Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition bundles the 2009 gunpowder era Total War with every expansion, including the Warpath Campaign and the Elite Units packs. The Grand Campaign runs from 1700 to 1799 across three land theatres and four trade theatres, with eleven playable factions from Great Britain to the Maratha Confederacy. It was the first Total War where you command naval battles yourself instead of watching an auto resolve.
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
Europe
Key resources: Highest tax income, university sites, recruitment depth Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Grenadiers upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
The Americas
Key resources: Colonial income, plantations, staging ports Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Grenadiers upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
India
Key resources: Trade goods, high value regions, Maratha manpower Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Grenadiers upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
The trade theatres
Key resources: Passive trade income and denial of rival income Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Line Infantry max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
The Warpath campaign
Key resources: Five native factions and their unique unit rosters Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Line Infantry max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Europe to The Americas)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Grenadiers once accessible
Mid Game (India)
- Push Grenadiers to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Line Infantry
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (The trade theatres to The Warpath campaign)
- Max out Line Infantry. 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 India 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 schools before extra barracks in your first ten turns. Technology gaps in this era are brutal, and an army of 1700s line infantry fighting 1760s troops loses even at two to one odds.
- Farm India 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: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Guides
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Overview
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Best Builds
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Tier List
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Walkthrough
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Beginner's Guide
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Tips & Tricks
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Weapons Guide
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Combat Guide
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Boss Guide
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Maps & Locations
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Classes & Characters
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If you enjoy Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition, check out these related guides:
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