Last Z Tech Guide — Best Research Path for F2P and Low Spenders

The Debate

Common advice: "Do AR first!"

Expert opinion: Get your 9 chests on AR and then move on to stronger combat-value trees.

Why AR Is NOT Priority

• Very expensive — the 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

Bottom line: Alliance Recognition has value, but pushing it too hard too early usually slows real combat growth.

If you want the exact badge totals before committing to AR, use the Alliance Recognition Costs page.

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 usually not the first badge tree to push. If you are more passive, AR can still make sense. See our Research Priority Guide for the cleaner step-by-step version.

Step 1: Elite Troops

Finish Elite Troops to unlock Military Strategies. Required foundation.

Step 2: Hero Training → Cockpit Only

Expert consensus: Get to Cockpit and stop there for now.

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

For most F2P and low-spender accounts, the efficient move is to take the unlock and then spend badges elsewhere.

If you want the full node totals and the exact cumulative cost to reach Cockpit before moving on, use the Hero Training Costs page.

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.

For the exact badge totals behind the branch, use the Military Strategies Costs page.

Step 4: Peace Shield → Urgent Rescue

Unanimous agreement: Urgent Rescue in Peace Shield is a core checkpoint before you 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

Use the Peace Shield Costs page if you want the full branch structure and the exact cost to reach Urgent Rescue efficiently.

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."

For the full offensive branch path and Field Research unlock chain, use the Siege to Seize Costs page.

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."

If you still want to see the exact late-branch badge totals, use the Fully Armed Alliance Costs page.

Global Effects Stack with Tech

Key insight: Heroes and tech work best together, not as separate systems.

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) — see Hero Tier List
• Giselle — Wood gathering speed

For the wider hero priority behind these bonuses, use the Heroes Guide.

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

Key rule: small percentages matter because they stack on top of the rest of your account.

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?"

Takeaway: HQ level alone matters less than tech, heroes, and gear.

HQ Level vs Real Power

What matters: Hero power, tech, gear

What doesn't: HQ level alone

For the building-side progression context, use the HQ Guide.

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)

For the wider diamond and low-spender priority order, use the F2P Guide.

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."