Skip to content
No Rushing
Anno 1404

No Rushing

Learn how to quickly establish your first settlement in Anno 1404. This guide covers finding the perfect island, managing resources, and satisfying early citizen needs to avoid delays.

By ···10 min read·Multi-source verified
1 reading this guide  

Learn how to quickly establish your first settlement in Anno 1404. This guide covers finding the perfect island, managing resources, and satisfying early citizen needs to avoid delays.

Walkthrough
  1. 1
    Starting Out: If you begin with only a ship or an escort, purchase all available wood from Lord Northburgh. For an aggressive start, also buy tools.
  2. 2
    Island Selection: Aim for a large, flat island with no lakes, close to a neutral port, centrally located, and possessing Cider and Hemp fertility, plus at least two Stone and Iron Ore deposits. Settle on the southern end.
  3. 3
    First Settlement: Immediately build three woodcutters near your warehouse, ensuring they have space and are supplied with Trees. Build two Fisherman's Huts connected to the port.
  4. 4
    Housing and Taxes: Construct a Marketplace and surround it with houses. Increase taxes from 'Euphoric' to 'Happy' as houses fill, then to 'Calm' once full to maximize income. Lower taxes to 'Euphoric' for ascension.
  5. 5
    Cider Production: Once 60 peasants settle, build Cider farms. A Chapel is only necessary after peasants are satisfied with cider.
  6. 6
    Exploration: Use your Flagship to explore the archipelago, claiming good islands before AI. Visit Northburgh, buy a Diplomatic Scroll (using honor from 90 peasants), and trade for Wood and Tools.
  7. 7
    Diplomatic Mission: Deliver the Diplomatic Scroll to Al Zahir to receive a Caravel with Tools, Wood, and Dates, which can aid in building or starting an Oriental settlement.
  8. 8
    Stone and Tool Production: While exploring, focus on producing Stone and Tools. Block ascension after 16 Citizen houses. Build Stonemason's huts and an Iron Ore mine, Charcoal burner, and Tool maker's workshops.
  9. 9
    Citizen Needs: Satisfy Linen Garments with Hemp Farms and Weavers Huts. Produce Ropes for sale and ship production. Set up a second Tools chain. Implement fire protection (Carpenters/Fire stations) once you pass 355 Citizens.
  10. 10
    Oriental Development: Settle a large Oriental island with Spices and Dates. Build 10 Nomad Houses for Spice production. Deliver Spices to your northern island. Aim for 440 Nomads for building access and honor rewards. Build Milk farms and consider a Stonecutter's hut.
  11. 11
    Northern Development: With Spices, Citizens can progress to Patrician level. Settle a new northern island with Brine deposits, a river, and Crop/Herb fertility. Produce Bread, Beer, and Leather Jerkins, selling surplus. Upgrade trading fleets of Al Vizir and Northburgh with Honor points.
Tips
  • AI ships in Anno 1404 are slower to claim islands than in previous games, giving you a moderate window to find a good starting location. However, restarting is recommended if an AI claims the best island early.
  • Placing Trees around woodcutters ensures they operate at 100% efficiency.
  • Selling surplus goods like fish or tools early can fund crucial initial purchases.
  • Don't build a Chapel until your peasants are satisfied with Cider, as it incurs maintenance costs without immediate benefit.
  • Use Fire Stations for fire protection over Carpenters due to lower maintenance costs until late-game.
  • Prioritize producing your own Tools to avoid expensive NPC purchases.
  • Consider building a second Tools chain once your initial needs are met.
  • Selling surplus production of Linen Garments, Ropes, Bread, Beer, and Leather Jerkins is a key income source.
  • Upgrading NPC trading fleets can increase their visit frequency and purchase volume.

100% Human-Written. AI Fact-Checked. Community Verified. Learn how AntMag verifies content