Best Buildings to Prioritise in Anno 117 Pax Romana

In the historical city-builder Anno 117: Pax Romana, buildings are central to gameplay. Players will constantly be choosing what to build next. Some buildings, like villas, are unique to each settlement, while others, such as houses, need to be constructed repeatedly – sometimes hundreds of times – to grow your town.

Houses (Libertus Residence)

1 Wood

In Anno 117, basic houses – starting with the Libertus Residence – are the foundation of your economy. They provide the workers you need, and importantly, generate tax revenue. These houses are affordable to build and don’t require a lot of space.

If players are in debt, they should construct more buildings to generate higher tax revenue. If a player is short on workers – like freedmen or commoners – they need to build or improve housing to attract more of them.

Okay, so I just finished upgrading my house, which is awesome! But I quickly realized I needed to start building another one right away. Why? Because all the Libertus workers I had working on the first upgrade became Plebeians, so I lost them! Gotta replace my workforce to keep things moving.

Roads

50 G per 10 tiles

Roads aren’t buildings themselves, but they’re vital in Anno 117. Buildings won’t function unless they’re connected by a road network, so be sure to leave plenty of space for them and build a lot! Later in the game, you’ll want to research Paved Roads to speed up worker travel and boost your overall efficiency.

When building roads, houses, and warehouses in Anno 117, you can use quick shortcuts: R for roads, H for houses, and L for warehouses. Find a complete list of hotkeys for the game here.

Woodcutter & Sawmill

100 G & 250 G

Okay, so as a big fan, let me tell you, you need to build a Woodcutter and Sawmill right away when you start! Seriously, everything in the beginning is made of wood, and you’ll quickly run out if you don’t. And as you get further in the game and want to build bigger and better things – and especially if you’re planning on making ships – you’ll want to build several of each. They’re just essential for keeping up with the wood demand!

When players unlock new materials like Tiles and Concrete, they’ll naturally want to construct the buildings needed to create them.

Warehouses

100 G
3 Wood

Warehouses are essential in the game – they receive goods from your production buildings and keep them safe. It’s best to build Warehouses throughout your city to make sure everything is within reach. You can increase their storage capacity by first researching ‘Warehouse Organization’.

If you see the message “No Warehouse in Range,” it means there’s either no Warehouse close enough, or the Warehouse isn’t accessible by road.

Any Food & Farm Stuffs

As a new player, I’ve learned it’s super important to figure out what I can fish and farm right away, depending on where I begin. Those early resources are key to keeping my starting Libertus citizens happy and eventually upgrading them to Plebeians. It’s all about getting those basics down first!

Markets & Taverns

250 G
5 Wood

These two buildings are all Libertus residents need for public services. Therefore, they should be constructed periodically, particularly when developing new areas that are too far from existing markets and taverns.

Charcoal Burner

3 Wood

Charcoal is essential for several industries, including the production of tiles, bread, and weapons. Because of this, it’s a good idea to build multiple Charcoal Burners relatively early in the game.

City Watch Buildings (Vigiles, Custodia, Medici)

These buildings protect your city from threats like fires, riots, and the spread of disease. While maintaining public order is important, firefighters are often more crucial, as fires are a common danger in any large city.

For fires, try to research Wells, too, as these will help.

Grammaticus

1000 G
5 Wood
10 Tiles

The Grammaticus might not seem essential, but it’s actually quite helpful. By sharing Knowledge, it allows players to research advancements more quickly, which boosts their city’s progress. Plus, it keeps the common people content.

2025-11-13 03:35