How do I start the Gathering profession in Ashes of Creation?

To start Gathering, you must first obtain the appropriate basic tools (e.g., a pickaxe for mining or an axe for logging) from an in-game vendor or crafting station.

Are there different types of Gathering professions?

Yes, Gathering includes several professions like Mining (ores), Lumbering (wood), Foraging (herbs/plants), and Hunting (animal products/skins), each requiring a specific tool.

Does my character class affect my Gathering speed or success?

Base gathering is standardized, but certain class secondary skills (Augments) or specialized gear may provide small passive bonuses to efficiency or speed.

Ashes of Creation Gathering Guide: How to Start Gathering

Starting out in Ashes of Creation can feel like a lot, but gathering is one of the best early systems to learn. It gives character XP, artisan XP, and materials you’ll need later for crafting and trade. Here’s how to start gathering right away without wasting time.

How to Begin Gathering

You start with a full beginner toolset, so you can gather right after spawning. Each tool matches a specific resource type, like trees for lumber or rocks for ore.

Open your inventory with I and make sure the tools are equipped
Approach a gatherable node like a tree or ore vein
Left-click to start collecting resources
Each successful gather gives character XP and artisan XP

Gathering works anywhere outside safe zones, and the type of resource depends on the region. Higher-level zones have rarer nodes, but you’ll need better tools to harvest them.

Leveling Up Your Artisan Skills

Each profession, like logging or mining, has its own level. To view your progress, press P and scroll through the artisan section. Every time you gather, you gain progress in that skill and your main character level.

At level 10 in a gathering profession, you can upgrade the tool for that skill. Better tools mean faster collection, higher quality drops, and access to rare nodes.

Level 1–10: Beginner tools, basic resources
Level 10–20: Intermediate tools, better yield
Level 20+: Rare tools, rare materials

Gathering Tips for Fast Progress

Always gather nodes you walk past, even if you don’t need the materials
Store your materials often since dying drops 50 percent of your gathered goods
Higher quality resources give more XP, so focus on advanced areas when possible
Upgrade your tools as soon as the next tier becomes available
Process your raw materials at a settlement to earn extra XP

Processing is done by turning raw resources like wood or ore into refined items. Visit a crafting NPC in town to do this, and buy any required additives right there.

Gathering Safety and Death Penalty

Dying in Ashes of Creation costs you XP and materials. If you die while carrying resources, half of them drop. You can recover some by returning to your ashes marker, but only part of it.

The safest move is to deposit everything in settlement storage when your inventory fills. Note that Burbs cannot currently be stored. It saves time later and protects your best materials from loss.

Why Gathering is Important

Gathering isn’t just about XP. It feeds directly into crafting, caravan trade, and settlement upgrades. Many player-driven systems rely on a healthy supply of gathered materials. The higher your artisan skill, the more valuable your resources become to guilds and local economies.

Final Blurb

Gathering in Ashes of Creation is the first step toward mastering the game’s economy. Start early, keep your tools upgraded, and don’t hoard your loot in the wild. The faster you gather and refine, the stronger your progress will be heading into the midgame.