Outward is an open-world survival RPG where you play as an ordinary person — no chosen one narrative, no power fantasy. You're a villager paying off a debt while exploring a hostile world where every expedition requires preparation: food, water, warm clothes, healing supplies, and a plan. The game's defining feature is its consequence system — dying doesn't reload a save but triggers a unique defeat scenario (dragged to a bandit camp, rescued by a stranger, washed ashore). Magic isn't innate; you must sacrifice max health permanently to gain mana through a dangerous ritual. The Definitive Edition includes the Soroboreans and Three Brothers DLC expansions, adding new regions, mechanics, and faction content.
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
Cierzo
Key resources: Home base (if debt paid), starting quests, basic equipment Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Horror Bow upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Berg
Key resources: Blue Chamber faction, cold-weather gear, forest resources Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Horror Bow upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Monsoon
Key resources: Holy Mission faction, Brand Greatsword, swamp resources Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Horror Bow upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Levant
Key resources: Heroic Kingdom faction, desert dungeons, best merchants Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Brand Greatsword max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Harmattan
Key resources: DLC content, new faction, corruption mechanic, endgame challenges Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Brand Greatsword max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Cierzo — Berg)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on Horror Bow once accessible
Mid Game (Monsoon)
- Push Horror Bow to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Brand Greatsword
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Levant — Harmattan)
- Max out Brand 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 Monsoon 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
- Drop your backpack (dedicated key) before every fight. The movement speed and dodge improvement is dramatic and can be the difference between life and death.
- Farm Monsoon 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 Outward Guides
- Outward Outward Overview
- Outward Best Builds
- Outward Tier List
- Outward Walkthrough
- Outward Beginner's Guide
- Outward Tips & Tricks
- Outward Weapons Guide
- Outward Combat Guide
- Outward Boss Guide
- Outward Maps & Locations
- Outward Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Outward, 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
