Catan Ore and Wheat Strategy | How to Win

Ore and wheat win Catan because a city costs 3 ore and 2 grain and scores 2 points, so secure both resources early, upgrade your best settlement first, and turn the doubled production into development cards.

I am Spector, dad to Alex, 7, and Emma, 10. Emma wins our family games with cities while Alex is still learning to count his cards, and the gap between them taught me this lesson: ore and wheat decide more Catan games than any clever trade ever will.

This page does two jobs in order. It states the official building costs first, because those numbers are rules and they are the reason this strategy exists. Then it gives our house strategy for turning those costs into wins, and that part is advice, not rules.

Affiliate disclosure: this page contains Amazon affiliate links. If you buy through one we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, and it never changes the verdict below.

A note on the old version of this page. It said sheep is only used for development cards, but a settlement costs 1 brick, 1 lumber, 1 wool and 1 grain, so wool builds settlements too. It also told you to always rush cities, which is bad advice on a board with weak ore numbers. Everything below separates the verified costs from the strategy built on them.

The official Catan building costs that make ore and grain matter

These are the official costs, checked against the rulebook transcription, and they are the whole argument for this page. Only ore and grain buy the two things that score without new board space: cities at 2 points each and hidden victory point cards.

A road costs 1 brick and 1 lumber, a settlement costs 1 brick, 1 lumber, 1 wool and 1 grain, a city costs 3 ore and 2 grain, and a development card costs 1 ore, 1 wool and 1 grain.

Build	Cost	Victory points
Road	1 brick and 1 lumber	0
Settlement	1 brick, 1 lumber, 1 wool and 1 grain	1
City, upgrades a settlement	3 ore and 2 grain	2
Development card	1 ore, 1 wool and 1 grain	0, or 1 for a victory point card

A city replaces one of your settlements, so the settlement piece goes back to your supply. Cities collect 2 cards from each producing hex instead of 1. You can never hold more than 5 settlements, 4 cities and 15 roads, and the first player to 10 points on their own turn wins.

One naming note. Newer boxes print grain where older boxes print wheat. They are the same resource and every cost above is identical either way. This page says wheat because that is the word most families search for. If the full rules would help, start with our how to play Catan guide.

Our ore and wheat strategy, and none of it is official rules

This section is house strategy, not the rulebook. The costs above are official. Everything below is how our family plays to win with them.

Take ore and wheat on strong numbers, keep one brick or lumber source for roads, upgrade your best settlement to a city first, then spend the doubled production on development cards.

That order matters. Production first, then the upgrade, then cards. Players who buy cards before they have production end up with clever hands and empty boards, while players who expand roads forever end up with long routes and no points.

Start on ore and wheat with strong numbers, not weak ones

Take ore and wheat only where the numbers pay. A wheat 8 with an ore 5 beats a wheat 11 with an ore 12 every time, because dots decide income and labels do not.

Count the dots before you place. Our Catan pips and probability guide shows which numbers carry the most dots, and it is the fastest way to grade a starting spot.

Keep at least one brick or lumber hex across your opening two settlements. Roads cost brick and lumber, and a city engine with no road options gets boxed in fast. One road source is enough, because you will trade for the rest.

Upgrade to a city first, then buy development cards

Upgrade your best settlement to a city before you buy development cards, because doubled production pays for the cards later. Your best settlement is the one touching your strongest ore and grain numbers.

One city on a wheat 6 and an ore 5 outproduces two settlements on weak hexes, and that gap grows with every roll. The city also scores 2 points at once, which is the biggest single jump on the board outside the bonus tiles.

Once the city is up, spend ore, wool and grain on cards. Our Catan development card guide breaks down Knights, progress cards and victory point cards, including when to hold a Knight for the robber.

• Similarities: Both paths spend the same two resources to score, and both start from strong ore and wheat numbers with one brick or lumber source for roads.
• Differences: The city path upgrades a settlement for 2 points and doubled production, while the development card path buys cards for Knights, progress effects and hidden points.
• Why this game fans will enjoy it: Build the city first when your numbers are strong, because doubled production pays for cards later, and buy cards first when you need the robber moved right now.

Trade surplus brick and lumber, and expect the robber on your ore

Trade away surplus brick and lumber for ore, grain and wool in the early game, because your engine needs the scoring resources more than extra roads. Offer fair trades on your turn and use the bank at 4 to 1 only when the table will not deal.

Expect the robber on your best ore or grain hex the moment you take the lead. Keep your hand at 7 or fewer cards so a rolled 7 costs you nothing, and hold a Knight when you can. Our robber strategy guide shows where the robber lands and why.

Skip this whole plan when the ore numbers are weak or another player takes the best ore and wheat spots first. Forcing ore and wheat on a brick and lumber board loses slowly, so switch to fast roads and settlements instead.

Which Catan box to buy for family game night

Version	What it is	Best for
Catan	The base game for 3 to 4 players, everything you need to play	Any family buying the classic for the first time
Catan 5 to 6 Player Extension	Adds two players and a special building phase, needs the base game	Families who often have five or six at the table
Catan Junior	A simplified pirate themed version for younger kids	Families with kids under 8 who want an easier start

For the full family angle on the base game, our Settlers of Catan review explains why it still earns its shelf space.

Frequently asked questions

Why are ore and wheat the best resources in Catan?

Ore and wheat are the scoring resources in Catan because a city costs 3 ore and 2 grain and a development card costs 1 ore, 1 wool and 1 grain, so no other pair buys points as directly. Roads and settlements need brick and lumber, but only ore and wheat turn straight into cities and cards.

What does a city cost in Catan?

A city costs 3 ore and 2 grain, and you build it by upgrading one of your own settlements, which goes back to your supply. A city is worth 2 victory points and collects 2 cards from each adjacent hex that produces, which is double a settlement.

What does a development card cost in Catan?

A development card costs 1 ore, 1 wool and 1 grain, and you draw the top card of the deck when you buy one. Knights move the robber, progress cards give a one time effect, and victory point cards stay hidden until they win you the game.

Should you build a city or buy a development card first?

Build the city first when one settlement sits on strong ore and grain numbers, because doubled production pays for cards later. Buy a development card first when your numbers are weak or you need a Knight to move the robber off your best hex.

What starting spots suit an ore and wheat strategy?

Take settlements that touch ore and wheat hexes with the most pips, ideally a 6 or an 8, and keep at least one brick or lumber source for roads. Strong numbers beat the right resource name every time, so take production over labels.

When should you skip the ore and wheat strategy?

Skip it when the ore and wheat hexes carry weak numbers, or when another player already holds the best ore and wheat spots. A fast brick and lumber start with good numbers beats a slow ore and wheat start with bad ones.

Is wheat the same as grain in Catan?

Yes. Wheat and grain are the same resource, and newer boxes print grain on the cards while most players still say wheat. The costs never change, so a city always costs 3 ore and 2 grain no matter which word your box uses.