Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI is Koei's 2006 grand strategy game, and the Steam release from 16 January 2018 bundles it with the Power Up Kit expansion. It is the entry most series veterans point to as the tactical high water mark, because the whole of China sits on one continuous gridded map and armies march across it in real space rather than resolving in an abstract battle screen. You build farms, markets, barracks, smithies and stables directly onto the terrain, then defend them with turrets, camps and stone walls placed on the same grid. Buy it with your eyes open on one point: the Steam version supports Japanese and Traditional Chinese only, with no English interface or audio, so English speaking players rely on community translation patches. That single fact does more to decide whether you enjoy it than any tactical consideration.
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
Luo Yang
Key resources: Central road access, high population for drafting, prestige with the imperial court Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Pike troops upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Chang An
Key resources: Defensible approaches, control of the western road network Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Pike troops upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Xu Chang
Key resources: Multiple barracks and smithy sites, deep population for repeated drafts Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Pike troops upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Chengdu
Key resources: Rich farmland, terrain that lets a small garrison hold off a much larger army Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Spear troops max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Jian Ye
Key resources: Naval production, river chokepoints that break northern cavalry armies Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Spear troops max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Luo Yang to Chang An)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Pike troops once accessible
Mid Game (Xu Chang)
- Push Pike troops to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Spear troops
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Chengdu to Jian Ye)
- Max out Spear troops. 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 Xu Chang 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
- The Steam release supports Japanese and Traditional Chinese only. There is no English interface or audio at all, so budget an evening for a community translation patch before you start a serious campaign.
- Farm Xu Chang 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 Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI with Power Up Kit Guides
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI with Power Up Kit Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI with Power Up Kit Overview
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI with Power Up Kit Best Builds
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI with Power Up Kit Tier List
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI with Power Up Kit Walkthrough
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI with Power Up Kit Beginner's Guide
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI with Power Up Kit Tips & Tricks
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI with Power Up Kit Weapons Guide
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI with Power Up Kit Combat Guide
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI with Power Up Kit Boss Guide
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI with Power Up Kit Maps & Locations
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI with Power Up Kit Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI with Power Up Kit, 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
