Growth planning

Building & Research Guide

Master the art of city planning. This guide is built to help you choose the highest-value building upgrades and research nodes instead of wasting time on low-impact detours.

Who This Is For

Best for players trying to accelerate castle growth, event efficiency, and long-term power without bloating the wrong systems.

Last updated: Apr 7, 2026

Castle Growth Research Priorities Event Planning

Quick Take

Castle First

Your castle gates almost every important unlock, so it should stay at the center of your upgrade plan.

Speed Research Wins

Construction speed, research speed, march size, and event-focused tech give the fastest compounding returns.

Time Big Finishes

Try to land heavy upgrades on the right event day so your progress also generates ranking rewards.

General Principles

The Castle is King

Your Castle level gates all progression. Always prioritize upgrading it as soon as prerequisites are met.

Events are Your Best Friend

Never finish a major upgrade outside of an event. Align completions with "Construction Day" or "Research Day" for massive rewards.

Don't Be a Threat

In early game, focus on "growth-first" (resources/efficiency) rather than raw power to avoid becoming a target.

Focus on Your Faction

Once committed to a main faction, ensure your research and statues align with it. Late-game bonuses are faction-specific.

Building Priorities

Tier 1

The Core Progression Path

The backbone of your city. Never let these fall behind your Castle level.

Castle

Dictates max level of all buildings. Top priority.

Research Cottage

Unlocks powerful permanent bonuses. Keep maxed.

Barracks

Unlocks higher tier soldiers (exponential power).

Hospital

Vital for KvK recovery. Prevents massive troop loss.

Training Grounds

Increases max soldier capacity.

Tier 2

High-Impact Power Boosts

Medal Hall

Massive percentage-based HP boost to all soldiers.

Faction Statues

Increases march size for specific factions. Prioritize your main.

Rally Hall

Unlocks rally slots and increases march size.

Brilliance Institute

Increases troop level and overall attack march size.

Pet Paradise (Lvl 40)

Grants extra free daily pet searches.

Tier 3

Resource & Economy

Resource Nodes: Get to Lvl 20 for villager boosts.
Warehouse: Protects resources. Vital if you get attacked often.
Tavern/Blacksmith: Passive buffs, upgrade when spare time allows.

Research Priorities

Early Game: The Foundation

Focus on compounding benefits. Making things faster now saves thousands of hours later.

Combat Expertise / Growth Tree

Unlock Construction Speed and Research Speed immediately. These are your top ROI investments.
Queue Boosts

Focus on nodes that unlock March Size (more troops = more power) and the Recall Feature.

Mid Game: The Game Changers

Once your economy is set, shift focus to military power spikes and event rewards.

Arms Race Prep

Crucial Priority: Target nodes that give soldiers a +1 Level Buff. This is essentially free power without resource cost.
Arms Race Commendation

Boosts rewards from Arms Race events (more premium chests/resources). This fuels your Lord's Hall upgrades.

Late Game: Faction Focus

Specialization is key. Don't spread yourself thin.

Faction-Specific Trees

Unlocked at Castle Level 40 + 100% Soldier Tree completion. Pick ONE faction (Horde, League, or Nature) and invest heavily to unlock synergy bonuses.
Ruby Management

Research costs skyrocket. Prioritize nodes requiring fewer rubies and save the rest for massive building upgrades.

Related Guides

New Player Checklist

Use this first if you are still in your first week or restarting a newer account.

Resource Guides

Check meat, shards, and other bottleneck resources before you lock yourself into a bad path.

Event Hub

Line up building and research finishes with the right event days for better value.

Smart Spending

Pair your growth plan with stronger shop and diamond decisions.