How Can Settlement Buildings Be Destroyed?



Settlement buildings have hit points and are vulnerable to several systems in the game. Damage doesn’t just occur through direct player action—it can come from environmental events, NPC-driven incidents, or targeted sieges.



Sieges and Settlement Wars

During a siege, attackers might not always aim to fully take over a settlement. In general, most players focus on “precision strikes” to disable key buildings, rather than destroying the entire node. For example:



Targeting a temple can slow down the node’s religious progression.



Damaging a scholar’s academy may prevent higher-level research or quest progression.



Hitting buildings that provide experience or quests can slow down the growth of the settlement’s citizens.



These precision-oriented attacks allow players to impact an opponent’s node without full occupation. Siege weapons, bombs, and coordinated assaults are the usual tools for this type of attack.



NPC and Story-Driven Events

Occasionally, buildings can suffer damage due to NPC-driven events. These are tied to story arcs, incursions from corrupted zones, or settlement atrophy. Most players observe that these events create temporary disruption rather than full destruction, but neglected buildings can worsen over time.



Hazardous Environmental Events

Natural disasters like tornadoes or hurricanes can damage settlements. While these events are less common, they serve as reminders that settlements are living ecosystems. Buildings left unmaintained are more likely to fall into disrepair when these hazards occur.



Demolition by Mayors

Mayors can decide to demolish buildings, but this comes with checks to prevent abuse.



Demolition costs settlement mandates.



Player votes are required for approval.



This prevents a mayor from griefing the settlement by destroying everything.



Most players note that this system ensures that building removal is a meaningful, collective decision rather than a unilateral one.



What Happens When Buildings Are Damaged or Destroyed?



When buildings are damaged or neglected, they enter a state called disarray. In this state:



Services provided by the building are unavailable.



NPCs associated with the building may not function.



Players must contribute resources to repair disarrayed buildings. Once repairs are complete, the building returns to its operational state.



If buildings take heavy damage during a successful siege or significant event, they are destroyed and reduced to rubble. Some practical implications of destruction include:



Leadership must clear rubble before reconstruction.



Prerequisites for rebuilding must be met; for instance, certain tech-tree requirements or node-level thresholds.



Destruction can interrupt progression along the building tech tree. For example, if a node’s advanced service building is destroyed, it may halt services dependent on it until reconstruction is complete.



Most players understand that these mechanics make rebuilding a collaborative effort. It’s not just a single player’s responsibility—settlement survival relies on the community contributing resources and time.



Loot and Consequences of Destruction



When buildings are destroyed, the debris can contain lootable spoils, available to both attackers and defenders. Player housing, however, behaves differently:



Destroyed player housing cannot be sold.



Furnishings and decorations remain, allowing players to place them again once the housing is rebuilt.



From a player perspective, this encourages careful consideration before engaging in settlement wars. While destroying a rival’s buildings can provide a tactical advantage, it also shifts the responsibility of rebuilding to the community, creating opportunities for strategic plays around resource allocation.



Practical Tips for Players



Defenders Should Prioritize Critical Structures

In general, buildings that support node progression—such as temples, academies, and quest hubs—should be defended first. Losing these slows down the node more than losing decorative or lower-tier buildings.



Attackers Can Use Precision Strikes

Instead of focusing solely on node takeover, most players aim to disable services temporarily. This can slow down the rival node without overextending resources.



Plan for Rebuilding

Communities need to be ready to repair or rebuild damaged buildings. Gathering materials in advance and organizing contributions ensures that disarray doesn’t turn into prolonged setbacks.



Economy Awareness

While participating in settlement wars or reconstruction, players often need gold and resources. Some may choose to supplement this by external means, such as buying Ashes of Creation gold from U4N, to speed up repairs or acquire necessary crafting materials.

Building destruction in Ashes of Creation is a multi-layered system. Whether caused by sieges, environmental hazards, or NPC events, damage has real consequences for settlements. Most players approach it strategically, focusing on precision attacks, community repair efforts, and long-term planning. The destruction system is designed to create meaningful player interaction rather than random chaos, emphasizing collaboration and tactical decision-making.



Understanding these mechanics can help both attackers and defenders make informed decisions and maintain steady node progression. In the end, a settlement is more than its structures—it is a reflection of its community’s engagement and coordination.