Resource Overview | History |
Wealth is one of the six basic resources in Rise of Nations. It is a primary resource used in the production of units, buildings, and technology upgrades.
Wealth is gathered by building Markets and establishing trade routes with Caravans between friendly cities. Some rare resources also add to
Wealth production when they have a Merchant harvesting the resource. Researching the Taxation technology line at the Temple allows a nation to gather
Wealth based on the size of its territory and it also increases income from rare resources and Fishermen.
Wealth is used throughout the whole game to produce units, research technology, and build structures. The main use for
Wealth is in the construction of units and technology upgrades.
Wealth tends to replace
Food as a staple resource in the late-game, as advanced units and technology require
Wealth in place of
Food to create.
Gathering Wealth[]

Trade routes, established and maintained by Caravans, are the primary method of Wealth generation.
- Markets. Each Market increases the gather rate of
Wealth by +10. Building the Porcelain Tower increases the income of all Markets by +300%. When completing or razing a Market a small bonus of 30
Wealth is granted.
- Caravans. Caravans generate income by plying trade routes between two cities, which generates a steady source of
Wealth once established, making it the primary method of procuring the resource on most circumstances. This income is based on the distance between the two cities, and only one trade route per nation is allowed between two given cities. Caravans are created at a Market, and shortly after creation begin the process of establishing the most lucrative trade route available. Every increase Commerce Research level increases the Caravan limit, and
Commerce 3 (Trade) allows trade routes to cities of friendly and allied nations instead of just your own.
- Taxation. Taxation allows you to generate
Wealth based on the size of your nation's territory. It also increases income from rare resources (see below) and Fishermen. It needs to be researched at a Temple. When completing or razing a Temple a small bonus of 30
Wealth is granted.
- Plunder. Destroying an enemy Market, Temple, Senate, and University grants 30
Wealth, destroyed enemy Caravans and Supply Wagons grant 50
Wealth, and destroyed enemy Patriots grant 100
Wealth. Enemy Cities grant, among other resources,
Wealth when captured, Capitals granting 500. Some enemy Wonders also grant
Wealth when destroyed, in proportion to the age they become available: The Colosseum grants 350, the Porcelain Tower 500, Versailles 750, the Statue of Liberty and Taj Mahal 1000, and the Space Program 2000.
Rare resources[]
Wealth is also produced by a number of rare resources, which can be gathered by sending a Merchant from the Market to the resource location:
Amber: +10
Diamonds: +20
Dye: +10
Fish: +10
Gems: +10
Peacocks: +10
Silk: +10
Silver: +10
Sulphur: +15
Tobacco: +10
The gather rate of rare resources in friendly (i.e. own and allied) territory can be increased by researching the Taxation line at the Temple (+20%, +50%, +100%, +200%) and by building the Porcelain Tower (+200%).
Nation powers[]
- The Aztec Power of Sacrifice: Gain 15 bonus resources plunder per age when your Barracks, Stable, and Dock units slay an enemy, up to a maximum of 60 resources, which may include
Wealth. Also Plunder given by enemies when destroying enemy buildings is doubled, and can be quadrupled if done within a Despot's radius.
- The British Power of Empire:
Commerce Limit for all basic resources is increased by 25%. Taxation upgrades are 50% cheaper, and territory-based Taxation grants double the income.
- The Egyptian Power of the Nile: Farms generate +2
Wealth in addition to
Food.
- The Inca Power of Gold: Mines generate
Wealth in addition to
Metal, and their
Commerce Limit for
Wealth is increased by 33%.
- The Nubian Power of Trade:
Caravan Limit is increased by +1. Merchants, Caravans, and Markets are 10% cheaper and have an additional 50% hit points. They begin with a Market, and can always sell/buy resources with a +20/-20 price bonus, and rare resources (including those that produce
Wealth; see above) are gathered 50% faster.
- The Persian Power of Ceremony: Taxation upgrades are granted instantly at no cost, as long as a Temple is built and the prerequisites are met. Caravans are always at their maximum number allowed, being created automatically and for free.
- The Roman Power of Caesar: Cities produce an extra +10
Wealth.
- The Russian Power of the Motherland: Plunder from Russian buildings goes to the Russians, not the enemy who plundered them (Except for Cities).
Wonders[]
- The Colossus increases the base
Wealth gather rate by 30% and the
Commerce Limit for
Wealth by +50.
- The Pyramids raise the
Commerce Limit for
Wealth by +50.
- The Taj Mahal increases the base
Wealth gather rate by 100% and the
Commerce Limit for
Wealth by +300.
|