Research Priorities for Early Game
Research in the Research Cottage is one of the most critical aspects of growth. Focusing on the right research early can give you a significant advantage. The general consensus from top players is to follow this priority order:
1. Combat Expertise / Growth Tree
This is your top priority. The Combat Expertise tree will be the first one that gets unlocked when you start the game. The Growth tree offers universal benefits that accelerate all other aspects of your game.
- Construction Speed: Reduces the time it takes to build and upgrade your buildings. Essential for rushing your castle.
- Research Speed: Reduces the time it takes to complete other research projects. This has a compounding effect over time.
- March Size Increase: Allows you to send more troops on rallies and gathering missions. More troops mean more power and efficiency.
2. Arms Race Prep & Commendation
Once your basic growth is in a good place, you should focus on the research lines that help you score higher in the weekly Arms Race events.
- Arms Race Prep: Unlocks bonuses that give your soldiers a free level up. This is a massive boost to your troop power without spending resources.
- Arms Race Commendation: Boosts the rewards you get from Arms Race events, giving you more premium chests and resources.
3. Solider, Hero & Faction-Specific Trees
After securing your foundational research, it's time to invest in military strength.
- Solider, Hero Research Provides general combat boosts to your troops, like increased attack and defense.
- Faction-Specific Research: Once you have decided on a primary hero faction (Horde, League, or Nature), invest heavily in that faction's research tree to unlock powerful bonuses for your main team. (unlocked Premium Tree at Castle Level 40, 100% Solider tree completed.