Petroglyph shipped Empire at War on 16 February 2006 and the Forces of Corruption expansion the following October, and the Gold Pack on Steam bundles both. You run a galactic map of planets, income and fleets, then drop into real time battles in space and on the ground across more than 80 locations. Two decades later Steam sits at 97 percent positive over roughly 26,600 reviews, and the mod scene is most of the reason.
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
Kuat
Key resources: Star Destroyer cost reduction, capital ship construction Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Mon Calamari Cruiser upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Mon Calamari
Key resources: Mon Calamari Cruiser construction, Rebel fleet parity Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Mon Calamari Cruiser upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Fresia
Key resources: X-wing access in the Rebel campaign Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Mon Calamari Cruiser upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Hoth
Key resources: Iconic AT-AT versus Snowspeeder engagement, open terrain Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Imperial Star Destroyer max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Vergesso Asteroids
Key resources: 25 percent fighter and bomber damage bonus Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Imperial Star Destroyer max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Kuat to Mon Calamari)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Mon Calamari Cruiser once accessible
Mid Game (Fresia)
- Push Mon Calamari Cruiser to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Imperial Star Destroyer
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Hoth to Vergesso Asteroids)
- Max out Imperial Star Destroyer. 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 Fresia 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
- Shoot hardpoints, not hulls. Every capital ship carries separate shield generators, engines, turbolasers and hangars, and taking out the shield generator first turns a twenty minute slog into a short fight.
- Farm Fresia 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 STAR WARS Empire at War - Gold Pack Guides
- STAR WARS Empire at War - Gold Pack STAR WARS Empire at War - Gold Pack Overview
- STAR WARS Empire at War - Gold Pack Best Builds
- STAR WARS Empire at War - Gold Pack Tier List
- STAR WARS Empire at War - Gold Pack Walkthrough
- STAR WARS Empire at War - Gold Pack Beginner's Guide
- STAR WARS Empire at War - Gold Pack Tips & Tricks
- STAR WARS Empire at War - Gold Pack Weapons Guide
- STAR WARS Empire at War - Gold Pack Combat Guide
- STAR WARS Empire at War - Gold Pack Boss Guide
- STAR WARS Empire at War - Gold Pack Maps & Locations
- STAR WARS Empire at War - Gold Pack Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy STAR WARS Empire at War - Gold Pack, 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
