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Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Editionbrings the classic build and conquer RTS back with refreshed visuals, new content, and refined gameplay. Whether you’re managing a desert economy or laying siege to enemy fortresses, the game still demands strategic thinking, unit management, and balanced resource control.
If you’re new to the series or just rusty from time away, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by pressure or inefficient setups early in the game. With the right foundation, you’ll be holding your own in no time.
Start Small
Always begin byplacing a couple of woodcutters(found beneath the Industry Buildings button) near forests or trees, as wood is your lifeblood in the beginning of the game. Then,avoid overspendingon too many food crops like wheat or investing in several stone quarries before your defenses are in place.
If you have 24 idle peasants in your castle, yourpopulation won’t increaseany further until you build additional work buildings to assign them jobs.
If you don’t, you won’t have enough wood or materials for barracks or an armory. Focus first onsecuring resourcesand then expand gradually once you’re prepared for bigger investments like mills or towers.
From Apples To Bread
Early on,plant apple orchards, as they’re fast and efficient to build. Pair them with wheat farms, milling, and bakeries once you’ve got space to produce bread.
Farms must beplaced near an oasis, which is indicated by lush, green grass on the tile space.
A solid ratio is about four wheat farmsper one mill, and then six to eight bakeries. Selling surplus food at the Marketplace building can also help your tax income.
Keep The People Happy With Ale
Happiness plays a crucial role inmaintaining a strong economy. Building a Hops Farm (60 gold), Brewery (100 gold), and Inn (150 gold) allows you to produce and distribute ale, whichincreases popularity. Hops Farms should be placed on fertile grassland, usually near your Granary or Stockpile for faster delivery.
The Brewery converts hops into ale, and the Inn serves it to your peasants. One Inn can comfortably supportaround 25–30 villagers. With enough ale flowing, you can reduce food rations or taxes to zero without upsetting your population. A happy populaceworks fasterand lets you redirect extra food to the market for gold, or keep it in storage for tough times.
Consider Your Build Placement
The distance between production buildings and storage areas can make or break your economy. Keep Mills, Bakeries, and Workshopsclose to the Granaryand Stockpile to reduce the time it takes workers to deliver goods.
This principle also applies to resource collection: place Quarries and Iron Mines as close to their resource nodes as possible, and build Ox Tethers (50 gold each) nearby toreduce hauling timefor stone and iron.
For buildings that affect morale, like Inns, Churches, or Hovels,distance doesn’t impact effectiveness, so place them on the outskirts of your castle to leave valuable central space open for production. Smart layouts reduce idle time and buff your economy.
Mix Archers And Horse Archers
A balanced military keeps you prepared for both sieges and raids. Archers are cost-effective, fast units ideal fordefending walls and towers. They are cheap to train and don’t require expensive armor. Station them onhigh platformsfor maximum range and accuracy.
Deploy your own horse archers andspear unitsto harass enemy horse archers, and use siege weaponry to topple ranged units from walls.
Horse Archers, unlocked bybuilding a Mercenary Post, are more expensive but provide unmatched mobility. They can kite slow enemy units, pick off siege engines, and harass enemy flanks during battles. Their hit-and-run tactics make themdeadly when micromanaged. Together, these ranged units form a powerful force, Archers for defense, and Horse Archers for offense and map control.
Don’t Tax Or Ration
Running ano tax, no ration policyis a powerful strategy early in the game, especially when paired with ale distribution. By buildingone Inn per 30 peasantsand keeping it stocked, you can maintain positive popularity without spending food or gold. The Inn’s ale boostoffsets the negative popularityfrom lack of food or taxes, keeping your village happy while you build a stockpile of resources. This method is ideal for players learning the game’s economy or preparing for a push against enemy lines.
Use Free Build To Master Combat
If you’re new to sieges or just want to experiment with army strategies, thebest place to startis the Free Build Mode.
The Fear Factor systemincreases worker outputbut can negatively impact your popularity if not managed effectively. Fear buildings under the Bad Things tab like Dungeons, Gallows, or Torture Devices,raise production efficiency(up to +150 percent) by intimidating your peasants. However, they reduce your castle’s popularity, risking rebellion if not offset. To use them effectively, build these structuresfar from your main village, where peasants won’t pass them constantly.
Before battles, considerremoving or disabling fear buildingsto avoid unrest while you focus on your army.
At the same time,place positive buildingsfrom the Good Things tab like Gardens, Churches, and Dancing Bears closer to the heart of your settlement. This balance lets you benefit from fear without tanking morale.
