Total War: WARHAMMER II moves the trilogy south to the New World, where High Elves, Dark Elves, Lizardmen and Skaven race to seize control of the Great Vortex above Ulthuan. The Eye of the Vortex campaign is a five ritual sprint with a final defensive battle at the end, which makes it far tighter and more directed than the sandbox of WARHAMMER III's Immortal Empires. Tomb Kings and Vampire Coast arrived as paid races with their own rules, one paying no upkeep but capped by unit limits, the other chasing Infamy and a star metal harpoon to kill the merwyrm Amanar.
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
Ulthuan
Key resources: High Elf starts, Vortex proximity, Influence economy Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Witch Elves upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Naggaroth
Key resources: Dark Elf starts, slave income, Black Ark access Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Witch Elves upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Lustria
Key resources: Lizardmen starts, Geomantic sites, contested three way expansion Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Witch Elves upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
The Southlands
Key resources: Skaven expansion, contested provinces, route to Nehekhara Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Lothern Sea Guard max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Nehekhara
Key resources: Tomb Kings starts, Books of Nagash, Canopic Jar sites Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Lothern Sea Guard max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Ulthuan to Naggaroth)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Witch Elves once accessible
Mid Game (Lustria)
- Push Witch Elves to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Lothern Sea Guard
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (The Southlands to Nehekhara)
- Max out Lothern Sea Guard. 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 Lustria 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
- Time your rituals around your army positions, because every completed ritual spawns Chaos and Skaven intervention armies at the settlements performing it.
- Farm Lustria 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: WARHAMMER II Guides
- Total War: WARHAMMER II Total War: WARHAMMER II Overview
- Total War: WARHAMMER II Best Builds
- Total War: WARHAMMER II Tier List
- Total War: WARHAMMER II Walkthrough
- Total War: WARHAMMER II Beginner's Guide
- Total War: WARHAMMER II Tips & Tricks
- Total War: WARHAMMER II Weapons Guide
- Total War: WARHAMMER II Combat Guide
- Total War: WARHAMMER II Boss Guide
- Total War: WARHAMMER II Maps & Locations
- Total War: WARHAMMER II Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Total War: WARHAMMER II, 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
