Age of Empires III Economy Guide — Colony Building & Resources (2026)

Age of Empires III's economy system is unique in the franchise. The Home City shipment system adds a meta-layer that no other AoE game has. This guide covers how to maximize your resource income, best Home City cards to unlock, and when to use cheat codes as shortcuts.

• Food — From hunting, mills, farms, and fishing. Always your first priority.
• Wood — From trees via settlers. Needed for buildings and some military units.
• Coin — From mines, plantations, whales, and trade routes. Critical for late-game units.

Your Home City levels up and unlocks cards. These are the best economy cards to prioritize:

• 700 Gold / 700 Wood / 700 Food — Early resource shipments to boost your start
• 3 Settlers — Free villagers shipped to your colony
• Refrigeration — Hunting lasts longer, giving more food
• Royal Mint / Textile Mill — Increases coin/food gathering rate

Need quick resources? Use these cheats:

• Medium Rare Please — +10,000 Food
• Give me liberty or give me coin — +10,000 Coin
• Nova & Orion — +10,000 XP for Home City shipments

👉 All AoE III cheat codes →

📖 AoE III Cheat Codes — Full Guide

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