Painted Desert
Painted Desert is an open WarChiefs map with scattered mesas, cliffs, plentiful Hunts and rich Coin deposits. Four Native settlements line the center, while Wood is noticeably scarcer than Food and Coin. A few Cows also wander among the mesas, making the center valuable even before either side commits to an alliance.
Map character
Scout the settlement line and the larger tree groups around the edge before choosing a forward base or long-term Wood plan. Apache and Navajo occupy the central sites, while Comanche may appear in the outer positions; the exact distribution can vary. Mesas and cliffs create local cover and detours, so map a reinforcement route before sending workers to a distant post.
What to scout
This layout rewards early control of open ground and the resources around the center. Secure safe Hunts and enough Wood for production and defenses, then contest the Native sites your army can protect. There is no Trade Route to supplement the economy, so losing access to the map’s natural resources can become costly as the match continues.
Control Native settlements and scarce Wood
Painted Desert has no Trade Route. Four Native settlements span the middle, with Apache, Comanche and Navajo options depending on their generated positions. Mesas and cliffs provide natural barriers that can protect a route or create a choke point. Wood is scarce: large groves sit near the map edge, with only small clusters near the center and Town Centers. Bison, Deer and a few Cows offer Food. Claim useful settlements and resource ground early, but keep a path open because expansion may stretch workers across the open desert.