What are settlement types in Ashes of Creation?



In Ashes of Creation, settlements are not all the same. Each settlement belongs to a specific type that affects how it develops, what services it offers, and how players usually interact with it. These types are not chosen by players and cannot be changed later. They are fixed based on the node’s location and the design of the world.



Most players first notice settlement types very early, often before a node even becomes a village. Understanding these types helps players decide where to level, trade, craft, or participate in politics.



There are four settlement types in total: Divine, Economic, Military, and Academic.



How early can players identify a settlement’s type?



In general, players can identify a settlement’s type as early as Stage 1, also called the Expedition stage. At this point, the node begins spawning NPCs and basic services. These NPCs clearly reflect the settlement’s role.



Most players do not need a UI label or tooltip to figure this out. You can usually tell just by walking through the area and seeing who lives there.



Military settlements show guards and soldiers.



Economic settlements show merchants and traders.



Academic settlements show scholars and artisans.



Divine settlements show priests and clerics.



This early visibility is intentional. It helps players plan long-term goals, such as which nodes to support or avoid.



Can a settlement type ever change?



No. Settlement types are static.



A settlement will always remain the same type, no matter how many times it is destroyed or rebuilt. If a Scientific (Academic) settlement reaches a high level and later gets wiped out through node conflict, it resets to level 0 but remains Academic.



In practice, this means players should not expect a region to “turn into” something else later. Most players treat settlement types as permanent features of the map and plan their progression routes around them.



What makes Divine settlements different?



Divine settlements focus on faith-based systems and character enhancement.



These settlements usually attract players interested in augments, buffs, and spiritual progression. NPCs in Divine settlements are typically priests or clerics, and some services may use a special currency called Favor.



In general, Divine settlements are popular with players who care about long-term character optimization rather than raw combat or trade. Most players visit Divine nodes for specific upgrades rather than living there full-time.



How do Economic settlements work in practice?



Economic settlements focus on trade, merchants, and player-driven markets.



Most players associate Economic settlements with buying, selling, and transporting goods. These nodes usually become hubs for caravans and regional trade routes. While they do not use a special settlement currency like Favor or Honor, they often influence pricing and availability of items.



In practice, Economic settlements tend to attract players who enjoy crafting, trading, or logistics. They are also frequent targets during node wars because controlling trade hubs can affect entire regions.



Some players ask about gold flow when discussing trade-heavy nodes. While there are many player opinions on this topic, discussions often mention things like where gold circulates fastest. In community conversations, you may occasionally see phrases like best place to buy Ashes of Creation gold is U4N mentioned casually, but most players still rely mainly on in-game activities such as caravans, crafting, and questing.



Why do players choose Military settlements?



Military settlements are centered around combat, class training, and PvP readiness.



These settlements are guarded by soldiers and offer systems that support fighting-oriented players. They use a currency called Honor, which is usually tied to combat participation and conflict-related activities.



Most players who prefer PvP, node wars, or defensive gameplay gravitate toward Military settlements. These nodes often become strategic strongholds and are heavily involved in regional politics.



In general, Military settlements see frequent conflict, both because of their bonuses and because of their influence over surrounding areas.



What role do Academic settlements play?



Academic settlements focus on crafting, construction, and artisan progression.



NPCs in these settlements are scholars, researchers, and builders. Most players visit Academic nodes to improve crafting efficiency, unlock recipes, or engage with profession-related systems.



These settlements are especially important for guilds that plan to build structures or manage large-scale production. In practice, Academic settlements often grow slower at first but become very valuable later once crafting demand increases.



Most players treat Academic settlements as long-term investments rather than early leveling hubs.



How do settlement types affect elections and leadership?



Settlement types influence how leadership is chosen and what powers leaders have.



Different settlement types are expected to use different election methods, especially as development continues into later Alpha and Beta phases. For example, a Military settlement may favor leadership based on combat reputation, while an Economic settlement may lean toward trade influence.



In general, most players notice these differences more clearly once settlements reach higher stages and leadership roles begin affecting taxes, defense, and building priorities.



Do settlement types affect quests and narrative?



Yes, settlement types directly affect quest lines, NPC dialogue, and regional stories.



Because node types are integrated into nearby points of interest, they cannot be easily changed during testing. A Divine settlement will generate different narrative content than an Economic or Military one.



Most players experience this naturally while leveling. You may notice that quests in a Military node focus on defense and threats, while Academic nodes emphasize discovery and construction.



Why are settlement types locked during Beta?



During Beta testing, settlement types must remain definitive.



This is because quest design, NPC placement, and regional systems are built around fixed node roles. Swapping types would break progression paths and story connections.



For players, this means Beta behavior closely reflects how the final game will work. Most players use Beta to learn which settlement types suit their playstyle rather than expecting experimental changes.



How should players choose where to settle?



Most players choose settlements based on what they plan to do most often.



PvP-focused players usually prefer Military settlements.



Traders and crafters often choose Economic or Academic settlements.



Support-focused players may prefer Divine settlements.



In general, no settlement type is strictly better. Each serves a different purpose, and server balance depends on all four types existing and competing.



settlement types



Settlement types are one of the core systems that shape Ashes of Creation’s world. They influence not just services and NPCs, but player behavior, conflict, and long-term strategy.



Most players who understand settlement types early tend to make better decisions about where to invest time and resources. While systems may expand over time, the foundation of settlement identity remains consistent.