Understanding Player Housing in Ashes of Creation: A Practical Guide

EmberFrost

What types of player housing are available?

In general, Ashes of Creation offers three main types of player housing: apartments, freeholds, and static houses. Each type provides unique benefits and limitations:

• Apartments: Usually located within larger settlements, apartments are smaller and more accessible. They allow for basic furniture placement and functional items like pots to grow seeds.
  
• Freeholds: These are standalone properties on plots of land. Freeholds offer more space and flexibility, including the ability to place business and artisan buildings.
  
• Static houses: Similar to freeholds in size, static houses often include garden sections where players can grow special crops. They can also accommodate crafting benches and other functional furniture.
  
  

Most players choose their housing based on the type of activities they plan to do. For example, those focused on crafting or farming will usually prefer freeholds or static houses, while casual players may find apartments sufficient.

What benefits do player houses provide?

Owning a house in Ashes of Creation is more than just having a place to decorate. Houses come with several practical benefits:

• Citizenship: Players can claim citizenship in a settlement if they own a home there. Citizenship often comes with perks such as access to special quests, node-specific bonuses, and participation in local governance.
  
• Storage options: Houses allow the placement of storage containers. Different grades of containers provide varying inventory capacities, and the type of house often determines which grades you can use.
  
• Decor and personalization: Houses are initially empty when purchased. Players can place furniture, decorative items, and functional objects like pots or benches. The size of your house dictates how many items can be placed.
  
• Functional benefits:
  
  
  • Apartments: Can hold functional items like pots for seed growth.
    
  • Freeholds: Can house artisan and business buildings for crafting or trading purposes.
    
  • Static houses: Include garden sections for special crops and can support crafting benches.
    
    

Most players find that these benefits make housing a key part of long-term character progression, especially for crafting-heavy or trade-focused characters.

How do furnishings and storage work in practice?

When you first purchase a home, it comes completely empty. Players must furnish their homes to access full benefits. For example, placing storage containers in your house allows you to keep items closer to where you craft or farm, reducing travel time.

In general, different houses support different storage container grades. Higher-grade containers allow for larger inventories, which is particularly useful for players who engage in large-scale crafting, farming, or trading.

Decorations also serve a practical purpose. Functional furniture like crafting benches, pots, and garden plots can streamline gameplay and reduce time spent running between nodes and crafting stations.

Can you grow crops or craft in houses?

Yes, but it depends on the housing type. Apartments support limited functional items like pots for small-scale gardening. Freeholds and static houses, however, allow for larger-scale farming and crafting:

• Gardening: Freeholds and static houses can include garden plots for growing special types of crops. Most players use this feature to supplement their crafting or alchemy needs.
  
• Crafting benches: These are available in freeholds and static houses but not in apartments. This means that players who want to specialize in crafting often choose one of these larger housing types.
  
  

By focusing on a house that supports your preferred gameplay style, you can create a more efficient setup for leveling, crafting, and resource management. Some players even choose to buy Ashes of Creation gold for leveling on U4N to speed up progression and take full advantage of housing benefits early.

Are there any limitations to player housing?

Yes, housing comes with some restrictions. Most limitations relate to:

• House size: Determines the number of decor items, storage containers, and functional furniture you can place.
  
• Node citizenship: Certain benefits, like special bonuses or access to local crafting stations, only apply if you are a citizen of that node.
  
• Storage container grades: Not all houses support all container grades, which can limit inventory space for larger operations.
  
  

Understanding these limits is crucial before committing to a purchase. Players generally recommend starting with a house type that aligns with your gameplay style, then upgrading later if your needs change.

How does housing affect general gameplay?

For most players, owning a house is not just about aesthetics—it has real gameplay implications. Housing can:

• Reduce time spent traveling to nodes for crafting or farming.
  
• Provide local storage and functional furniture to streamline daily activities.
  
• Offer access to node-based bonuses through citizenship.
  
• Serve as a base for personal projects, such as artisan crafting, farming, or small-scale commerce.
  
  

In practice, players who actively use their housing for crafting, farming, or business operations tend to progress faster than those who do not. Housing adds a layer of strategy to how you approach resource management and daily gameplay.

Player housing in Ashes of Creation is a versatile feature that supports both cosmetic customization and practical benefits. Understanding the differences between apartments, freeholds, and static houses, along with their specific advantages, allows players to choose the best option for their gameplay style. Most players find that strategic use of housing can enhance efficiency, improve crafting, and make resource management much smoother. For those looking to get a head start, some even buy Ashes of Creation gold for leveling on U4N to access these benefits faster.