Creative Assembly released Attila on 17 February 2015 and set the Grand Campaign in 395 AD, the year Theodosius died and the Roman Empire split permanently in two. Ten factions are playable in the base Grand Campaign, and the Western Roman Empire opens with more provinces than it can garrison, more armies than it can pay and a treasury already sliding. A cooling climate drives fertility down across the north while the Huns arrive from the east. This is the Total War where burning your own city is frequently the right decision.
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
Roma
Key resources: High income, large population, strong building slots, and the political weight that keeps Western public order from collapsing Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Limitanei upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Constantinopolis
Key resources: Exceptional defensive value, high trade income from the strait, and the Eastern Empire's main recruitment centre Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Limitanei upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Ravenna
Key resources: Defensible Italian position, court and administration buildings, and a fallback capital when Roma is threatened Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Limitanei upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Carthago
Key resources: Grain production that feeds Italia, strong trade income, and denial of the Vandal migration's historical destination Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Legio Comitatenses max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Ctesiphon
Key resources: Stable fertility, Zoroastrian religious centre, and the Sassanid heavy cavalry recruitment chain Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Legio Comitatenses max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Roma to Constantinopolis)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Limitanei once accessible
Mid Game (Ravenna)
- Push Limitanei to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Legio Comitatenses
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Carthago to Ctesiphon)
- Max out Legio Comitatenses. 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 Ravenna 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
- Ten factions are playable in the base Grand Campaign: Western Roman Empire, Eastern Roman Empire, Sassanid Empire, Huns, Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vandals, Alans, Franks and Saxons. Everything else on the playable list comes from a culture pack, so check what you actually own before planning a Langobard campaign.
- Farm Ravenna 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 Total War: ATTILA Guides
- Total War: ATTILA Total War: ATTILA Overview
- Total War: ATTILA Best Builds
- Total War: ATTILA Tier List
- Total War: ATTILA Walkthrough
- Total War: ATTILA Beginner's Guide
- Total War: ATTILA Tips & Tricks
- Total War: ATTILA Weapons Guide
- Total War: ATTILA Combat Guide
- Total War: ATTILA Boss Guide
- Total War: ATTILA Maps & Locations
- Total War: ATTILA Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Total War: ATTILA, 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
