, finding the "best" map often depends on your specific goal, whether it is maximizing population, having a balanced start, or creating a massive "Megacity"
. While the game uses a random map generator based on seeds, certain seeds and settings are widely recommended by the community for optimal performance. Top Community-Recommended Map Seeds
These seeds are popular for continuous games due to their strategic island placement and resource abundance: Seed 18030 (Medium Islands)
: Excellent for beginners or balanced starts. It features a main Occidental island with a neighboring Oriental island that provides early access to Spices, Dates, and Quartz. Seed 39950 (Venice Add-on)
: Known for having its largest island situated almost in the center of the map. It includes 6 river spots and proximity to Brother Hilarius, a neutral power who sells wood and tools. Seed 59766 (Huge World, Large Islands)
: A top choice for "Megacity" builds. It features two giant islands located very close to the neutral ports of Kingsport and Al-Zahir, making logistics much simpler.
: Highly recommended for rapid advancement to Tier 4 (Noblemen). It offers a "Production Island" at the start, though players often move their flagship to a neighboring Great Island for better expansion.
: Featured for having a starting island large enough to accommodate the massive World's Fair city layout found in common community guides. Settings for the "Perfect" Custom Map
If you aren't using a specific seed, you can maximize your building space and population capacity by using the following world-generation settings: World Size Island Size : Large (to ensure the most building land possible). Resources & Fertility
: Set to "Abundant" or "Plenty" to reduce the need for constant, complex trade imports early on. Island Difficulty
: Set to "Hard" for more building space. In Anno 1404, a "Hard" island setting typically means fewer rivers, which are the main obstacles to large-scale city layouts. Advanced Customization For players who want complete control, the Anno 1404 World Editor
(part of the ToolOne suite) allows you to manually place islands, assign raw materials, and set neutral power locations. This is often the only way to get a map that is truly 100% optimized for record-breaking population numbers. specific city layouts for these large islands, or are you looking for combat-focused map seeds instead? Continuous Game | Anno 1404 Wiki | Fandom
In , the "best" map often depends on whether you want a relaxed building experience or a logistical challenge. Map layout and resource availability are determined by a seed number, which generates the world randomly based on your chosen settings. Top Map Seeds for Continuous Play
Players frequently share high-performance seeds on the Anno 1404 Wiki and community forums like Reddit.
Seed 18030 (Medium Islands): A highly recommended starting map. It features a large Occidental island with a river and vital resources like Brine, Stone, Iron, and Bear's Caves. Crucially, a fertile Oriental island with Spices, Dates, and Quartz is located right next to it, making early trade exceptionally fast.
Seed 8882: Known for its cluster of three major islands—a "Main Island," a "Farmer Island" (potatoes, grapes), and a "Workers Island" (grain, hops). Setting up trading posts between these three ensures a rapid supply chain. anno 1404 best maps
Seed 61376: Ideal for massive populations. It contains 35 Brine deposits, allowing you to produce enough salt for meat and furs to support over 100,000 Nobles.
Seed 70495: A favorite for long-term players, often used for massive city-building projects due to its reliable island placement. Essential Map Settings
To get the best out of these seeds, you must configure your world settings carefully. Even with the same seed, changing these parameters can alter fertilities.
Island Size: Always set to Large if you intend to build monuments like the Imperial Cathedral. Small islands quickly become cramped.
Fertilities and Resources: Set these to Abundant for a sandbox-style megacity, or Scarce if you prefer a survival-focused challenge.
AI Opponents: For a relaxed game, stick to 1-star AI like Leif Jorgensen. 3-star AI will aggressively settle the best islands before you can reach them. Characteristics of a "Perfect" Island
When scouting your map, look for a primary settlement island with these features: Space: Large, flat land with minimal lakes or mountains.
Fertilities: Must include Cider and Hemp to progress through the early citizen tiers.
Resources: At least two deposits each of Stone and Iron Ore are necessary for building advanced structures.
Location: Centrally located on the map to minimize travel time for your trade ships.
Anno 1404 Guide Complete With Achievements - Steam Community
The merchant captains of the Occident still whisper about Seed 12421. It is a map of legend, where the world is huge and the islands stretch as far as the eye can see, offering the vast, open plains needed to build a city that truly touches the sky.
If you are a governor seeking the perfect foundation for your empire, here are the most storied maps in the world of Anno 1404: The Grand Metropolises
These maps are favored by those who wish to build the Imperial Cathedral and house thousands of Noblemen on a single shore:
Seed 12421: Famous for its "huge" setting and "largest possible islands," it provides the sprawling space required for massive residential districts. , finding the "best" map often depends on
Seed 14885 (Venice HE): Recommended for players using the History Edition with everything set to "max." It features a small central island that act as a perfect "collection and distribution point" for all your minerals and pelts.
Seed 39950: This map places its largest island almost directly in the center. It is rich with resources like stone, iron, and brine, and even features Brother Hilarius, a neutral power who can supply you with wood and tools in those critical early hours. The Southern Wonders
For those who prefer the heat of the desert and the riches of the Orient:
Seed 59766: This seed is "huge with large islands" and places two giant isles right near the ports of Kingsport and Al-Zahir. It is a paradise for spice and silk production, featuring multiple reefs and fertile lands for dates. Strategic Strongholds
Seed 111108851: Often used for campaign-style builds, this map provides a balanced start with "Mainly Large" islands and plenty of fertilities, making it easier to manage the complex needs of a growing population.
Seed 13689 & 79661: These are consistently cited as "great" or "pretty good" configurations for continuous play where you need room to breathe and resources to claim. Governor’s Tips for Success
Check the Map Type: For the biggest building areas, seasoned explorers prefer the Archipelago or Corners map types, as they tend to offer the best distribution of large landmasses.
Space is King: In a continuous game, space is your only true limit. Use efficient layouts for your houses and cider farms to save every tile for your future cathedral.
Neutral Traders: Look for maps like 39950 where neutral traders are close by; their ability to sell you tools and wood can save you from a bankrupting start.
Which of these horizons will you set sail for first—the resource-rich center of 39950 or the unending plains of 12421?
Finding the "best" map in expansion) depends on whether you want a relaxed building experience, a massive population challenge, or a resource-heavy start. Because map generation is tied to both a Seed Number and specific Game Settings
(island size, difficulty), you must ensure your settings match the seed exactly to get the desired result. Top Recommended Map Seeds Seed 39950 (with Large Islands)
: Frequently cited as one of the best for large-scale construction. Highlights
: Features a massive central island with 6 river spots and a neutral power ( Brother Hilarius ) who sells early-game wood and tools. Starting Fertilities : Cider and Hemp. Seed 18030 (with Medium/Large Islands) : An excellent starting point for continuous games. Highlights
: Your main Occidental island is placed directly next to an Oriental island containing Spices, Dates, and Quartz, making early trade routes incredibly short and efficient. Seed 14885 (Venice HE, Max Settings) : Ideal for players who prioritize resource efficiency. Highlights : Known for having a high number of Brine deposits Occidental Hub: Your starting island is massive
, allowing you to centralize salt production and use upgrade slots for maximum productivity. Seed 59766 (Huge World, Large Islands) : A massive map designed for late-game expansion. Highlights
: Includes two giant islands located very close to the main NPC ports (Kingsport and Al-Zahir), simplifying high-volume trading. Seed 8882 (Archipelago, Big Map) : A favorite for players who like "Production Islands". Highlights
: Features a group of three very close islands that allow for lightning-fast resource transfers between residential areas and heavy production centers. Anno 1404 Wiki Essential Setup Tips for Best Results
To ensure these seeds generate the specific islands described: Island Size : Most "best" maps require the Large Islands
setting. This is the primary limiting factor for building massive monuments and high populations. : In the Venice expansion, turning Volcanoes
can completely change which islands spawn, even with the same seed. Difficulty Settings
: Higher difficulty settings for "Island Difficulty" can actually help by slightly optimizing building space on larger islands, though "Hard" resources will make the early game more challenging. Anno 1404 Wiki How to Find Your Own Best Seed
If you find a map you love during a random game and want to save it: Notepad Method
: Open your save game file in a text editor (like Notepad) and search for the word ; it will reveal the 5-digit number for that map. The "Sandbox" Trick
: If you are currently in a game, go to the menu and start the process of creating a
Sandbox game without exiting. The seed "auto-generated" in the menu is often the seed of the game currently running in the background. best building layouts for these large islands to maximize your population?
1740Difficulty: Beginner | Map Type: Archipelago
This is arguably the most recommended seed for new players learning the production chains.
Map Seed: 23863 (Large, Archipelago)
Your map choice often determines which AI opponents you face.