Anno 1800
Anno 1800

Resources & Raw Materials

Anno 1800 guide detailing resources like wood and clay, and raw material production chains for building your industrial empire. Master acquisition and efficien.

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Resources & Raw Materials

Mastering resource acquisition and raw material management is the bedrock of any thriving empire in Anno 1800. From the humble beginnings of wood and clay to the complex chains of steel and advanced chemicals, understanding where to find what you need and how to efficiently produce it will dictate your success. This section will guide you through the essential resources, their locations, and optimal strategies for procurement.

Initial Resource Gathering (Tier 1: Farmers & Workers)

Your early game hinges on establishing stable production of basic goods. These resources are typically found on your starting island or easily accessible nearby islands.

  • Wood: The most fundamental resource.
    • Location: Harvested from forests using a Lumberjack's Hut. Every island starts with abundant forests.
    • Strategy: Place Lumberjack's Huts strategically to cover large forested areas. Connect them to a Sawmill to produce Wood Planks, essential for all early construction. Consider planting trees using the Tree Planter later in the game to maintain sustainable wood production on smaller islands.
  • Clay: Required for Brick production.
    • Location: Found in specific clay deposits on islands. These are visible as reddish-brown patches on the terrain.
    • Strategy: Construct a Clay Pit directly on a clay deposit. The raw clay is then transported to a Brick Factory to produce Bricks, crucial for more advanced buildings and infrastructure. Ensure a continuous supply as your city grows.
  • Fish: A primary food source for your early population.
    • Location: Harvested from coastal waters.
    • Strategy: Build Fisherman's Huts along the coastline. The closer they are to your market and warehouses, the faster the fish will be delivered to your population. Overlapping fishing areas can increase efficiency.
  • Grain: Essential for Schnapps and Bread.
    • Location: Grown on fertile land using Grain Farms. Fertility is indicated by a green icon when placing the farm.
    • Strategy: Establish large Grain Farms early. Connect them to a Malt House and then a Schnapps Distillery for your Workers' needs. Later, Grain will also feed your Flour Mills and Bakeries for Bread.

Advanced Raw Materials (Tier 2 & Beyond: Artisans, Engineers, Investors)

As your population evolves, so too do their demands, requiring more complex and often geographically specific raw materials. This necessitates expanding to new islands and establishing trade routes.

Old World Specific Resources

  • Iron Ore: Crucial for Steel and advanced tools.
    • Location: Found in mountainous regions as dark, rocky deposits.
    • Strategy: Build an Iron Mine directly on an Iron Ore deposit. This raw ore is then processed in a Smelter to produce Iron, which is further refined into Steel Beams at a Steelworks. Iron and Steel are vital for almost all industrial and military buildings.
  • Coal: Powers many industrial buildings and is a component of Steel.
    • Location: Similar to Iron Ore, Coal deposits are found in mountainous areas, appearing as black, rocky veins.
    • Strategy: Construct a Coal Mine on a Coal deposit. Coal is directly consumed by Smelters and Steelworks, and later by power plants. Ensure a robust supply chain to prevent industrial bottlenecks.
  • Oil: The ultimate power source for late-game industries.
    • Location: Found exclusively on specific islands in the Old World, marked by black oil slicks on the map.
    • Strategy: Requires an Oil Well built on a deposit. Oil is then transported via Oil Piers and Oil Tankers to other islands to fuel Power Plants. Establishing a secure and efficient oil trade route is paramount for late-game industrial expansion.

New World Specific Resources

To unlock the higher tiers of population and production, you will need to establish a colony in the New World. Many vital resources are exclusive to this region.

  • Cotton: Essential for clothing.
    • Location: Grown on fertile land in the New World.
    • Strategy: Establish Cotton Plantations. The raw cotton is then processed into Cotton Fabric at a Spinning Mill and finally into Work Clothes or Furs (with additional resources) at a Tailor.
  • Sugar Cane: For Rum production.
    • Location: Grown on fertile land in the New World.
    • Strategy: Build Sugar Cane Plantations. The cane is processed into Sugar at a Sugar Mill, then combined with Potatoes (from the Old World) to make Rum at a Rum Distillery. Rum is a key luxury for Workers and Artisans.
  • Coffee Beans: A high-demand luxury for Engineers and Investors.
    • Location: Grown on fertile land in the New World.
    • Strategy: Establish Coffee Plantations. The beans are then processed into Roasted Coffee at a Coffee Roaster. This is a high-value trade good, so secure your production and shipping lanes.
  • Tobacco: For Cigars.
    • Location: Grown on fertile land in the New World.
    • Strategy: Build Tobacco Plantations. The raw tobacco is then processed into Cigars at a Cigar Factory. Another crucial luxury for higher-tier populations.
  • Gold: Used for Jewelry.
    • Location: Found in mountainous regions of the New World, similar to Iron Ore.
    • Strategy: Construct a Gold Mine on a gold deposit. The raw gold is then shipped to the Old World to be crafted into Jewelry at a Jeweler.

Strategic Considerations for Resource Management

  • Fertility & Deposits: Always check an island's fertility and resource deposits before settling. The in-game overlay (accessed via the small eye icon in the bottom right corner) is invaluable for this.
  • Trade Routes: As your empire expands, efficient trade routes between islands and regions become critical. Set up reliable shipping lines for raw materials and finished goods. Prioritize high-demand or geographically exclusive resources.
  • Storage: Ensure you have sufficient Warehouses and Harbor Warehouses to store your resources. Overfilled storage can halt production.
  • Production Chains: Understand the full production chain for each good. For example, Wood Planks require Wood, which requires a Lumberjack's Hut. Steel Beams require Iron Ore, Coal, a Smelter, and a Steelworks.
  • Specialists & Items: Later in the game, consider using specialists and items from the Research Institute or expeditions to boost resource production, reduce consumption, or unlock alternative production methods.
  • Island Specialization: It's often more efficient to specialize islands in producing specific raw materials or goods, then transport them to your main population centers.