Research Guide

In this guide, we’ll go over the key research areas you need to focus on first as an F2P player.

Fast HQ Progression Research:

To level up your headquarters faster, prioritize these research areas in order:

1. New Home
   This research is essential for speeding up your HQ progression. It boosts construction speed, unlocks important buildings like the Shooter Camp and Rider Camp (which help you train and upgrade troops), and increases things like resource protection and production rates. To unlock other HQ-related research categories, you need to max this one out first.
2. Shelter Buildings
   This becomes available after completing the “New Home” research in the Laboratory. It works similarly to “New Home,” boosting construction speed, resource production, and other HQ progression factors.
3. HQ Management
   This unlocks after you finish “Shelter Buildings.” It gives similar benefits to the first two categories by speeding up your HQ’s overall progress.
4. Rapid Growth
   This category opens after completing “HQ Management.” It boosts the speed of your shelter progression, just like the previous categories.

Make sure you max out these HQ-related research categories before moving on to combat research.

If you’re a light spender, unlocking the second Tech Lab can double your progress, so it’s worth considering.

Also, upgrading the “Alliance Recognition” category is important, as it helps you earn more points during events like the Alliance Duel. This category also unlocks extra chests for more rewards, which is always a bonus!

Combat-Based Research (Do in this order):

Once you’ve got your HQ research sorted, focus on these combat-related areas:

1. Hero Training
   This boosts your heroes’ stats (like attack and defense), which are key to your overall formation and strength.
2. Elite Troops
   This strengthens your troops by improving their attack, defense, training speed, and other stats.
3. Military Strategy
   Unlock this after maxing out “Elite Troops.” It further improves your troops’ stats.
4. Siege to Seize
   Unlocks after completing 25% of “Military Strategy.” It gives your troops an additional power boost.
5. Peace Shield
   This one requires 45% completion of “Military Strategy.” It’s important because it unlocks the “Urgent Rescue Research” tier.
6. Field
   Requires 100% completion of “Siege to Seize.” This will unlock individual troop researches once fully done.
7. Army Building
   Unlock this after maxing out “Peace Shield.” It boosts your formations.
8. Unit Special Training
   Only unlockable after Laboratory Level 30, this category lets you train Tier 10 troops, which significantly boosts their stats and your combat power.
9. Fully Armed Alliance
   This improves your power during enemy-busting events. It requires a lot of badges, so it should be one of the last upgrades you focus on.

Research Tips:

As you progress, keep an eye out for themes from different events like the Full Preparedness and Alliance Duel. These events reward you with points when you research during the “Age of Science” theme during the event.

Badges are a crucial, but limited resource when doing research. The best way to get them is by participating in events that give badges. For F2P players, the “Lucky Discounter” event is your best bet, where you can trade diamonds for a good number of badges.