Total War: THREE KINGDOMS opens in 190 CE with the Han dynasty coming apart and a dozen warlords convinced they can do better. Creative Assembly built the campaign around characters rather than armies: generals lead retinues of three units, hold court positions, form friendships and grudges, and walk out when you ignore them. Romance mode turns them into duelling heroes, while Records mode makes them officers with a bodyguard and nothing more.
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
Si Li
Key resources: Imperial legitimacy, central position, wealthy commanderies Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Sabre Militia Cavalry upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Ji Province
Key resources: Food and income, control of the north Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Sabre Militia Cavalry upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Xu Province
Key resources: Trade income, coastal commanderies Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Sabre Militia Cavalry upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Jing Province
Key resources: Chang Sha, river access, southern expansion room Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Ji Militia max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Yi Province
Key resources: Defensible terrain, sustainable income Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Ji Militia max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Si Li to Ji Province)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Sabre Militia Cavalry once accessible
Mid Game (Xu Province)
- Push Sabre Militia Cavalry to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Ji Militia
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Jing Province to Yi Province)
- Max out Ji Militia. 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 Province 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
- Every hero class scales off one attribute: Instinct for Vanguards, Expertise for Sentinels, Authority for Commanders, Cunning for Strategists and Resolve for Champions. Assigning a character to a job that rewards a different attribute wastes most of what they are.
- Farm Xu Province 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: THREE KINGDOMS Guides
- Total War: THREE KINGDOMS Total War: THREE KINGDOMS Overview
- Total War: THREE KINGDOMS Best Builds
- Total War: THREE KINGDOMS Tier List
- Total War: THREE KINGDOMS Walkthrough
- Total War: THREE KINGDOMS Beginner's Guide
- Total War: THREE KINGDOMS Tips & Tricks
- Total War: THREE KINGDOMS Weapons Guide
- Total War: THREE KINGDOMS Combat Guide
- Total War: THREE KINGDOMS Boss Guide
- Total War: THREE KINGDOMS Maps & Locations
- Total War: THREE KINGDOMS Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Total War: THREE KINGDOMS, 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
