Whether you're upgrading your Hideout or pushing your weapons to their final tier, resources are the backbone of your journey in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. This guide breaks down every major resource, how to efficiently farm them, and how to build a sustainable loop that carries you from the early game to post-story content.
From strategic use of scouts and seasonal resets, to knowing when to dismantle vs. sell, this guide is built for players who want to optimize without wasting time or materials.
How to Get Resources in Assassin's Creed Shadows
Focus on High-Yield Locations
Not all resource caches are created equal. While enemy camps, outposts, and forts offer abundant resources, some locations offer higher concentrations of specific materials. Use the map's resource icons to plan ahead and target high-yield areas that align with your needs for the season.
Seasonal Strategy
Seasons can alter the types of resources available, especially with scout-tagged caches. Keep track of seasonal changes and plan your farming routes accordingly. For example, if a season favors Mineral deposits over Crops, focus your efforts on gathering them early before the next seasonal shift.
Stacking Multiple Tags
You can tag multiple resource caches in a single outing. This technique is highly effective for building up reserves of essential materials over time without having to constantly revisit the same locations. Try tagging several large supply caches before moving on to the next area, ensuring that you'll be able to collect a variety of materials at once.
Scout Management
Upgrade your Stable and Study early to make the most out of your scouts. By increasing your scout capacity, you'll be able to tag and collect more resources over a shorter period. Be mindful of your scout usage; after tagging a few caches, fast travel to a Kakurega to restock your scouts before continuing.
Resource Combinations
Certain areas of the game can provide multiple resources simultaneously. Look for spots where you can gather Wood, Crops, and Minerals in close proximity. This helps save time and scouts while maintaining a steady influx of essential materials.
Contracts as Resource Multipliers
Contracts are one of the best ways to increase your material returns. Focus on contracts that yield high quantities of resources, especially those that provide bulk rewards. Additionally, certain contracts offer higher chances of getting rare items like Silk or Tamahagane, which are essential for upgrading specialized equipment.
Trading for Resources
If you're in need of specific resources and don't have time to farm them, consider purchasing them from Port Traders. While this method can be expensive, it's an effective way to quickly gather rare materials like Silk or Ironsand, especially when you're in a pinch.
Dismantle for Materials
Dismantling your old or unused gear is a great way to obtain materials like Hemp Cloth, Leather, and Tamahagane. This method not only saves space in your inventory but also ensures that you're getting full value from your old equipment.
Hideout Resources
Hideout Resources are used to build and upgrade structures in your Hideout — from the Forge to the Dojo, Study, and more.
- Crops – used for living quarters and amenities
- Wood – used for structures and fortifications
- Minerals – used for advanced upgrades and infrastructure
Crops
Essential for early Hideout upgrades and often required in bulk.
Where to get them:
- Enemy camps, outposts, and food storehouses
- Kakurega contracts involving food theft
- Scout-tagged food caches for seasonal delivery
- Port Traders (costly but effective)
Pro Tips:
- Tag large caches — skip hauling
- Contracts offer highest yield
- Frontload crops early-game for upgrades
Wood
Used for almost all Hideout structures like towers, dojo training zones, and barricades.
Where to find:
- Forts and siege camps with wood stacks
- Logging outposts
- Kakurega missions and Port Traders
Pro Tips:
- Tag forts for scout delivery
- Upgrade your Stable to cut tag costs
- Use Mon to refill scouts for big runs
Minerals
Minerals are rarer and tied to heavy-duty upgrades like the Forge and Armory.
Where to find:
- Mountain camps, fortress interiors, quarries
- Contract missions involving supply raids
- Port Traders (limited quantity)
Pro Tips:
- Yield per cache is low — plan multiple pickups
- Tag for seasonal delivery to save time
- One dedicated mineral-farming season can cover you for a long time
Crafting Materials
Crafting Materials are used to upgrade gear and trinkets. These are more character-specific and impact combat performance directly.
- Hemp Cloth, Ironsand, and Silk – used primarily by Naoe
- Leather, Tamahagane, and Oakwood – used primarily by Yasuke
Hemp Cloth
Light armor upgrades for Naoe depend on Hemp Cloth, which is common but easy to burn through.
How to get:
- Loot common chests in towns and hideouts
- Dismantle unused Naoe armor
- Occasionally from contracts involving tailors
Pro Tips:
- Don’t upgrade every outfit — focus on your best stealth set
- Dismantle early-game armor instead of selling
- Revisit chest-heavy towns each season for passive farming
Leather
The core material for Yasuke’s samurai armor. No animal hunting in Shadows — it’s all loot-based.
Sources:
- Loot chests (especially in rural or military zones)
- Dismantling Yasuke’s armor pieces
- Contracts tied to supply runs or tanners
Important:
- No animal farming — no skinning/hunting in the game
- Loot and dismantling are the only consistent methods
Silk
Silk is needed to upgrade trinkets, charms, and accessories for both Naoe and Yasuke.
Where to find:
- Rare loot from high-tier chests (especially merchant zones)
- Dismantling old trinkets
- Merchant-side contracts and material bundles
Pro Tips:
- Focus Silk on 1–2 core trinkets per character
- Legendary trinkets return more Silk when dismantled
- Use maps to route efficient runs through urban districts
Tamahagane
High-grade steel used by Yasuke to upgrade katana, spears, and heavy melee gear.
Best sources:
- Rare loot from elite enemy locations and post-boss chests
- Dismantling Yasuke’s melee weapons
- Contracts tied to duels, raiders, or blacksmiths
Pro Tips:
- Focus upgrades on one or two core melee weapons
- If flush with Mon, buy and dismantle weapons
- Story quest “Chaos or Order” yields 300+ Tamahagane
Oakwood
Used for bows and ranged gear, primarily for Yasuke’s long-distance combat loadout.
Where to find:
- Lootable in mid- and late-game chests
- Dismantling bows and ranged weapons
- Contracts involving archers or fletcher’s shops
Pro Tips:
- Don’t waste Oakwood — use it on your favorite ranged weapon
- After upgrades, excess bows can be salvaged
- Can be skipped entirely if you're not using ranged builds
Ironsand
Ironsand is the raw metal Naoe needs to enhance daggers, short blades, and stealth tools.
Sources:
- Loot chests in enemy hideouts and underground areas
- Dismantle ninja gear used by Naoe
- Contracts tied to smiths or enemy forges
Pro Tips:
- Scout enemy assassin camps for Ironsand loot
- Tag and reset to build up hidden caches each season
- Always dismantle ninja gear — it’s a major supply source
Seasonal Reset & Scout Strategy
Each seasonal change in Assassin’s Creed Shadows resets your key resource opportunities, including:
- Contract board missions
- All loot chest contents
- Previously tagged resource caches
Properly leveraging seasonal resets allows you to stockpile resources efficiently over time without backtracking.
Scout System Overview
Scouts are your most efficient tool for gathering large resource quantities without repeat visits.
- Tagging one resource cache consumes 2 Scouts (1 with Stable upgrade)
- Tagged resources are delivered to your Hideout at the end of the season
- You can tag multiple caches in a single outing and collect later without looting manually
Prioritize upgrading your Stable and Study early to maximize tagging and resource gain.
Resource Farming Strategy Loop
The following loop should be repeated every new season to ensure a steady inflow of all major resources:
- Begin a new season and fast travel to each unlocked Kakurega
- Pick up all high-yield contracts available in each province
- Complete contracts and tag every large resource cache encountered
- Prioritize forts, bandit camps, and castles for the highest density yields
- Once the season ends, return to your Hideout and collect all tagged materials from your delivery chest
- Repeat this process with each seasonal cycle to gradually build a surplus
Quick Resource Overview
| Resource | Main Source | Alternate Methods | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crops | Enemy camps, forts, castles | Contracts, tagging, traders | Common early-game, vital for Hideout |
| Wood | Forts, siege camps | Contracts, tagging, traders | Required in large volumes |
| Minerals | Castles | Contracts, tagging, traders | Scarce per cache (~75) |
| Hemp Cloth | Loot chests | Dismantle armor, contracts | Focus on Naoe’s key armor |
| Leather | Loot chests | Dismantle armor, contracts | No animal farming; loot-only |
| Silk | Rare chest drop | Dismantle trinkets, merchant quests | Used for trinkets and charms |
| Tamahagane | High-tier loot | Weapon dismantle, contracts | Best reserved for top-tier melee weapons |
| Oakwood | Loot chests | Bow dismantle, contracts | Small supply, small demand |
| Ironsand | Loot chests | Dismantle ninja gear, contracts | Naoe’s primary weapon upgrade material |
Best Farming Route
This route is designed for efficiency during the early and mid-game, especially for players with 3 or more scout charges. These locations offer a balanced mix of Crops, Wood, and Minerals.
- Mount Kongo Retreat (Izumi Settsu): Fast to clear with at least one of each resource. Start here if you're low on scouts.
- Bamboo Cutter’s Camp (Izumi Settsu): Minimal enemy resistance. Good for clean, fast tagging.
- Osaka Castle (Izumi Settsu): Stealth-friendly castle. A good source of Wood and Crops.
- Amagasaki Castle (Izumi Settsu): Clean layout and predictable patrols. Watch for a locked door depending on the season.
- Takatsuki Castle (Izumi Settsu): Some seasons have the main gate unlocked. Otherwise, the nearby key is easy to retrieve.
- Yamazaki Castle (Yamashiro): Guard-heavy, but manageable with Assassination and Kunai skills.
- Shoryuji Castle (Yamashiro): Offers up to five resource piles if unlocked. Best cleared after acquiring the optional key.
- Nijo Palace (Yamashiro): Contains multiple mineral deposits. One of the best stops for late-game resource stacking.
Additional Tips for Efficiency
Upgrading everything you loot isn’t just inefficient — it’s wasteful. Focus on building up your most-used gear and plan your crafting material consumption around the needs of each character.
- Don’t upgrade every item: Save materials for the few weapons or armor sets you intend to use long-term.
- Dismantle instead of sell: Most early gear isn’t worth selling for Mon. Convert it into crafting mats instead.
- Use contracts for bulk resource returns: They’re one of the best ways to farm large amounts each season.
- Use Mon wisely: Prioritize refilling scouts and contract loops over buying materials at Port Traders unless you're stuck.
Naoe: Hemp Cloth, Ironsand, Silk
Yasuke: Leather, Tamahagane, Oakwood
Efficiency comes from focus. Rotate your seasonal loops, complete high-yield contracts, and tag camps strategically to ensure you're never short on the materials that matter.
Upgrading gear costs a lot less (per level) if you do it a bunch of levels at a time. I have a ton of crops but only see the places to sell it with the red arrow. Can’t find any merchant with the green arrow for more money. I did find port traders will give more money for Valuables
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