Egosoft released X4 on 30 November 2018 as the first X game where you can fly every ship, walk around stations and build stations of your own module by module. Ships come in four sizes, with S and M built and sold at Wharves while L and XL come from Shipyards, which decides where a damaged fleet can actually be repaired. Expansions have widened the map considerably since launch, adding the Split, the Terrans, the pirate space around Avarice and the Boron kingdom.
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
Argon Prime
Key resources: Argon ships and equipment, mission board volume, safe trade routes Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Beam Emitter upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Grand Exchange
Key resources: Teladi trade goods, high volume buy and sell orders Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Beam Emitter upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Hatikvah's Choice
Key resources: Hatikvah plot access, early blueprints, cheap licences Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Beam Emitter upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Trinity Sanctum
Key resources: Paranid ships and weapons, Paranid blueprints Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Pulse Laser max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Mars
Key resources: Terran hulls, Terran weapons, Sol system access Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Pulse Laser max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Argon Prime to Grand Exchange)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Beam Emitter once accessible
Mid Game (Hatikvah's Choice)
- Push Beam Emitter to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Pulse Laser
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Trinity Sanctum to Mars)
- Max out Pulse Laser. 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 Hatikvah's Choice 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
- Buy seminars from faction representatives before you buy your second ship. A one star pilot cannot be given autotrade orders at all and a two star pilot picks poor routes, so 30,000 credits of seminars converts a useless hull into an earning one immediately.
- Farm Hatikvah's Choice 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 X4: Foundations Guides
- X4: Foundations X4: Foundations Overview
- X4: Foundations Best Builds
- X4: Foundations Tier List
- X4: Foundations Walkthrough
- X4: Foundations Beginner's Guide
- X4: Foundations Tips & Tricks
- X4: Foundations Weapons Guide
- X4: Foundations Combat Guide
- X4: Foundations Boss Guide
- X4: Foundations Maps & Locations
- X4: Foundations Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy X4: Foundations, check out these related guides:
- Stardew Valley Crafting Guide: simulation game with similar mechanics
- Satisfactory Crafting Guide: simulation game with similar mechanics
- The Sims 4 Crafting Guide: simulation game with similar mechanics
