Anno 1404 Venice Best Map Seeds [new] May 2026

Anno 1404: Venice , map seeds are not entirely random. Instead, the game's engine draws from a fixed pool of handcrafted islands and arranges them based on the seed number. This means "perfect" seeds are highly sought after by players looking for massive build space or ideal resource placement. Top Map Seeds for Building & Efficiency Seed 39950

: This is widely considered one of the best for large-scale production. It features its largest island almost directly in the map center, equipped with two stone deposits, three iron mines, and Brother Hilarius (a neutral power who sells tools and wood). It offers Cider and Hemp fertilities on the main island, with a secondary island nearby that has three stone and four iron mines—perfect for establishing early tool production. Seed 77304

: Highly recommended for players who want to build massive cities. When combined with "huge islands" and "lots of building space" settings, the central-left island offers expansive flat land with only a tiny river, maximizing the usable area for urban development. Seed 59766

: This seed is excellent for players who want their main Oriental and Occidental islands close together. It features two giant isles near Kingsport and Al-Zahir's port, making trade routes extremely short and efficient. Seed 975 (Corners)

: Favored by "record-breaking" min-maxers, this seed is often used in attempts to reach maximum citizen counts (sometimes over 4 million). It is typically played on the "Corners" map type, which provides some of the largest available landmasses. Seed 10056

: Best for a "relaxed" or beginner-friendly playthrough. It is noted for having a high density of resources, reducing the stress of early-game expansion. Critical Seed Settings For a seed to generate the exact map described, your starting game world settings

must match exactly. Changes to these options will re-randomize island placement even if the seed number is the same:

9. The Siege Master: Seed `999` (Hard)

Designed for players who want to wage war using the Corsairs and the Venetian arsenal.

Corsair Density: The Corsair hideout is located directly between you and the nearest AI’s main island. Corsair ships will plague both of you equally. This slows down the AI’s expansion drastically.
Your Island: Rocky and defensible. Focus on building a fortress harbor with cannon towers.
The Venetian Advantage: This seed shines with the "Venice" expansion enabled. Use the Secret Diplomacy feature to bribe the Corsairs to attack only your enemies. You will win through proxy warfare.
Best for: Roleplaying as a Venetian Doge.

1. The "King of Commerce" Seed (Best for Huge Cities)

This is arguably the most famous seed in the Anno community. It is designed for players who want to build massive Imperial Cathedrals and Sultan's Mosques without struggling for space.

Seed: 4500
Map Size: Large
Island Size: Large
Difficulty: Easy (or Normal)
Resources: High

The Story of the Map: You start on a large, fertile island with immediate access to everything you need. The layout is very open, allowing for easy road planning.

Why it’s the best: The starting island is massive—big enough to support a 10,000+ population without needing to ferry goods from a second island immediately.
The Venice Bonus: In the Venice expansion, this map layout places the neutral powers (Lord Northburgh, Grand Vizier) at very convenient travel distances, minimizing travel time for your trading ships early in the game.

5. The Diplomat: Seed `502` (Any Difficulty)

This seed is manipulated for early-game diplomacy. The placement of neutral NPCs (like Lord Richard Northburgh and Grand Vizier Al Zahir) is unusually close.

NPC Proximity: Lord Richard’s harbor is just a 15-second sail from your main island. You can sell him fish and wood in the first five minutes, generating rapid reputation and cash.
The Island Layout: Three medium-sized northern islands form a resource triangle. You can claim all three within the first 20 minutes, creating a northern monopoly on stone, iron, and herbs.
Unique Feature: There is a tiny, uninhabitable rock island exactly in the center of the map. It has no resources, but it’s the perfect place for a signal tower to monitor all shipping lanes.
Best for: Players who like to ally with everyone before conquering them.

Future Development:

Expansion to Other Anno Games: Similar tools for other titles in the Anno series could be developed, adapting the features to fit each game's unique mechanics and community preferences.

The Anno 1404 Venice Map Seed Optimizer would be a valuable resource for both new and experienced players, offering a more streamlined and enjoyable gameplay experience.

The Architect’s Blueprint: Best Map Seeds for Anno 1404: Venice In the world of Anno 1404: Venice

, your empire is only as strong as the ground it's built on. Whether you’re looking to break population records or build a sprawling metropolitan paradise, choosing the right map seed is the first—and arguably most important—strategic decision you'll make. While most maps are playable, veteran players from the Anno Reddit community

agree that a handful of seeds stand out for their massive islands, optimal fertility, and abundant resources. Top Map Seeds for Massive Empires

If your goal is to build the largest possible city, you need seeds that prioritize "Great Islands" with minimal rivers and maximum flat building space. Seed 39950 (Central Titan):

Widely considered one of the best for mega-cities. It features its largest island almost exactly in the center of the map, providing a massive, flat canvas for residential districts. Highlights:

6 river spots for construction and the neutral power Brother Hilarius, who sells wood and tools early on. Seed 59766 (Twin Giants):

Ideal for those who want a balanced empire between the Occident and the Orient. This seed generates two giant isles located conveniently near Kingsport and Al-Zahir’s port. Highlights:

High fertility for Dates, Spices, and Silk, along with multiple copper and iron mines. Seed 8882 (Strategic Trio): anno 1404 venice best map seeds

A favorite for efficient logistics. It features a "Main Island" with everything required to reach Tier 4 (Noblemen) quickly, flanked by dedicated islands for Farmers and Workers. Highlights:

Super-fast trade routes if you place trading posts in a triangular formation. Seed 2782 (The World's Fair Specialist): This seed is perfect for players following specific Wiki city layouts

. The starting island on the left is perfectly shaped to house a massive World’s Fair layout. Anno 1404 Wiki Essential Map Settings for High-Seed Performance

A seed is only as good as the settings you apply to it. To ensure these seeds perform as described, use the following configuration in your Continuous Game setup: Recommended Value Island Size Essential for monuments and high population. Archipelago Generally offers the most "extra large" islands. Island Difficulty Easy/Medium

Hard difficulty can introduce more mountains and rivers, reducing buildable land.

Toggling the volcano can shift island spawns, potentially changing the seed's layout. Pro Tip: Beyond the Numbers

If you want to truly maximize your building space without hunting for "perfect" seeds, consider the XL Template Mod

. It guarantees 16 XL islands, providing far more room than any vanilla seed can offer. building layouts for these islands to maximize your noblemen population?

6. The Speedrunner: Seed `117` (Hard)

Used in several speedrun world records for the "Nobleman in Under an Hour" challenge, 117 is brutally efficient.

Northern Main Island: Ugly, rocky, and cramped. But it has a double river (two separate rivers), which means you can build up to six watermills. This supercharges your grain, hemp, and indigo production.
Item Farming: The southern map contains a high concentration of "sunken ship" wreck sites. Send a small fleet of exploration ships early to salvage high-end items (like the Baking Book or Alchemist’s Apparatus) that break the economy.
Warning: This seed is not for beginners. You will have to use every square inch of your main island. Expect to use landfill (Strategic Building) to expand into the sea.
Best for: Min-maxers and challenge runners.

The "Corsair Hunter" Seed (PvP & Combat Focus)

Venice introduces espionage and military conflicts. This seed is designed for players who want to eliminate Corsairs quickly or play aggressively against other AI.

Seed: 1337

Type: Large Islands, Hard
Why it works: The Corsair base is located on a small island directly in the middle of the map, but crucially, it is adjacent to a large, high-iron island. You can establish a weapon smithy and shipyard within 10 minutes and begin bombarding the Corsair base from close range. Additionally, two large Occidental islands are positioned as "choke points" between the north and south, perfect for defensive towers.
Best for: Multiplayer "Venice" matches or scenarios where you must destroy the Corsairs before they ally with an enemy.

A Final Tip: Don't Forget the Difficulty

A great seed can be ruined by your AI opponents. If you use Seed 420 but play against three "Hard" AIs, they will steal those perfect islands immediately. Always pair a good seed with a good strategy:

Peaceful builders: Disable Corsairs, play against Lord Richard only.
Warmongers: Add "The Corsair" (Marco) and the "Grand Vizier" (Al Zahir) for a three-way war.

What is your go-to secret seed? I’m still looking for one where the Cathedral fits perfectly without terraforming. Let me know in the comments below!

Happy building, Your Excellency.

Finding the "best" seed in Anno 1404: Venice often depends on whether you want massive islands for megacities or a balanced distribution of resources. Here are some of the most recommended map seeds from the community: Top Recommended Seeds

Seed 18030 (Medium Islands): Highly recommended on the Anno 1404 Wiki for new adventures. The main Occidental island is situated directly next to an Oriental island featuring Spices, Dates, Quartz, and Clay. The main island includes Hemp and Cider fertilities, a river, and multiple resource deposits like Iron and Brine.

Seed 8882: Frequently cited by players on Reddit as one of the best maps for a balanced but rewarding playthrough.

Seed 10056: Best for a "relaxed" playthrough, as it contains a high density of resources across the islands.

Seed 5760: Another community favorite for those looking for a solid layout to start a sandbox game. Anno 1404: Venice , map seeds are not entirely random

Seed 139: Often recommended for players using "Archipelago" settings on large maps with high resource settings. Key Settings Tips

When using these seeds, keep in mind that the Map Settings (size, island size, and difficulty) can change how a seed generates.

Island Size: If you plan to play for a long time, always choose Large Islands. Smaller islands will limit your population growth and access to high-tier goods.

Volcanoes: Turning the Volcano setting on or off will change which islands spawn, potentially making a seed look completely different than intended.

Venice Expansion: Ensure you are launching the Venice add-on specifically, as the base game and expansion may handle seed generation differently. Continuous Game | Anno 1404 Wiki | Fandom

In Anno 1404: Venice, choosing the right map seed is the first step toward building a thriving, high-population empire. While every map is playable, specific seeds offer massive islands with few rivers, allowing for the sprawling city grids necessary to house thousands of Noblemen. Top Map Seeds for Anno 1404: Venice

Depending on whether you want a balanced start or a massive landmass for city-building, these seeds from the Anno 1404 Wiki and community are highly recommended:

Map 39950: This is widely considered the best seed for massive cities.

Main Island: The largest island is located almost in the center of the map.

Resources: It features 6 river spots, 3 iron mines, 2 coal mines, and 2 stone deposits.

Fertility: Comes with native Cider and Hemp fertility, essential for early-game needs.

Special Bonus: The neutral power Brother Hilarius is on the main island, selling wood and tools to jumpstart your economy.

Map 59766: Perfect for those who want a strong Oriental start.

Layout: Features two giant islands located conveniently near Kingsport and Al-Zahir’s port.

Fertility: The main Oriental island includes Dates, Spices, and Silk fertilities.

Map 18030: Noted for its excellent balance and resource placement, featuring high-fertility Oriental islands that are easy to defend and develop.

Map 77304: Excellent for massive city layouts. The central-left island has very few rivers and vast areas of flat land, making it a favorite for players aiming for huge populations.

Map 9670: Often cited as a reliable "smooth start" seed for those who want to avoid the work of scouting for the perfect layout. How to Use Seeds and World Settings

To get the most out of these seeds, you must ensure your World Settings match the intended generation: Corsair Density: The Corsair hideout is located directly

Island Size: Always set to Large if you plan on building monuments like the Imperial Cathedral.

Island Difficulty: "Easy" or "Normal" provides more flat building space, while "Hard" adds more mountains and rivers to limit your expansion.

Fertility and Minerals: For a relaxed game, set these to Abundant so you don't have to rely on purchasing expensive seeds from Northburgh or Al-Zahir early on.

Volcanoes: Be aware that turning Volcanoes On or Off can change where specific islands spawn, even if the seed number remains the same. Essential Early-Game Fertilities

When selecting your starting location on these maps, prioritize islands that have Cider and Hemp. These are required for the "Cider" and "Linen Clothes" production chains, which are the first two needs of your Citizens. If your main island lacks these, you can buy seeds from Lord Richard Northburgh to add the fertility manually.

In Anno 1404: Venice, the best map seeds are those that provide massive central islands for record-breaking populations or specific mineral-rich layouts for production hubs. While almost every map is playable, high-tier seeds can drastically reduce the micromanagement needed for trade routes by clustering essential resources. Top-Rated Map Seeds

Seed 1320629524 (The Record Breaker): Widely considered the "objectively best" seed for large population attempts in unmodded play. It offers maximum building space with river-free large islands.

Settings: Map Type: Corners, World Size: Large, Island Difficulty: Normal, Island Size: Mainly Large.

Seed 70495 (The Veteran's Choice): A highly efficient layout favored for its reliable resource distribution across specific islands, such as having designated spots for "Production" and "Population" settlements.

Seed 39950 (The Central Giant): Features its largest island almost exactly in the center of the map. This main island includes Brother Hilarius (neutral power) and essential fertilities like Cider and Hemp, making it a perfect starting hub.

Seed 59766 (The Oriental Powerhouse): Known for having two giant islands situated right near Kingsport and Al-Zahir's port, providing quick access to Oriental trade and high fertilities for Dates, Spices, and Silk.

Seed 61376 (The Brine King): Ideal for players who want to avoid salt shortages. It contains 35 Brine deposits—the most recorded for a single seed—allowing for massive meat and fur production for up to 100,000 Nobles.

Seed 666 (The Beginner's Paradise): Recommended for "easy" runs with no AI or pirates. It provides a massive building area in the middle of the map for those who want to focus solely on aesthetics and city-building. Community Perspectives on Seed Impact

“The good thing in Anno 1404 is that literally every map is very playable, there are only minor advantages to get with the right map seed.” Reddit · r/anno · 6 years ago

“Starting with a space that big feels like cheating. How much pop can you fit on that thing?” Reddit · r/anno · 6 years ago Critical Setup Tips

Settings Matter: Map generation is heavily influenced by your advanced settings. Including or excluding features like Volcanoes or changing the map template (e.g., Atoll vs. Corners) can completely shift island positions even if you use the same seed number.

Island Size: If you plan to play for more than a dozen hours, experts from the Steam Community recommend choosing Large Islands to avoid reaching settlement limits before unlocking high-tier goods.

The Unofficial Patch: For a more polished experience, many players suggest using the Unofficial Anno Patch to fix long-standing bugs and improve achievement tracking. Are you aiming for a high-population record run, or

Anno 1404 Venice: The Ultimate Guide to the Best Map Seeds for Domination and Beauty

In the pantheon of city-building strategy games, Anno 1404: Venice (often called Dawn of Discovery in North America) sits on a golden throne. Even over a decade after its release, its blend of intricate supply chains, naval combat, and stunning aesthetics remains unmatched. But while the game offers a random map generator, veterans know a secret: success often depends less on your skill and more on the quality of your map seed.

A great map seed can mean the difference between a frustrating early-game grind and a flourishing empire by the Nobleman level. The right seed provides large, build-friendly islands, optimal wind patterns, strategic river placements for watermills, and accessible trade routes. Conversely, a bad seed can leave you with tiny, rock-infested islands that force you to import every last herb from across the map.

This guide dives deep into the best Anno 1404: Venice map seeds for every playstyle—from hardcore economic min-maxers to beauty builders and PvP warlords.