Last Z HQ Upgrade Requirements - Levels 1-35 Guide

The Formula

Every HQ level adds +5 to your hero level cap:

• HQ 1 → Hero cap 5
• HQ 20 → Hero cap 100
• HQ 30 → Hero cap 150
• HQ 35 → Hero cap 175

See our Hero Tier List for which heroes to prioritize, the Arena Guide for daily rank value, and the Power Guide for the bigger account-growth picture.

Why Sophia is Essential

Sophia's 3rd skill gives you:

• Extra free construction duration
• Faster construction speed
• At 4 stars: Resource cost -5%
• At 5 stars: Resource cost -10%

The Rule

Try to have Sophia at 5 stars before the expensive HQ30+ push.

Her bonus applies to every building. Since the HQ path forces many prerequisite upgrades, Sophia saves resources at every step. Build her early if you are committed to long-term HQ progression.

Phase 1: HQ 1-18 (Fast & Easy)

• Can be done in a few days
• With bonuses: less than 2 days possible
• Costs stay low compared with later HQ checkpoints

Phase 2: HQ 18-24 (Reality Check)

Upgrade times get longer. Some take a week or more.

Strategy: Take advantage of early game chaos. Loot weaker players while you can. Don't tie yourself into too many peace treaties early.

Phase 3: HQ 24-27 (Smart Play Required)

• Saving speedups becomes crucial
• Only upgrade buildings required for next HQ
• Don't waste resources on random buildings just because they glow with a blue arrow

Phase 4: HQ30 (Major Milestone)

HQ30 is the biggest practical milestone for most players. It unlocks major late-game progression, raises your hero cap further, and marks the point where your account starts preparing for steel-based HQ31-35 upgrades.

• Required for T10 troops — see Research Priority for tech requirements
• If HQ31-35 isn't unlocked yet, use this time to prepare
• Stack resources, speedups, construction bonuses
• Upgrade Hall of Honor and formation buildings for power boosts

Phase 5: HQ31-35 (Steel Phase)

HQ31-35 is effectively a second progression chapter. Once steel enters the picture, the upgrade path becomes much slower, much more expensive, and far less forgiving if you waste speed-ups or construction bonuses.

Reality check: the longest unbuffed HQ31-35 timers can run for several months. Use every construction bonus you can before committing to these levels.

When Steel Appears

Steel only exists after reaching HQ30. Before that, the game acts like steel doesn't exist. Once you hit 30 and unlock the HQ31-35 update, steel suddenly appears everywhere.

For a full breakdown of sources, see the Steel Guide.

How to Get Steel

• Orange Bounties — high steel per bounty in late game
• Steel Mine and steel nodes — steady daily income once unlocked
• Hub Shop and seasonal rewards — useful supporting sources
• Furylord — event source when active
• HQ31-35 launch event — temporary steel boost when available on your server

Do not count Tyrant as a steel source unless your live reward screen shows steel.

The Special Event

Around Season 3, right after the HQ31-35 update, there's a special event to help players climb from 30 to 31. You earn lots of steel just for daily tasks.

Important: Make absolutely sure you take advantage of that event. The steel makes HQ31 much easier.

Steel Is Only One Bottleneck

Steel adds pressure after HQ30, but it is not the only HQ31-35 blocker.

The other bottleneck: speedups. Long construction timers can stop progress even when your steel plan is on track.

The Pro Tip

Keep your HQ upgrade ready, but do NOT finish it until Alliance Duel Day 2.

• Start the upgrade anytime
• When it's ready, you'll see a green checkmark
• One accidental tap = points gone forever
• Hold until Day 2, then complete for massive points

Double Bonus

Try to align HQ completion with Full Preparedness on the same day. You get bonus points from both sides. Learn more in our Alliance Duel Guide.

Stack Every Bonus

For HQ31-35, prepare your full construction speed setup:

• Villa — gives construction bonuses
• Refugees for Villa — boost construction speed a lot
• Sophia 5 stars — reduces costs and speeds up construction
• Lab buffs — check for construction bonuses
• Alliance City 4 — make sure your alliance holds it
• Alliance Lab — prioritize construction research
• All speedups — collect every one you can get

Consistent Pattern

From HQ8 to HQ30, Laboratory is mandatory for every upgrade.

The second prerequisite rotates among these buildings:

• City Walls
• Alliance Center
• Assaulter Camp
• Shooter Camp
• Rider Camp

From HQ8 to HQ30, this Lab + rotating prerequisite pattern is the core rule. For HQ31-35, check the HQ Construction Cost Table because later requirements and steel costs should be planned level by level.

What NOT to Upgrade Early

Avoid upgrading unless directly required for next HQ:

• Resource production buildings (tempting but slow you down)
• Hall of Honor buildings (bonuses too small early, save for later)
• Random buildings with blue arrows

Optional Early Upgrades (Worth It)

• Formation buildings
• Military Center
• Bookstore
• Restaurant
• Production Center
• Rally buildings
• Radar