The Kingsmarch settlement in Path of Exile, introduced in the Secrets of the Atlas league (3.26), offers players a rich town-building and resource management experience that complements the core gameplay loop. Kingsmarch acts as a hub where you invest Gold and gather resources to upgrade buildings, recruit workers, and unlock various gameplay features that enhance your Atlas progression Poe 1 Divine Orb.

Getting Started with Kingsmarch
You can visit Kingsmarch early in Act 1 by speaking to Johan, the King’s Hand, in Lioneye’s Watch. However, meaningful engagement with the settlement is best delayed until you have a solid Gold income, typically after Act 2 or 3, since upgrades and worker wages require substantial Gold.

Core Buildings and Their Roles
Kingsmarch features several key buildings to upgrade and staff with workers:
1. Recruitment: This is the top priority building. Upgrading Recruitment increases your maximum population of workers and unlocks higher skill levels for them, improving the speed and efficiency of mining, farming, and other tasks. Higher-level workers demand higher wages but significantly boost productivity.
2. Mining: Located in the western part of town, Mining allows you to hire Miners who gather ores like Crimson Iron Ore from the world. These ores are essential for crafting and upgrading other facilities.
3. Farming: Unlockable after upgrading Recruitment to Rank 2, Farming lets you cultivate crops that serve as resources for upgrades or shipments. It is found in the northern part of Kingsmarch.
4. Smelting: Also unlocked at Recruitment Rank 2, Smelting refines ores into bars, a more advanced resource needed for higher-tier upgrades. However, it is advised to use smelting sparingly since raw ores are often required for other purposes.
5. Shipping: The southern dock lets you send out ships loaded with resources to trade for valuable loot, including currency and unique league-specific items. Shipping unlocks after completing your first shipment and is crucial for acquiring rare materials.

Managing Workers and Resources
Efficient management of workers is critical. Hiring workers with skill levels between 3 and 5 balances productivity and wage costs, allowing sustained operation without excessive Gold drain. Assign workers to mining, farming, and smelting to maintain a steady flow of resources for upgrades and shipments.

Gold is a limiting factor, especially early on. Running tier 11 maps with quantity mods is an effective way to generate the necessary Gold to fund Kingsmarch’s growth. Keep Gold in the treasury to ensure workers continue their tasks uninterrupted.

Advanced Tips
1. Prioritize upgrading Recruitment, Mining, and Smelting first to speed up resource gathering and unlock other buildings faster.
2. Avoid unnecessary shipping or hiring sailors until the Shipyard is fully upgraded to optimize resource flow.
3. Use tools like PoExchange for bulk selling items and managing currency efficiently PoE Currency buy.