Last Z Tech Guide — Expert Discussion for F2P & Low Spenders

The Debate

Common advice: "Do AR first!"

Expert opinion: "Get your 9 chests on AR and leave that alone."

Why AR Is NOT Priority

• Expensive as hell — last tier costs 20k+ badges just for double chest
• Weeks to break even — takes forever to recoup the badge investment
• Sets you back 2-3 months — while others get stronger, you're farming badges
• Half badges = twice as strong — same badges in combat trees make you much more powerful

Quote: "Are you willing to set yourself back 2-3 months, fall behind everyone, to finish Alliance Recognition? By the time you catch up, they're another 2 months ahead."

When AR Makes Sense

• You're a passive player
• Your alliance carries you in combat
• You just want to cap points during versus events
• You're not the "centerfold" for Canyon Clash, SVS, Glory Wars

Bottom line: If you want to fight, AR is a waste. If you want to piggyback, AR is fine.

Step 1: Elite Troops

Finish Elite Troops to unlock Military Strategies. Required foundation.

Step 2: Hero Training → Cockpit Only

Expert consensus: "Get to Cockpit, you're good for the time being."

The extra attack after Cockpit is nice but not worth the badges. It's cheap and quick, but not a priority past Cockpit.

Quote: "I won't agree with maxing Hero Training. The extra attack is nice at the end, but I don't see it as necessary."

Step 3: Military Strategies

Why it's essential:

• Cheap — anyone can do it
• HP boosts at the bottom (10-15% HP)
• Required to unlock Peace Shield (45%) and Siege to Seize
• Focus on your main troop type first

Pro tip: If you run one troop type, you don't need to finish the whole tree.

Step 4: Peace Shield → Urgent Rescue

Unanimous agreement: "Urgent Rescue in Peace Shield — get that done. Then move on."

Urgent Rescue reduces unit deaths by 20%. It's the direct counter to enemy Annihilation. Essential for PvP survival.

Unlock requirements: 45-50% Military Strategies + 50% Shelter Building

Step 5: Siege to Seize

Why it's good:

• Relatively cheap
• HP boost from Recharge Shield
• Primary power for solo faction players

Strategy: Get Recharge Shield to level 10 on both Peace Shield AND Siege to Seize = 35-40% extra HP. "That's massive."

Recharge Shield on Both Trees

Both Peace Shield and Siege to Seize have Recharge Shield research.

• Military Strategies: 10-15% HP
• Peace Shield Recharge Shield (10/10): +HP%
• Siege to Seize Recharge Shield (10/10): +HP%

Total: 35-40% extra HP when combined. "It's a game changer."

Quote: "Once you start upgrading your equipment, the extra HP from your armor... it becomes massive."

Expert Verdict: It's a Luxury

What you get:

• Annihilation 20/20 — nice for Buster days
• Move Out maxed — +500 troops in formation

Reality: "It is not necessary. Unless you're a whale past T10s, skip it."

Quote: "In a Season 1/Season 2 scenario, I wouldn't want to spend badges there."

Global Effects Stack with Tech

Key insight: "Your heroes and your tech are conjoined at the hip."

Blue heroes at 5-star have global effects that stack with tech bonuses:

• William — Unit training speed (stacks with Quick Assembly in Siege to Seize)
• Fiona — +300 attack global (all troops, not faction-specific)
• Giselle — Wood gathering speed

Real Example: Training Speed

Default training time for 165 shooters: 2 days 13 hours 52 minutes

After tech + hero stacking: 10 hours 54 minutes

That's a 6x reduction from global effects + tech combined.

Quote: "You got 3 blue heroes that if you max out their skill, that's a 30% training speed boost. And the percentages stack together."

Don't Ignore "Small" Percentages

Quote: "When you're in that tech tree and it says 'plus 1%' — that's huge. You're adding that on top of everything else. I'll take that 1% or 2% all day long."

Same applies to wall upgrades. People rush HQ but leave wall at 19. Every 1% stacks and makes you strong.

HQ27 with T9s = Sweet Spot

Expert advice: "At 27 you can stop and ride it. Once you get those T9 troops, that makes a big difference."

Benefits of staying at lower HQ:

• Look unassuming — enemies underestimate you
• Warehouse fills up — no need to loot
• People attack you thinking easy target
• Even T10s get surprised: "God damn, what happened?"

Quote: "I burn HQ30s all the time with one tank. HQ doesn't mean shit. It's about tech and heroes."

HQ Level vs Real Power

What matters: Hero power, tech, gear

What doesn't: HQ level alone

Quote: "We were watching and someone said 'that's an HQ30.' Yeah, but dude's got like 60 million hero power. Who cares? Go burn it."

Essential Purchases

• Extra Lab — "Extra lab is a must. A must."
• Extra Builder — Essential for progression
• License Store items — All of them worth it (except Zent Plunder)

Skip: Zent Plunder ($50)

Why it's not worth $50:

• No diamonds included
• Takes forever to cap Zent
• Spreads out your gathering — less food/wood per run
• You'll cap food/wood but still be farming Zent

Recommendation: Stop at "Unlock Lab #2" in the license store. Don't go past that.

The Three Types

• Pay to Win — Whales, T10s, unlimited spending
• Free to Play — No money, pure grind
• Cheap to Play — "I'll put in a little money, but not break the bank"

Quote: "I'm cheap to play. I'm married with three kids. One of them is driving. I got car insurance and car notes coming out of my ass."