Greetings fellow adventurers, Flanker here. Caravans are not just a feature in Ashes of Creation - they are a core gameplay loop and one of the primary ways to make gold. But here’s the catch: if you don’t know what you’re doing, you’re practically begging to lose your time and gold. Without the right strategy, a single mistake could mean watching your hard-earned profits vanish. The good news? There’s absolutely no need to make the same mistakes that have already cost so many other players their gold. Learning from their failures is the smartest way to stay ahead, and that’s exactly what we will talk about today. I have no doubt that many of you are eager to build the biggest and fastest caravan in pursuit of maximum profit. However, don’t forget that even a fully upgraded and well-protected caravan is not invincible. Losing such a caravan can be costly, and instead of anticipating profits, you might find yourself calculating losses. To reduce the chances of such an outcome, I would like to share some tips that will help you avoid unnecessary mistakes. 1. Choosing the right caravan components There are several factors to keep in mind when choosing caravan components, and one of the most important is your ability to protect your caravan. For example, if you aren't part of a guild and decide to do a solo caravan run, but then get attacked by a full group, the fatal outcome is inevitable. In such a situation, it wouldn’t matter how much HP or defense your caravan has - it will be destroyed regardless. For these types of runs, it makes more sense to use caravans you can afford to lose and focus on making many runs instead of investing in an expensive caravan. The situation changes if you travel with a group. Upgraded caravans with high defensive stats won’t be easily destroyed, giving you precious time to react. You will have more opportunities to fend off attacks, your guildmates will have more time to come to your aid, and your chances of reaching the nearest node will be significantly higher. Traveling in a large caravan convoy is usually the safest option. In this case, you can invest in your caravan with lower risks, and components that increase cargo capacity should be your first priority. Wheels and beasts of burden can be upgraded last, as there will almost always be someone in the convoy using common ones. However, make sure to upgrade them eventually so that you don’t fall behind and force others to wait for you to catch up. 2. Server situation All servers are different, but no matter where you play, it’s crucial to understand what’s happening on your server. You need to learn which guilds control which nodes, as this will help you assess the likelihood of encountering enemies in different areas. The same applies to your allies - it’s much wiser to choose routes where you have a better chance of getting help in case of an attack. Having this information obviously won’t eliminate the risks entirely, but will most definitely reduce them. 3. Caravan Request Beacons Black Market vendors sell Caravan Beacons, which can be used to summon your caravan to any location within a radius of 2 zones of influence. At the moment, you can find those vendors in any node, but this may change in the future. Summoning takes 2 minutes, and the only condition for using a beacon is that your caravan must be empty. They are useful if you’ve completed a caravan run from Node A to Node B and don’t want to travel back - just use a beacon and bring your caravan wherever you need it. At the same time, it’s better not to use a beacon right before a caravan run, as enemies might spot you and they will have more time to regroup and prepare an ambush. 4. Best time for Caravan Runs The more players are online on the server, the higher are the chances of encountering them during a caravan run. Thus, the best time for caravan runs is late at night on weekdays. Obviously, not everyone can play at that time, but it is what it is. 5. Route Planning It is crucial to plan your route beforehand - never launch a caravan without a clear route and a backup plan for unexpected situations. This is especially important for off-road routes - you don’t want to end up in a dead end or get stuck on a cliff. When we first started mapping out optimal routes, we would test them for passability, pay attention to how many players we encountered along the way and which guilds they belonged to. This may seem like a waste of time, but in the long run, it’s actually a smart and practical approach. 6. Speed Buffs In addition to wheels and beasts of burden, your caravan’s speed can be increased by certain buffs. First of all, if a Trade Bureau has been built in a node, all caravans traveling through its zone of influence will receive a speed buff. Secondly, if you’re traveling with a group that includes a Ranger, always ask them to apply the Strider buff to your caravan. Bards can also provide speed buffs, but they must stay close to the caravan for it to work. This means they can’t drive their own caravan while buffing others. However, if a Bard is part of the group guarding your convoy, then it becomes possible. In such cases, they should prioritize buffing the caravans that are falling behind. 7. Situational Awareness From the moment you deploy your caravan and until the end of the run, you must always maintain situational awareness. In most cases, you’ll be able to spot signs of potential trouble well before anything actually happens - unless it’s a well-planned ambush. The simplest scenario is accidentally stumbling upon a player from a rival guild. If they start clicking on your caravans and following you, there’s a high chance they are informing their guildmates and tracking your location while waiting for reinforcements. Fighting back is not always an option as you may be outgeared or outnumbered. In such cases, it may be wise to change your original route and head toward the nearest node, or split up your caravans, sending them to the destination via different paths. Some caravans may still end up getting destroyed, but the rest will be saved. 8. Don't waste your last gold Every caravan run comes with certain risks, and if things go wrong, your caravan may be destroyed. This is an unpleasant situation, which can become even worse if, on top of that, you can’t afford to replace it. Therefore, I’d recommend always keeping some gold as a backup, just in case something like this happens - so you don’t end up completely broke. 9. Remember what your main goal is The main reason players do caravan runs is obviously to make gold. However, this is not the only way to make gold in the game. There are plenty of other options and opportunities, even at this stage of testing, and there will be even more in the future. So, if you’re a solo player, or if you simply haven’t had much luck with caravans, consider switching to something else for a while until you find friends in the game or join a guild. Running caravans isn’t a necessity. I know multiple players who have barely ever done it, yet their gear and gold balance would make anyone raise an eyebrow in surprise. Hope you will find these tips helpful. My YouTube Channel - Guides, News, Reviews etc. My Twitch[www.twitch.tv] My Discord Server[discord.gg] - to ask anything directly Caravan Tips for Beginners Caravan Tips for Beginners