Albion Online Refining Guide
Refining in Albion Online turns raw resources into bars, planks, leather, cloth and stone blocks at a refining station, and profits from the resource return rate (RRR) that hands back a share of your materials. The base return rate is about 15%, rising to ~36% in the resource's bonus city and over ~53% when you add focus. To maximise silver, refine each resource in its specialist city and check live margins in the Refining analyzer.
- Refining = raw resources → refined materials (bars, planks, leather, cloth, blocks).
- Return rate drives profit: ~15% base, ~36% bonus city, ~53%+ with focus.
- Each royal city specialises in one resource line — refine there for the bonus.
- Focus roughly triples your effective return — spend it where silver-per-focus is highest.
- Whether to refine or sell raw depends on live prices — check the analyzer.
How does refining work in Albion Online?
Refining combines a tier of raw resource with a quantity of the previous tier's refined material at a refining station. For example, refining ore into metal bars from tier 4 upward also consumes lower-tier bars. You pay a small station usage fee, and the station returns a percentage of your inputs based on the return rate.
- Five resource lines: ore → metal bars, wood → planks, hide → leather, fiber → cloth, stone → stone blocks.
- Higher tiers require lower-tier refined materials as a secondary input.
- Station fee scales with the item tier and the station owner's setting.
- Refined materials feed crafting — refining is the link between gathering and gear.
What is the resource return rate when refining?
The resource return rate (RRR) is the percentage of your input materials the station gives back after a successful refine. It is the core of refining profit: a higher return rate means each batch costs you fewer net materials, so the refined output sells for more than it cost to make.
| Setup | Approx. return rate |
|---|---|
| No bonus (any station) | ~15% |
| Resource's bonus city | ~36% |
| Bonus city + focus | ~53%+ |
Where is the best city to refine each resource?
Each royal city's refining station gives a production bonus to one resource line, raising your return rate when you refine that resource there. Match the resource to its city to get the higher ~36% (or ~53% with focus) return rate.
| Resource | Refines into | Bonus city |
|---|---|---|
| Ore | Metal bars | Thetford |
| Wood | Planks | Fort Sterling |
| Hide | Leather | Martlock |
| Fiber | Cloth | Lymhurst |
| Stone | Stone blocks | Bridgewatch |
How much silver do you make per focus refining?
Silver-per-focus is the right way to judge refining, because focus is your scarce daily resource (capped around 10,000 with Premium). The figure equals the extra profit focus unlocks per focus point spent — it changes with live prices and which resource you refine.
- Refine the resource with the best silver-per-focus today, not just the highest raw margin.
- Higher tiers usually cost more focus but can return more value — compare net, not gross.
- Specialization on a resource lowers its focus cost, raising silver-per-focus over time.
Should you refine or sell raw resources?
Refining adds value only when the refined product sells for more than the raw resources cost after tax and the return-rate credit. When refined-material prices are depressed or raw prices are high, selling raw is the better play — and it is instant, with no focus spent.
- Refine when you have focus, a bonus city, and a healthy refined-vs-raw spread.
- Sell raw when refined prices are low, you are out of focus, or you need instant silver.
- Always compare both live in the refining analyzer before committing.
Is transmutation an alternative to refining?
Transmutation converts resources to a higher enchantment level (rather than a higher tier), letting you upgrade plentiful low-enchant materials into scarcer high-enchant ones. When enchanted-resource prices are high, transmutation can out-earn straight refining.
It is a separate silver-sink mechanic with its own math — see the transmutation guide to decide when it beats refining or selling raw.
Frequently asked questions
What is the resource return rate in Albion Online refining?
The resource return rate is the percentage of input materials the station gives back after refining. It is about 15% with no bonus, around 36% in the resource's bonus city, and over 53% when you add focus in that city. A higher return rate lowers your effective material cost and increases profit.
Where should I refine each resource in Albion Online?
Refine ore in Thetford, wood in Fort Sterling, hide in Martlock, fiber in Lymhurst, and stone in Bridgewatch. Each city's refining station gives a production bonus to that resource line, raising your return rate. Caerleon and Brecilien can refine everything but lack a single-resource specialty.
Is refining profitable in Albion Online?
Refining is profitable when the refined material sells for more than the raw resources cost after tax, with the return rate crediting back part of your materials. It is most profitable with focus in a bonus city, where the return rate exceeds 50%. Always check live margins, since prices change daily.
Should I refine resources or sell them raw?
Refine when you have focus, access to the bonus city, and a good spread between refined and raw prices. Sell raw when refined prices are low, you have run out of focus, or you need instant silver. Comparing both in a refining tool tells you which is better right now.
How does focus affect refining?
Focus raises your resource return rate from around 36% in a bonus city to over 53%, meaning you recover more of your materials each batch. Because focus is capped at roughly 10,000 per day with Premium, spend it on the resource with the best silver-per-focus return.
Do I need lower-tier materials to refine higher tiers?
Yes. From tier 4 upward, refining requires the raw resource plus a quantity of the previous tier's refined material. For example, refining tier 5 ore into bars also consumes tier 4 bars. Factor this secondary input into your cost when judging profit.
What is the difference between refining and transmutation?
Refining converts raw resources into refined materials of the same enchantment level, while transmutation upgrades resources to a higher enchantment level. Transmutation can out-earn refining when enchanted-resource prices are high. They are separate mechanics with different math.