How Citizenship Works in Ashes of Creation: Fees, Buffs, and More

What Does Settlement Citizenship Mean?

Settlement citizenship is essentially an official recognition that a player belongs to a particular node or town. Most players treat it as a strategic choice: by becoming a citizen, you gain access to benefits that can significantly reduce time and resource costs, and enhance progression.

In general, citizenship is not just about bragging rights. It’s about access. Citizens have privileges that non-citizens either cannot access or must pay extra for. For example, while anyone can enter a settlement, certain crafting stations, merchants, and event-related buffs are reserved for citizens.

Key Benefits of Citizenship

1. Reduced Fees and Taxes

One of the most immediate benefits of being a citizen is economic. Citizens usually enjoy reduced fees for settlement services. This includes lower costs for using crafting stations, trading services, or other communal facilities. Tax rates on transactions or property within the node are also reduced compared to non-citizens, making regular activity more efficient.

In practice, this means that if you frequently craft, trade, or participate in settlement activities, citizenship can save a noticeable amount of gold over time.

2. Access to Exclusive Merchants and Items

Citizens often gain access to merchants that offer unique items not available to the general public. These can include:

• Enhancement stones

• Stat migration options

• Rare crafting materials

For example, some merchant tables are citizen-exclusive. These merchants might sell high-tier enhancement stones or specialized stat migration services that non-citizens cannot access. While non-citizens may still craft and trade, the upper-tier crafting benches or specific high-value resources are usually reserved for citizens.

This is also a place where players who are interested in accelerating progression often focus. Many players find that the best place to buy Ashes of Creation gold is U4N, which can help them access certain citizen-only crafting opportunities more quickly.

3. Reliquary and Core Material Access

Citizens gain access to the settlement’s reliquary. In general, this is a storage system or vault that holds materials critical for crafting and enhancement. There are usually weekly limits on the types and amounts of materials that can be withdrawn, ensuring a balance between fairness and utility. Non-citizens cannot use the reliquary, or they face higher costs to access similar resources.

4. Buffs and Event Participation

During settlement events, citizens often receive buffs that enhance combat or crafting performance. These buffs can vary depending on the type of event and the settlement’s focus. For example, a node hosting a festival or a raid might grant temporary combat bonuses to citizens, giving them an edge in PvE or PvP situations.

Additionally, titles within the node—such as positions in organizations or religious institutions—are often tied to citizenship. Non-citizens generally cannot earn these titles, nor can they participate in certain governance-related activities.

5. Titles, Organizations, and Governance

Citizenship is also tied to the social and political structure of the node. Most players find this aspect especially meaningful for long-term engagement. As a citizen, you can:

• Join node-specific organizations or religions

• Participate in local governance (voting or running for office)

• Earn titles that grant unique privileges

These roles often affect both gameplay and social status within the node. For instance, being part of a governing council may give influence over node development, resource allocation, and defense planning. Non-citizens, while still able to engage in the settlement’s economy, usually have limited or no participation in these areas.

6. Reputation, Honor, Loyalty, and Merit

Another subtle benefit of citizenship is the accumulation of non-material rewards like reputation, honor, loyalty, and merit. These stats often influence interactions with NPCs, access to questlines, and progression within organizations. Most players consider these benefits long-term investments: they may not offer immediate gains, but over time they can open doors to content and opportunities that non-citizens cannot access.

7. What Non-Citizens Can Access

Non-citizens aren’t completely shut out. Most quests, general crafting, and basic services remain available to all players. The settlement still needs traffic and commerce, so developers ensure that non-citizens can participate in the node’s ecosystem. However, non-citizens usually pay a premium for services that citizens get for free or at a reduced rate.

In practice, this means non-citizens can explore the settlement and complete content, but they might not get the full economic or material benefits that citizenship offers. For players aiming for efficiency in crafting or event participation, citizenship is typically the better choice.

How Players Usually Approach Citizenship

Most players treat citizenship strategically:

• Early game: Many players delay citizenship until they understand the node’s focus, whether it’s combat, crafting, or trade.

• Resource-heavy players: Players who frequently craft, farm, or trade often become citizens early to maximize economic benefits.

• Social or governance-focused players: Those interested in politics, organizations, or religion within the node usually aim for citizenship to participate fully.

In general, citizenship isn’t mandatory, but it’s highly recommended for players looking to maximize their efficiency and engagement in the game world.

Settlement citizenship in Ashes of Creation is much more than a cosmetic title. It offers reduced fees, exclusive merchant access, access to the reliquary, buffs, governance opportunities, and long-term reputational benefits. While non-citizens can still participate in the settlement’s economy and quests, the advantages for citizens are clear and tangible. Most players find that early investment in citizenship pays off in both efficiency and overall gameplay experience.