One of the best-known ways to earn gems in Rise of Kingdoms is to collect the gem mines scattered across the map one by one. With the right setup, this method can bring in over 2,000 gems in two days. But it is not just a matter of looking at the map and sending out marches: your commander choice, troop count, research, and the time you invest all determine the result. In this article, we go step by step through how the method works, which mistakes waste your time, and whether you will actually get a return on your effort.
What are gem mines, and how many gems do they give?
The gem deposits you come across on the map come in two tiers. A level 1 deposit contains 10 gems in total, while a level 2 deposit contains 20 gems. In other words, the amount you get from a single mine is small, and the real gain comes from collecting many mines back to back. In principle it is very similar to gathering wood, stone, or corn: you send a march, the gatherers finish the job, and the resource is added to your inventory.
The most annoying thing about gem mines is how you find them. You can locate normal resource nodes with the search tool, but there is no such option for gem deposits. You have to scan the map with your own eyes and spot the mines yourself. This means the method is not something handled with a single button; it demands serious attention.
Where gem mines are more densely found also matters. In your own kingdom you will usually deal with level 1 and level 2 deposits. During KvK, however, you may see higher-tier mines that give more gems, and scanning gets a bit easier in this period. KvK can therefore be seen as a separate window of opportunity for those who want to collect gems.
March setup: the part that really saves time
One of the most common mistakes gem collectors make is returning to the city after every mine. Sending more troops than necessary is far more sensible. If you send out an army larger than the mine requires, you can finish one deposit and move on to the next without returning to the city. That way you collect several mines in a row and only head home at the very end. The time lost on round trips noticeably lowers your overall efficiency, so building an uninterrupted chain is the foundation of the job.
The second way to increase speed is the troop type. If you are aiming for thousands of gems, it is recommended to use Tier 1 siege units in your march, because this lets your army move faster across the map. In a setup where you rush from mine to mine, marching speed is worth more than troop strength. There is also no point in carrying expensive, slow troops on a march where you will not be fighting.
A typical round takes 15 to 20 minutes; the time varies depending on the size of the mines. During this time you need to stay glued to the screen, because you have to keep searching for the next mine. You also need to be careful when you are in alliance territory: if you come across a small gem deposit that can be gathered in under a minute, from that point on you have to move somewhere else and start a new timer. In other words, the plan is constantly updated according to the opportunities you run into along the way.
If you are sending a single march, commander choice also matters for speed. If you are using one march instead of five, a commander like Gaius Marius is recommended; with this commander, you get a 15 percent increase in total marching speed. Not having to manage multiple marches at the same time reduces fatigue, especially in long scanning sessions.
Commanders and research: the preparation stage
Using gathering commanders while collecting gems is a different and quite efficient idea compared to using them for ordinary resources. Commander skills are decisive here. For example, skills that work on a “the more, the better” logic can increase the amount of gems you receive when you finish a mine, depending on the size of the mine. What the commander gives you is not only gems; additional bonuses come along with it.
For those who want to invest in commanders, it is recommended to spend skill points on gathering commanders and level them up. If you are thinking of collecting gems regularly rather than as a one-off, the return on this investment grows over time. Still, upgrading commanders itself also requires resources and time, so plan according to how much you will dedicate to gem collecting.
On the research side, the first step is unlocking the jewelry research at the Academy. This research can be thought of as a prerequisite for gem farming, because it lets you collect gem tiles. After unlocking jewelry, it is also possible to make additional progress on the gathering tree and increase gathering speed by 35 percent. A bonus that raises speed this much makes a serious difference over long rounds.
Main account or farm account?
Since the gem collecting method is so well known, you can guess that many players head for the same mines. This is the biggest difficulty of the method: when you find a mine, in most cases another player has already started collecting it. This lengthens scanning time and increases the chance that you wander around for nothing. Even so, with the right timing and patience, it is possible to earn extra gems.
Some players use separate farm accounts to gather resources. These accounts transfer the gathered resources to the main account. Gems fall outside this logic, because gems cannot be transferred. Therefore, it is not possible to collect gems on a farm account and send them to your main account. If you are going to farm gems, you need to do it directly on your main account; it makes sense to use the farm account only for other resources.
Is it worth it? The cost and effort calculation
This method also has a dark side. For some players, the resources spent on research and preparation can be more than the gems they get back. On top of that, it requires a lot of time and full attention. In short: if you do not mind watching your gatherers go from mine to mine, this path suits you; if you do, it is wiser to look at other ways.
Before deciding, ask yourself two questions. First, how much of your daily playtime can you set aside for gem farming? Second, would you earn more gems if you spent the same time on other activities? For someone who cannot be online constantly, this method can be inefficient. On the other hand, for someone who enjoys spending time on the map, it can turn into a habit that is both enjoyable and profitable.
Other ways to earn gems
Gem mines are not the only option. Do not neglect the following methods that most players already know:
- Taking part in all events that give gems,
- Spending action points on barbarians, since barbarians drop quite a few gems,
- Completing all quests,
- Roaming the map and fighting Holy Site guardians,
- Not spending gems unnecessarily.
If you want gems instantly, using the game's gift codes is also an option. These codes give quick results but do not provide continuity; so they should be used alongside gem mine collecting, not instead of it. A regular daily routine, meaning events, quests, and spending action points on barbarians, noticeably increases your total earnings when added on top of gem mine rounds.
Conclusion: where to start?
In short, when set up correctly, collecting gems from the map is a method that can bring in over 2,000 gems in two days. The keys to success are these: unlocking the jewelry research at the Academy, using Tier 1 siege troops, chaining mines without returning to the city by sending more troops than the mine requires, and upgrading gathering commanders. Since gems cannot be transferred, you need to do this on your main account.
The rest is up to you. If you have the time and patience, try a small round and note down both your earnings and the resources you spent. If the results do not satisfy you, it makes sense to focus on less labor-intensive ways such as events, barbarians, and quests. Since higher-tier mines may appear when KvK arrives, preparing according to that period is also a good strategy.