from 1936-1948, managing production, research, diplomacy, and military operations. Unlike tactical WWII games, HOI4 operates at the strategic level — you design division templates, build factories, plan offensives across entire fronts, and manage air and naval superiority. The national focus tree system lets you explore alternate history: What if the UK went communist? What if Germany restored the Kaiser? With hundreds of mods and one of the most active modding communities in strategy gaming, HOI4 is endlessly replayable.
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
Western Front
Key resources: French surrender/liberation, Rhine crossing, war-deciding front Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Fighter Plane upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Eastern Front
Key resources: Stalingrad, Moscow, war of attrition, Barbarossa/Bagration Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Fighter Plane upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Pacific Theater
Key resources: Naval supremacy, island bases, resource control, atomic bomb option Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Fighter Plane upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Africa Campaign
Key resources: Suez Canal control, Italian invasion staging, diversion of Axis forces Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Heavy Tank max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Atlantic Wall
Key resources: D-Day invasion, liberation of France, opening the Western Front Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Heavy Tank max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Western Front — Eastern Front)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on Fighter Plane once accessible
Mid Game (Pacific Theater)
- Push Fighter Plane to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Heavy Tank
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Africa Campaign — Atlantic Wall)
- Max out Heavy Tank — 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 Pacific Theater 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
- 20-width infantry with support companies (Engineer, Artillery, Recon, Anti-Air) hold any defensive line. Build 80-120 of these before anything else — they're cheap and effective.
- Farm Pacific Theater 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 Hearts of Iron IV Guides
- Hearts of Iron IV Hearts of Iron IV Overview
- Hearts of Iron IV Best Builds
- Hearts of Iron IV Tier List
- Hearts of Iron IV Walkthrough
- Hearts of Iron IV Beginner's Guide
- Hearts of Iron IV Tips & Tricks
- Hearts of Iron IV Weapons Guide
- Hearts of Iron IV Combat Guide
- Hearts of Iron IV Boss Guide
- Hearts of Iron IV Maps & Locations
- Hearts of Iron IV Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Hearts of Iron IV, 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
