Anno 1404 Venice Guide Page
The Anno 1404: Venice expansion transforms the base city-builder into a high-stakes game of political intrigue and economic sabotage. This guide covers the essential new mechanics, from mastering the espionage system to executing a bloodless hostile takeover via the City Council. 1. Mastering the Venetian Espionage System
Espionage allows you to weaken rivals without declaring formal war. To begin, you must build a Base of Operations within your city limits.
Infiltration: You can send spies to any enemy house at the Citizen/Nomad level or higher. It costs 800 gold per infiltration and has a 5-minute cooldown.
Sabotage Actions: Once a spy is settled (after a 1-minute setup), they can perform various acts of sabotage based on the class of the house they occupy: Arson: Sets fire to parts of the settlement. Poison: Spreads plague among the population.
Riot/Rebellion: Causes the population to revolt, further damaging the enemy's economy. Theft: Steals roughly 1,800 gold coins from the rival.
False Prophet: Causes Envoys to stop paying taxes temporarily.
Defensive Tip: To protect your own city, ensure your Base of Operations covers your entire settlement; this increases the chance of spotting enemy spies. You can also perform manual house searches using the "Detect enemy Henchmen" action. 2. Hostile Takeovers: The City Council
The City Council feature, available once you reach the Patrician level, provides a way to seize control of enemy islands purely through gold.
The Council Board: Every city has a council board with 5 seats.
Buying Seats: You must purchase the "Hostile Takeover" attainment (found in the F10 menu) to buy seats in other players' cities.
City Keys: Owning three out of five seats allows you to buy the "Key to the City," which gives you full control over the settlement. Purchasing additional seats (the 4th or 5th) reduces the final price of the key.
Cooldowns: There is a waiting period of several minutes between buying individual council seats across any settlement. 3. New Venetian Content & Features
The Venice expansion introduces more than just new mechanics; it adds depth to the trade and exploration loops.
Venetian Ships: You gain access to the Small and Large Tradesman Cogs, which are sturdy Venetian trading vessels.
New NPC: Giacomo Garibaldi serves as a new trading partner and dignitary, offering unique quests and items. Anno 1404 Venice Guide
Volcanic Islands: New island types with volcanic soil offer high fertility but carry the risk of natural disasters.
Multiplayer: Venice introduced both cooperative and competitive online multiplayer, allowing up to 8 players to build together or against each other. 4. General Strategy for Venice Scenarios
The 15 new scenarios in Venice often serve as tutorials for its unique mechanics.
Economic Priorities: Early in the game, focus on reaching 16 Citizen houses to unlock tool production immediately, making you independent of expensive NPC purchases.
Beggars for Gold: If you are in dire need of cash, you can deny beggars entry to your city for a one-time gold payment (starting at 5,000 gold), though this increases the risk of them attacking later.
Island Selection: Look for large, flat occidental islands with Cider and Hemp fertilities, and at least two deposits of Iron and Stone each. City Council | Anno 1404 Wiki | Fandom
Anno 1404: Venice expansion introduces major mechanics like espionage, city council politics, and multiplayer, alongside the core city-building gameplay of the original. This guide covers essential expansion features and foundational management tips. Anno 1404 Wiki New Venice Mechanics The City Council & Takeovers
: You can now conquer islands without military force by buying Council Seats
An island has five seats and a city key; owning the majority allows you to take over the entire island for a high gold cost. to manage spies.
: Send spies to enemy islands to sabotage production or spark riots.
: Spies in your own city help uncover and arrest enemy infiltrators. New Content
: Includes 15 new scenarios, volcanic islands with unique resource deposits, and two new Venetian trade ships: the Small and Big Tradesman Cog Anno 1404 Wiki Core Production & Economy To sustain your empire, use efficient Production Layouts to maximize space: Steam Community Basic Chains : 2x Crop Farm right arrow right arrow 1x Bakery. : 1x Market right arrow 4x Crop Farm right arrow 4x Monastery Garden right arrow 4x Monastery Brewery. Cider/Hemp
: These often share a similar tileable layout (1x Market per 4 farms). Wealth Generation
: Keep your population in the "Yellow" happiness zone to maximize tax income without triggering a downgrade in status. Trading Tools The Anno 1404: Venice expansion transforms the base
: A popular early-game tactic involves overproducing tools and selling them to neutral powers like Giacomo Garibaldi or the Sultan. Island Selection & Settlement The "Perfect" Island : Look for large, flat islands near neutral ports with Cider and Hemp fertilities and at least two Stone and Iron deposits. Strategic Placement
: Settle on the southern end of your first island, as initial trade deliveries typically arrive from the south. Island Specialization
: Designate your first island for population and basic goods (Fish, Cider, Hemp) while using secondary islands strictly for industrial production and raw materials to save space. Anno 1404 Wiki General Tips
Anno 1404 Guide Complete With Achievements - Steam Community
Master the Seas: The Ultimate Anno 1404 Venice Guide Whether you are a seasoned Patrician or a newcomer to the Renaissance, the Venice expansion (included in the History Edition on Steam
) adds layers of complexity that can make or break your empire. From the shadows of espionage to the politics of the City Council, here is how to dominate the Venetian seas. 1. Infiltrate and Sabotage with Espionage
The expansion introduces a robust espionage system that allows you to cripple rivals without firing a single cannon. Infiltration: To begin, you must build a Secret Envoy's Lodge . Send your spies to infiltrate enemy residences. Sabotage Types:
Different house levels unlock specific acts of sabotage. You can incite a False Prophet to stop production, spread the , or start a Counter-Intelligence:
Don't forget your own back garden! Regularly use the "Search for Spies" function in your Lodge to reveal enemy agents before they burn your marketplace. 2. Conquer Through the City Council Why go to war when you can simply buy the enemy? The City Council mechanic allows you to take over islands diplomatically. Buying Seats:
Each island has five council seats. Buying a majority gives you a share of their tax income. Hostile Takeover: If you purchase all five seats and the
, the entire island becomes yours—buildings and all. This is often cheaper and cleaner than a prolonged naval siege. 3. Harness the Power of the Venetian Ships
Venice brings two specialized ships to your shipyard that change the logistics of the game: Small Venetian Cog:
Faster and more maneuverable than the standard small trading ship, perfect for high-speed trade routes. Large Venetian Cog:
A powerhouse for late-game trade. It boasts massive cargo capacity and decent hit points, making it the gold standard for your most profitable routes. 4. Brave the Volcanic Islands The expansion adds Volcanic Islands , high-risk areas that offer rare resources like The Catch: Eruptions can destroy your infrastructure in seconds. Lord Northburgh: Sells you Tools and Wood early on
Build only the essential mines and transport hubs. Don't waste resources on beautifying a colony that might be covered in lava by lunch. 5. Achieve Greatness: The Gold Ship For the ultimate completionist, the
is the "holy grail" of Anno 1404. It is a starting ship rewarded only after completing the "The Gold Ship" achievement. It has superior speed and cargo space, giving you a massive head start in any scenario. Quick Tips for the Venice Scenarios Co-op Play: Venice introduced multiplayer co-op , allowing up to four players to manage the
empire. Divide tasks: one player handles the Orient while the other manages the Occidental supply chains. Giacomo Garibaldi:
Use the new Venetian neutral power, Giacomo Garibaldi, to purchase powerful items and Attainments that aren't available through Lord Northburgh or Al Zahir.
The Anno 1404: Venice expansion adds a layer of Venetian intrigue to the classic city-builder, introducing espionage, a new council system, and volcanic islands. Whether you are playing the original edition or the History Edition, these mechanics change how you interact with AI and players alike. Mastering the Venice Expansion Features
Espionage & Sabotage: Build a Base of Operations to train spies and infiltrate enemy cities.
Acts of Sabotage: Once a house is infiltrated, you can spread the plague, steal gold (~1,800 pieces), or halt tax payments from Envoys.
Detection: Use Watchmen units to protect your own city from enemy spies. Note that sabotaging AI will lower your reputation even if your spy isn't caught.
The City Council: You can now conquer islands peacefully (or aggressively) by purchasing Council Seats.
Buying an island requires acquiring three council seats plus a "City Key".
This is expensive (up to 500,000 gold) and can lead to war if the AI feels threatened.
Volcanic Islands: These islands offer infinite resource deposits but come with the risk of eruptions that can devastate your production lines. Essential Early-Game Strategies Walkthrough | Anno 1404 Wiki | Fandom
2. The Neutral Powers
- Lord Northburgh: Sells you Tools and Wood early on. Buy from him if you are desperate.
- Grand Vizier Al Zahir: Sells you Oriental goods and warships. Essential for early naval defense if you lack resources.
C. The Return Ship
Venetian players have access to the Return Ship feature. By right-clicking a trading ship and selecting the return icon, the ship will automatically travel to the nearest appropriate market (Occidental or Oriental) to sell its cargo at a fixed price. This removes the need to manually set up early-game trade routes for liquidating excess goods.
Best Co-op Strategy
Split roles:
- Player 1: Occidental city + navy.
- Player 2: Oriental city + espionage. Share goods and honor via alliance trade.