Oceanyka changed profoundly during the Dark Ages as a result of the physical and social devastation brought about by the Ferozen Invasion. Urbanism massively declined, with many arts and disciplines that had arisen from it being lost to time. Additionally, as strange forces gained strength in the shadows, they conspired to stagnate Oceanyka's material progress, in order to ensure their own dominance. The continental economy featured the following characteristics:
- Agricultural trade was minimal, as enormous granaries and storehouses were filled to prevent scorched earth tactics (then very common) from being a serious threat to the citizenry by the way of mass starvation. Furthermore, most rulers subscribed to an idea of autarkism, so the demand for foodstuffs was low across Oceanyka, with the exception of a few small cities. Less universally available and less perishable products such as Honey and Salt were the object of limited continental trade.
- Feudalism emerged as the main mode of social organisation. Cities shrank while castles emerged as the family home, training grounds and command centre for the nobility, who were largely occupied organising powerful armies. Farmlands and the countryside would be protected by the lords and their retinues, seizing much of the peasantry's agricultural produce in return. Reinvestment into land development technologies was minimal.
- A very early form of war economy emerged as most of the country's skilled workforce and natural resources were used to produce armaments and armour for Oceanyka's ever larger armies. States which attempted to steer away from this line would quickly find themselves invaded and pillaged by their neighbours.
The massive granaries built in this time period to lessen the impact of enemy horseback soldiers using chevauchée (razing) tactics unknowingly caused rats to fester around them, facilitating numerous outbreaks of plague and Devil Rabies. Millions perished during these episodes of mass death, cheapening life and causing armed conflict (both civil and interstate) to intensify (see: Great Pestilences). However, such demographic losses allowed workers to negotiate for greater wages, and the destruction of armies by disease caused many to doubt the point of a miltarised society, turning towards legalism and the formation of peace treaties amongst rival states. These were some of the determining factors in the Economy of Early Middle Age Oceanyka.