Last Z Second Laboratory Guide — Research License, HQ18, and When to Buy
Quick Answer
Buy the second Laboratory only when it will actually stay busy. It is valuable because it adds another research queue, but it does not replace HQ progression, the main Laboratory, or the core research path.
When to Buy the Second Laboratory
A second Laboratory unlocks at HQ18 and requires a Research License. Before buying it, check whether your first lab is always researching and whether you have enough resources, speedups, and badges to support a second queue.
- Reach the HQ18 unlock point.
- Confirm the Research License is available to you.
- Keep the main Laboratory close to HQ level first.
- Buy the second Laboratory only if your first lab is never idle.
- Use the second queue for useful side research while the main path stays focused.
Second Laboratory Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying it too early: if resources or badges are already the bottleneck, a second queue does not solve the real problem.
- Upgrading the wrong lab: the main Laboratory still matters most because it is tied to HQ progression and major unlocks.
- Ignoring research priority: the second lab speeds research, but it does not make weak research choices efficient.
- Treating it as mandatory: F2P and low-spend players can delay it if the Research License cost would slow stronger account upgrades.
Buy or Delay Checklist
- Buy faster: your main lab is always busy, your core research path is funded, and the Research License cost does not block stronger upgrades.
- Delay: your first lab still sits idle, badges are the bottleneck, or HQ and the main Laboratory are behind.
- Do not over-upgrade it: keep the second lab useful, but do not let it pull resources away from the main progression path.
What to Read Next
Use the Research Guide for the main research order, Tech Guide for broader research philosophy, Early Game Optimization for HQ18 planning, and Power Guide if your goal is visible power growth.