Some games give you complete control — over the world, your weapons, your creations, and your destiny. Titles like Minecraft let you build and craft freely, creating endless replayability. Albion Online follows a similar philosophy, but within an MMORPG world built around player-driven economy, trade, and craftsmanship.
In this guide, we’ll dive into how building ownership and upgrades work in Albion Online. You’ll learn how to get your first building, why upgrading is essential, and what materials and steps you’ll need to make your structures more powerful and efficient.
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How to Own a Building
Before upgrading anything, you first need a place to build — and that means getting your own island.
Albion Online is completely free to play, but to own a personal island, you’ll need Premium status. Think of it like a temporary membership that unlocks important in-game perks such as:
→ Faster progression and higher resource yields
→ More silver from activities
→ Access to a Private Island — your personal land for buildings
You can get Premium by paying around $5 USD for a week’s subscription. The good news is: everything you build, gather, or own during Premium time stays permanently, even after the subscription expires.
Step 1: Buy a Private Island
To purchase an island:
- Travel to any main city (such as Fort Sterling, Martlock, or Thetford).
- Locate the Island Merchant NPC.
- Buy a personal island from them — prices range from 18,000 to 30,000 silver depending on location.
Once you’ve purchased it, you can fast-travel to your island directly from the same merchant menu.
Step 2: Build Your First Structure
On your island, enter Build Mode. You’ll see options for different structures such as:
| Building | Base Resource Needed | Primary Output |
| Lumbermill | Logs | Planks |
| Smelter | Ore | Metal Bars |
| Tanner | Hides | Leather |
| Stonemason | Stone | Refined Blocks |
| Cook | Food Ingredients | Meals and Rations |
Each structure serves a specific crafting purpose — for example, building a Lumbermill helps refine logs into planks, which are then used to craft weapons, furniture, and more advanced buildings later.
The type of building you choose depends on your playstyle and what resources you want to specialize in.
How to Upgrade Buildings in Albion Online
Upgrading is the key to unlocking new crafting tiers, improving productivity, and speeding up resource refinement. Here’s how you can upgrade your buildings efficiently.
Step 1: Open the Building Menu
Walk up to the building and click on it. A menu will pop up showing:
- The current tier of the building
- Its durability and crafting options
- A hammer icon indicating upgrade options
Click on the hammer icon to view the next upgrade tier and the materials required.
Step 2: Gather or Buy the Required Materials
Each upgrade requires refined resources, such as planks, metal bars, or stone blocks. The game will show a list of what’s needed for the upgrade, including:
| Tier | Materials Needed | Notes |
| Tier 2 → Tier 3 | Rough Stone, Chestnut Planks | Basic upgrade; gather easily |
| Tier 3 → Tier 4 | Limestone Blocks, Bronze Bars | Mid-tier materials; start refining |
| Tier 4 → Tier 5 | Slate Blocks, Steel Bars | Purchased from player market or crafted |
| Tier 5 → Tier 6+ | Travertine, Titanium, Advanced Resources | High-tier upgrades for advanced production |
You can gather these materials manually, buy them from the Marketplace, or craft them using other buildings like the Smelter and Stonemason.
Step 3: Contribute Materials to the Upgrade
Return to your building, open the upgrade panel again, and start depositing the materials. You’ll see a progress bar — once it’s full, your building automatically upgrades to the next tier.
Step 4: Maintain and Repair
Over time, buildings lose durability from frequent use. Regularly repair them using stone blocks or pay a small silver fee to ensure optimal efficiency.
Why You Should Upgrade Buildings
Upgrading buildings isn’t just cosmetic — it directly impacts how fast and efficiently you can produce goods. Every tier upgrade offers tangible benefits:
| Benefit | Description |
| Faster Production | Reduces crafting time per item |
| Higher Tier Output | Allows crafting of stronger materials and gear |
| Increased Efficiency | Consumes fewer resources for better returns |
| Supports High-Tier Laborers | Enables hiring and sustaining better workers |
| Economic Advantage | Produces rare goods for higher profits in the player-driven market |
In Albion’s economy, upgraded buildings mean economic power. Players with well-developed production hubs can generate consistent silver income, supply guilds, and even control market niches by producing specific high-demand resources.
Pro Tips for Efficient Upgrading
→ Plan your island layout: Keep related buildings close together to reduce travel time between refining and crafting.
→ Refine before upgrading: Always refine materials in bulk before attempting large upgrades.
→ Use laborers effectively: Assign workers to your buildings — they’ll bring back bonus materials.
→ Join a guild: Guild territories often have reduced taxes and access to higher-tier crafting stations.
→ Check city bonuses: Each city in Albion has unique refining bonuses (e.g., Fort Sterling for stone, Martlock for ore). Use these to your advantage.
Conclusion
Upgrading buildings in Albion Online is one of the most rewarding long-term investments you can make. It boosts efficiency, unlocks advanced crafting, and powers your journey through Albion’s player-driven economy.
By purchasing a private island, setting up essential buildings, and steadily upgrading them with refined materials, you’ll turn your small homestead into a thriving industrial hub — capable of producing high-tier gear and resources faster than most players.
Mastering this process early gives you a strong advantage in both personal progression and market influence — because in Albion, the most successful players aren’t just fighters — they’re builders and strategists.
FAQs
Yes. You must have Premium active at least once to purchase a personal island. However, your island and buildings remain permanently, even if Premium expires later.
Start with refining stations like the Lumbermill, Smelter, and Stonemason. These unlock higher-tier crafting and reduce long-term material costs.
Yes. You can reposition buildings at any time using the island build menu. Plan your layout for efficiency — keep related stations close together.