Hey, adventurers! If you've just hit level 24 in Lost Ark and finally unlocked your Stronghold, you might be staring at all those crafting menus thinking, "Where on earth do I start?" I've been there – the sheer number of options can feel overwhelming. But trust me, once you get the hang of it, crafting becomes one of the most rewarding parts of the game, whether you're looking to boost your combat power, rake in some serious gold, or just make your island feel like home. Here's my personal roadmap of the things you should absolutely prioritize first, based on hundreds of hours sailing Arkesia's seas and tinkering in my Estate.

1. Upgrade That Crafting Workshop ASAP 🏭

The very first thing you'll want to do after unlocking your Stronghold might sound boring, but it's the best investment you can make: upgrade your Crafting Workshop. You need to level up your Estate and complete the related research, but once that Level 2 Workshop is humming, it opens so many doors. Think about Battle Items like the Awakening Potion – that baby recovers your Specialty Meter by 100%, which can completely change the flow of a boss fight. Waiting on this upgrade just slows you down, so make it your top priority.

2. Brew Your Own Healing Potions 💊

I cannot stress this enough: if you're still buying potions off the market, you're throwing away gold. Even at Crafting Workshop Level 1, you can craft the 30% HP potions using flowers you just pick up while questing. Once you research the right tech and get that Level 2 workshop, you can upgrade them to 45% healers. I keep a steady stack of these for all my alts, and whenever I have extra materials, I sell the surplus on the auction house. It's a ridiculously simple way to fund your gear honing later.

3. Research Like a Madman in the Lab 🔬

The Lab is the brain of your Stronghold. Before you get too deep into building ships or fancy feasts, you need to unlock the foundational technologies. I always make sure a research project is running – something that boosts crafting efficiency, reduces energy costs, or unlocks new ship blueprints. Pro tip: collect every bit of ore and wood you stumble across while doing daily quests; those materials pile up fast and you'll thank yourself later when a 12-hour research task isn't stalled because you're short on timber.

4. Start With the Best Life Skill: Excavating ⛏️

Life Skills are your engine for gathering, but not all of them are equal when you're just starting. I put all my early energy into Excavating – and you should too. Why? It gives you access to materials needed for Oreha fusion and a bunch of other high-demand crafting components. More importantly, the relics and stones you dig up sell beautifully on the market, giving you a gold cushion in the early game. You can level up logging or fishing later, but Excavating is your ticket to a healthy income.

5. Forge Weapons That Actually Matter ⚔️

Once your Crafting Workshop hits Level 2, you get access to some spicy weapon recipes that can really carry you through the mid-game content. Now, don't get me wrong – you'll find plenty of weapons as drops, but the crafted ones often come with better base stats or set bonuses you can't ignore. And just like honing found gear, upgrading crafted weapons always comes with a chance of failure. So I always hoard extra materials for multiple attempts. When you finally see that glow and the attack numbers jump, it's absolutely worth it.

6. Host a Feast for Account-Wide Buffs 🍲

Feasts are one of those hidden gems many beginners miss. After you unlock the cooking ability in your Stronghold and follow Adeline's quest chain into Luterra, you can craft these huge buff-giving meals. The greatest part? The effects are account-wide. That means every character on your roster gets the benefit. I usually pop a feast right before a long raid night or when I'm planning to run a bunch of chaos dungeons – the extra stats make a noticeable difference.

7. Get That Ship and Set Sail 🚢

Ships aren't just for looks – they're your passport to the islands scattered across Arkesia. Each island offers unique quests, collectibles, and those sweet, sweet island tokens. Upgrading your ship takes serious time and materials, but you'll want to start early. You can pick up additional blueprints from the Tea and Libra merchant at any port or from the travelling merchant in your own Stronghold. Trust me, having a fast, sturdy ship makes sailing content so much more enjoyable.

8. Craft Battle Items Instead of Buying Them 🧪

Battle Items – grenades, bombs, and specialized potions – are essential for raids and tough dungeons, and the market prices reflect that. I used to hemorrhage silver and gold keeping my inventory stocked. Then I realized I could just craft my own. With a decent Workshop level and the right research, you can pump out boxes of whirlwind grenades or destruction bombs and either save a fortune or sell them for a tidy profit. The demand never really drops, so this is a sustainable money-maker even in 2026.

9. Build Structures That Give Passive Buffs 🏰

Here's a little secret: those cosmetic structures you can place around your Stronghold aren't just for show. Many of them provide passive buffs that can make your whole crafting operation more efficient. A prime example is the Bar Table, a Special structure you unlock when your Crafting Workshop reaches Level 4. It gives a flat +2% increase to Crafting Great Success Chance. That might seem small, but over hundreds of crafts, it adds up to a lot of extra freebies. Decorate with purpose!

10. Always Be Leveling Your Stronghold 📈

Lastly, don't overlook the Stronghold XP bar. Your Estate levels up just like your character, and many critical upgrades are gated behind a certain Stronghold level. The easiest way to keep gaining XP passively is to always have a station mission running in the background – those are the tasks you send your crew on that complete over real time. I make it a habit to log in, collect the rewards, and immediately dispatch the next mission before I even leave my Stronghold. It's the only way to keep pace with those demanding upgrade requirements later on.

Lost Ark's crafting system has grown even deeper over the years, but the fundamentals haven't changed. By following these priorities, you'll build a Stronghold that not only funds your honing addiction but also turns you into a self-sufficient powerhouse. Now go give your Estate some love, and I'll see you on the seas!