Emperor Edition is the free September 2014 overhaul that rebuilt ROME II's politics, building chains and campaign AI after a rough 2013 launch. It ships the Grand Campaign across 57 provinces stretching from Britannia and Hispania to Bactria, plus the Imperator Augustus campaign covering the Second Triumvirate's civil war. Turn-based empire management feeds into real-time battles of thousands of men, and these are the rules everyone still plays under.
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
Italia
Key resources: Provincial edicts, Roman recruitment chains, stable public order Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Pike phalanx upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Magna Graecia
Key resources: Ports, Greek building chains, a Sicilian staging ground Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Pike phalanx upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Africa
Key resources: Carthago, African trade income, elephant recruitment Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Pike phalanx upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Aegyptus
Key resources: Alexandria, large food surplus, grain trade Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Legionary Cohorts max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Britannia
Key resources: Victory condition regions, tin trade, Iceni chariot territory Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Legionary Cohorts max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Italia to Magna Graecia)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Pike phalanx once accessible
Mid Game (Africa)
- Push Pike phalanx to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Legionary Cohorts
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Aegyptus to Britannia)
- Max out Legionary Cohorts. 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 Africa 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
- Province edicts only unlock once you own every region in a province, so half-conquered provinces cost you unrest without giving you the tools to fix it. Finish one province before opening the next front.
- Farm Africa 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: ROME II - Emperor Edition Guides
- Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition Overview
- Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition Best Builds
- Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition Tier List
- Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition Walkthrough
- Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition Beginner's Guide
- Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition Tips & Tricks
- Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition Weapons Guide
- Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition Combat Guide
- Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition Boss Guide
- Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition Maps & Locations
- Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition, 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
