Stonewards Game Resources: What to Mine, Forge, and Spend First
Understand Stonewards game resources, from precious metals and rare materials to arrows, wall repairs, and roguelite upgrades.
Why Resources Matter
Stonewards is built around a tight Dig, Forge, Defend loop. Your resources are not passive collectibles; they decide whether your crew can repair the stronghold, craft enough arrows, unlock the right upgrades, and survive the next monster wave.
Because Stonewards is still in Early Access, this resource guide avoids fake item lists and exact drop tables. It focuses on the categories the official game page confirms and the decisions players need to make between waves.
Main Resource Categories
| Resource Category | Where It Comes From | Main Use |
|---|---|---|
| Precious metals | Procedural mines | Core forge spending, arrows, repairs, and basic upgrades |
| Rare materials | Deeper routes and hidden caves | Stronger randomized roguelite upgrades |
| Shiny rocks | Mine branches and side paths | Extra value when the timer allows |
| Treasures and secrets | Hidden cave discoveries | Longer-term rewards and progression hooks as Early Access expands |
The exact names and values can shift as patches land. The useful habit is to judge each resource by what it can do before the next horn.
What to Spend First
| Team State | Best Spend |
|---|---|
| Walls are damaged | Repairs before optional upgrades |
| Ranged pressure is low | Arrows and ammunition support |
| The team survives waves comfortably | Randomized upgrades that improve future waves |
| Players keep returning late | Shorter mining routes and safer material targets |
| Late waves are overwhelming | Damage, control, and wall durability upgrades |
The forge is where Stonewards turns mining into strategy. Strong teams do not just collect more; they spend in the order that solves the next threat.
Early Wave Priorities
Early waves are the best time to build a stable economy.
- Repair obvious wall damage immediately.
- Keep arrow supply healthy before chasing rare upgrades.
- Learn how far your team can mine before the timer becomes dangerous.
- Use early resources to reduce future pressure, not just increase damage.
Mid-Run Priorities
Once waves become heavier, resource choices get sharper.
- Upgrade around what the forge offers, not a fixed build fantasy.
- Stack complementary choices across the team in co-op.
- Stop over-mining if wall repairs are falling behind.
- Use hidden caves when the team already has a clean return route.
Co-op Resource Rules
With four players, resource waste usually comes from unclear decisions rather than bad calls.
| Rule | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Call out rare material finds | Lets the team decide whether to extend the route |
| Agree on a repair threshold | Prevents everyone from buying damage while walls collapse |
| Assign a forge caller | Speeds up spending under pressure |
| Keep one player time-aware | Reduces late returns from the mine |
Early Access Notes
The official Steam page says the full version is planned to expand resources, treasures, secrets, rewards, maps, enemies, playable characters, and upgrade systems. Resource names, costs, and best priorities may change as the developers tune progression and balance.
Use this page as a decision framework, then adjust after each patch.
FAQ
What are Stonewards game resources used for? They are spent at the forge to craft arrows, repair defenses, and unlock randomized roguelite upgrades.
Should beginners chase rare materials first? Only when the team can still return safely. Reliable metals for repairs and arrows are often more valuable early.
Do resources carry the whole run? Stonewards includes run-based roguelite decisions and longer-term progression systems. Check the current in-game UI after each patch for exact persistence rules.
Will the resource system expand? Yes. The official Early Access notes say the full version is planned to add more resources, treasures, secrets, and rewards found while digging.