RimWorld is a colony management simulator driven by an AI storyteller that generates events — raids, plagues, mental breaks, cargo drops — to create dramatic stories. Every colonist has a unique backstory, skills, traits, and relationships that affect their behavior. A pyromaniac colonist might set your food supply on fire during a mental break. A bloodlust colonist might go on a killing spree. The emergent narratives that arise from these systems make every colony unique. With three storyteller options (Cassandra Classic for steady escalation, Phoebe Chillax for relaxed play, Randy Random for chaos) and robust mod support through 10,000+ Steam Workshop mods, RimWorld offers essentially infinite replayability.
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
Temperate Forest
Key resources: Year-round farming, abundant wood, balanced wildlife, natural choke points with hills Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Sniper Rifle upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Desert
Key resources: Year-round growing (if irrigated), solar power efficiency, minimal infestation events Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Sniper Rifle upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Ice Sheet
Key resources: Natural freezer (outdoor storage), fewer raids due to difficulty, extreme challenge satisfaction Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Sniper Rifle upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Jungle
Key resources: Year-round growing, massive wood supply, abundant wildlife hunting Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Charge Rifle max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Sea Ice
Key resources: Bragging rights, extreme survival challenge, natural outdoor freezer Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Charge Rifle max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Temperate Forest — Desert)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on Sniper Rifle once accessible
Mid Game (Ice Sheet)
- Push Sniper Rifle to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Charge Rifle
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Jungle — Sea Ice)
- Max out Charge Rifle — 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 Ice Sheet 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
- Build a killbox with a single entrance, sandbags inside, and turrets covering the corridor. Funnel all raids through this chokepoint to neutralize numerical advantages.
- Farm Ice Sheet 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 RimWorld Guides
- RimWorld RimWorld Overview
- RimWorld Best Builds
- RimWorld Tier List
- RimWorld Walkthrough
- RimWorld Beginner's Guide
- RimWorld Tips & Tricks
- RimWorld Weapons Guide
- RimWorld Combat Guide
- RimWorld Boss Guide
- RimWorld Maps & Locations
- RimWorld Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy RimWorld, 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
- Stellaris Crafting Guide — strategy game with similar mechanics
