Tunic is an isometric action-adventure starring a small fox in a world filled with cryptic secrets and a mysterious in-game instruction manual written in an indecipherable language. What appears to be a simple Zelda-like is actually one of the most intricate puzzle games ever made, with an entire layer of meta-puzzles hidden in the manual pages, environmental clues, and a fully decodable constructed language. Combat is Souls-inspired with stamina management, dodge rolling, and limited healing. The true depth reveals itself as you collect manual pages that reframe your understanding of the entire game world.
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 synergies |
| 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
Overworld
Key resources: Hidden manual pages, Holy Cross secrets, shortcut unlocks Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Shield upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Eastern Vault
Key resources: First boss key, manual pages, eastern bell item Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Shield upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Western Vault
Key resources: Second boss key, forest manual pages, western bell item Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Shield upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
The Quarry
Key resources: Quarry manual pages, crystal items, hidden weapon access Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Sword max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
The Far Shore
Key resources: Final boss, ending determination, true ending puzzle Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Sword max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Overworld — Eastern Vault)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on Shield once accessible
Mid Game (Western Vault)
- Push Shield to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Sword
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (The Quarry — The Far Shore)
- Max out Sword — 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 Western Vault 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
- Manual pages have hidden information in their borders, artwork, and 'decorative' patterns — study every page carefully
- Farm Western Vault 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 Tunic Guides
- Tunic Tunic Overview
- Tunic Best Builds
- Tunic Tier List
- Tunic Walkthrough
- Tunic Beginner's Guide
- Tunic Tips & Tricks
- Tunic Weapons Guide
- Tunic Combat Guide
- Tunic Boss Guide
- Tunic Maps & Locations
- Tunic Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Tunic, check out these related guides:
- Red Dead Redemption 2 Crafting Guide — adventure game with similar mechanics
- Sea of Thieves Crafting Guide — adventure game with similar mechanics
- Dredge Crafting Guide — adventure game with similar mechanics
