Hello guys, Flanker here! Caravans in Ashes of Creation aren’t just a side feature; they are a core gameplay loop and one of the primary ways to make serious gold. But beware: without the right strategy, you’re setting yourself up for frustration, wasted time, and lost profit. A single mistake can mean watching your hard-earned gold vanish in minutes.

Fortunately, you don’t have to learn the hard way. By understanding the right methods and strategies, you can avoid the pitfalls that have caught many players off guard. Today, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about Caravans, including their construction, the best components, smart strategies, and 10 essential tips to ensure your success.

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Caravans: The Basics

Caravans are primarily used to transport player commodities from one node to another for sale, turning Glint into gold. The greater the distance traveled between the departure and destination nodes, the more gold you earn — but the longer the trip, the greater the risk of attack.

This system follows a risk vs. reward model. Longer trips are more profitable but riskier. Taxes also apply when purchasing cargo, impacting your margins. To maximize profit, always spend as much Glint as possible to fill every cargo slot. The sell price multiplier is the same across commodity rarities, so load up!

Your first basic Caravan can be purchased for just 10 silver at any node’s Caravan Master.

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Building a Better Caravan: Components Overview

There are five core Caravan components:

• Carriage
• Chassis
• Wheels
• Armor
• Beast of Burden

Each can be purchased or crafted depending on the Artisan workstations available.

Carriage

Carriages increase capacity height, health, armor, and magical defense. Early on, you’ll mainly have access to basic carriages crafted from Timber. Carriages that use zinc or copper fragments are tougher but harder to obtain.

Key takeaway: at Epic rarity, cargo capacity height increases, allowing better transport of valuable commodities. Choose the cheapest epic or legendary carriage available if you’re on a budget.

Chassis

The chassis enhances capacity width, health, armor, and magical defense. Unlike carriages, chassis expand capacity twice — once at rare and again at epic quality. For early-game players, the bronze-reinforced chassis is preferred for a balanced defense.

Ensure your caravan’s capacity width is at least eight slots so you can transport two epic commodities side-by-side.

Wheels

Wheels boost speed both on land and water. Prioritize tin-reinforced wheels for land routes and weeping willow wheelsfor water routes. Wheels aren’t rarity-dependent — better material equals better performance.

Armor

Armor increases health, armor, and magic defense while offering utility slots for future abilities (not active yet). Craft Western large armor or affordable tier-one armor depending on your budget. High-defense armor is critical to survive attacks.

Beast of Burden

Beasts are bought or bred through Animal Husbandry. Early on, wolves are the best, progressing to horses, and later, birds or lions at higher Artisan station tiers. Rarity impacts movement speed, so always aim for better quality when possible.

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Caravan Strategy: How to Protect Your Investment

Upgrading your Caravan is thrilling, but remember: even the biggest Caravan can fall if attacked by a determined group. Success depends on smart strategy rather than just brute stats.

If you’re running solo, don’t invest heavily. Use cheaper setups you can afford to lose and focus on many short tripsrather than rare, high-risk mega hauls.

If you’re running with a guild convoy, it’s a different game. High-defense Caravans make a huge difference. Stick close, and upgrade your cargo and wheels gradually to keep pace without dragging down the group.

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Planning Your Runs

Several factors influence success beyond just gear:

• Glint Management: If Glint is scarce, prioritize longer trips to maximize ROI. If you have a surplus, shorter frequent runs are safer and more efficient.
• Server Politics: Understand who controls which nodes. Knowing ally and enemy territories can reduce ambush risks dramatically.
• Time of Day: Fewer players are online late at night on weekdays, making that the safest time for Caravan runs.
• Route Planning: Always plan your primary route and backup paths. Avoid dead-ends or difficult terrain. Test and learn your maps.
• Beacons: Caravan Beacons (purchased from Black Market vendors) let you summon an empty Caravan wherever you need it. Use them wisely — never summon just before a cargo run, or you’ll tip off enemies!

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Buffing for Success

Boost your Caravan’s speed by leveraging:

• Trade Bureau zones (automatic speed buffs)
• Ranger’s Stir Buff
• Bard Speed Buffs (if they travel alongside your convoy)

Even a small speed advantage can be the difference between safety and disaster.

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10 Final Tips to Master Caravans

1. Don’t get greedy — safer small runs beat risky big hauls.
2. Travel in groups when possible.
3. Check your surroundings constantly for enemy scouts.
4. Don’t rely solely on armor — plan escape routes.
5. Know your node politics and avoid enemy-controlled areas.
6. Keep a gold reserve for rebuilding after a loss.
7. Prioritize cargo upgrades first, then wheels and Beasts.
8. Scout and test routes before critical deliveries.
9. Use Beacons smartly, only after finishing runs.
10. Stay flexible — adapt plans when threats arise.

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Remember, while Caravans are an incredible gold-making opportunity, they’re not the only way to prosper. If the risk feels overwhelming, you can always pause Caravan runs and focus on other gold-generation methods until you build a safer network or join a guild.