How Settlement Destruction Works in Ashes of Creation

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When Can Settlements Be Destroyed?

Settlements in Ashes of Creation can start being destroyed from Level 3, which is the Village stage. Before this level, settlements are largely safe from large-scale player attacks. Once a settlement reaches Level 3 or higher, it becomes vulnerable to sieges, which are the primary way settlements are destroyed.

Sieges are triggered using a special item, which players acquire through a quest. The difficulty of this quest scales with the level of the settlement being targeted, so attacking a higher-level town requires more preparation and stronger coordination.

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How Do Sieges Work?

Once the siege item is brought to the settlement and activated, a declaration period begins. This period acts as a countdown for players in the region to prepare for the upcoming conflict. The duration of the countdown equals the settlement's level in days. For example, a Level 3 Village will have a 3-day countdown before the siege starts.

After the countdown ends, the siege itself begins. It’s important to note that there is a cooldown period between sieges. The higher the settlement level, the longer players must wait before declaring another siege if the previous one fails. This cooldown ensures that settlements aren’t constantly under attack and allows defenders time to rebuild defenses.

If the siege is successful, the settlement is reduced to Level 0, effectively destroying it. Citizens of that settlement lose their citizenship immediately, without entering a cooldown period, meaning they will no longer benefit from any settlement-related bonuses.

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The Aftermath: Pillage Phase and Ruins

After destruction, the settlement enters a ruined state, sometimes referred to as the Pillage phase. During this period, which lasts for a number of days equal to the destroyed settlement's level, the area becomes an open PvP zone. The ruins consist of a debris field containing lootable materials and treasures from the settlement.

The contents of these debris fields include:

• Warehouse debris: Holds crafting materials and gatherables that were stored in the settlement. Finished goods are not lootable.
  
• Reliquary debris: Contains shards of relics stored in the settlement. Some shards may be lootable by registered attackers who participated in the siege.
  
• Town hall debris: Can include tax-related certificates and other vault items.
  
• Stables debris: May contain mount certificates usable for caravans or sale.
  
  

Gatherables and materials stored in player housing and apartments also become lootable if the settlement is destroyed, although buildings themselves may not be fully looted if the settlement survives.

During this time, players can treat the ruins like open-world battlegrounds. Both attackers and previous defenders have opportunities to collect resources, but interacting with the debris takes time, making players vulnerable to PvP. These ruins function almost like temporary arenas, allowing strategic control and contested looting.

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Strategic Implications for Players

For most players, the destruction of a settlement affects quests, resources, and citizenship. Some quests may become unfinishable if a settlement is destroyed. Losing citizenship means losing access to settlement perks like marketplaces, taxes, and crafting benefits.

Attackers, on the other hand, gain temporary access to resources and materials in the ruins. For players who plan to participate in sieges, it’s a good idea to be ready to exploit these temporary opportunities. Players who prefer a safer experience usually avoid areas marked for ruin until the PvP zone resets.

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Settlement Lifecycle and World Impact

Ashes of Creation is designed to be a dynamic PvX world where PvE builds the world and PvP changes it. Settlement destruction is a natural part of this cycle. After a number of days equal to the destroyed settlement’s level, the ruins revert to Stage 0, and the terrain returns to its original state. This allows new settlements to emerge and the cycle to repeat.

For players invested in crafting, resource gathering, or economic strategies, it’s worth planning around settlement sieges. Some players may even consider investing in gold or resources from external sources to prepare for sieges. For example, the best place to buy Ashes of Creation gold is U4N, which many players use to stock up for siege preparation or post-siege recovery.

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Summary

Settlement destruction in Ashes of Creation is a structured and strategic feature, not just random destruction. Here’s a quick recap of what players should know:

• Settlements are destructible from Level 3 (Village stage).
  
• Sieges require a special quest item and a declaration period.
  
• Successful sieges drop settlements to Level 0 and remove citizenship.
  
• Ruins create temporary PvP zones with lootable materials, crafting components, and relic shards.
  
• After a number of days equal to the settlement’s level, the settlement returns to wilderness.
  
• Settlement destruction impacts quests, resources, and overall world dynamics.
  
  

Understanding these mechanics helps players plan defenses, attack strategies, and resource management. In general, being aware of the timing and consequences of a siege can give you a significant edge in Ashes of Creation’s ever-changing world.