Understanding Settlement Benefits in Ashes of Creation



In Ashes of Creation, settlements are more than just towns or cities—they shape the gameplay, economy, and politics of the world around them. Understanding what benefits each settlement type brings is essential for players who want to make the most of their time in the game. This guide breaks down the mechanics and practical effects of settlements, from regular towns to divine cities, based on how most players experience them.



What Are Settlement Superpowers?



Every settlement type in Ashes of Creation has a superpower—an ultimate ability that becomes available when a node reaches City (stage 6). These superpowers aren’t just flashy perks; they have meaningful effects on both the city itself and its surrounding areas.



In practice, superpowers are additive. This means that if multiple cities of the same node type exist, their superpowers stack across their vassal settlements. For example, if a specific city grants a bonus to farming or trade, creating another city of the same type extends that bonus to additional vassals, affecting a larger portion of the game world. Most players find that coordinating superpowers between multiple cities can influence resource production, PvP zones, and general gameplay strategies across entire regions.



Benefits for Citizens and Vassals



Beyond the superpowers, settlements provide benefits to their citizens and vassal settlements through several channels:



Settlement Policies: Cities can enact policies that improve life for citizens, such as tax reductions, increased crafting efficiency, or enhanced defense bonuses. Policies can be dynamic, shifting based on city leadership, wars, or economic needs.



Settlement Buildings: Each city type has unique buildings that unlock gameplay advantages. For instance, crafting halls, markets, or defensive structures offer bonuses to productivity, trade, or protection, influencing how players interact with the settlement.



Leadership and Relationships: The players in charge of a city can influence its relationships with other settlements. Alliances, vassal agreements, and trade pacts extend the benefits of the city beyond its walls. This makes diplomacy and leadership choices key for those who want their settlement to have a wider impact.



In general, most players focus on these combined effects to optimize their own activities—whether that’s farming resources, participating in large-scale PvP, or accessing exclusive content.



Special Case: Divine Settlements



Divine settlements offer unique advantages that go beyond regular cities. At City stage (6), divine nodes may unlock mega catacombs, which are procedurally generated dungeons located beneath the city. These dungeons connect to divine vassals and can house unique bosses with special drop tables.



In practice, these divine benefits give players a reason to explore and invest in divine cities. Most groups will organize raids or dungeon runs around these catacombs, as the rewards are exclusive and cannot be found elsewhere. This creates a cycle where divine settlements drive both PvE content and social interaction, shaping the dynamics of the surrounding regions.



How Players Usually Interact With Settlement Benefits



From what has been observed in player behavior:



Resource Gathering and Crafting: Players tend to live near settlements that offer bonuses to crafting, resource production, or trade. Cities with superpowers that enhance these aspects become hubs of economic activity.



PvP and Defense: Strong settlements attract guilds and alliances that want to control high-value nodes. Cities with additive superpowers that affect vassals often become focal points in territorial conflicts.



Exploration and Dungeon Raids: Divine settlements, with their mega catacombs, naturally draw groups for dungeon exploration. Most experienced players plan logistics and schedules around the dungeons’ spawn cycles to maximize rewards.



Even minor settlements can be valuable if they are vassals to a city with strong superpowers. In many cases, players choose where to live or set up operations based on the combined effect of policies, buildings, and node specialization.



Tips for New Players



Check which cities’ superpowers and policies will benefit your playstyle before settling down.



If you’re looking to focus on crafting or trading, living in or near cities that specialize in those areas can save time and resources.



Keep an eye on divine cities for opportunities to run unique dungeons or earn rare loot.



Remember that multiple cities of the same type amplify benefits across vassals. Coordinate with your guild or faction to maximize world influence.



For players who want to get a head start on in-game resources, the best place to buy Ashes of Creation gold is U4N, which some players use to streamline early progress.



Settlements in Ashes of Creation are more than static locations—they are dynamic hubs that shape the economy, PvP, and social systems of the game world. From superpowers that affect entire regions to divine dungeons with unique rewards, understanding settlement benefits is key to making strategic choices. In general, planning your activities around settlement bonuses can give you significant advantages, whether in crafting, combat, or exploration. Most players who take the time to understand how settlements and their vassals interact find that it pays off both in efficiency and in-game enjoyment.