Laboratory Upgrades
The Laboratory is your hub for enhancing the power of your troops, spells, and Siege Machines. Strategic upgrades here are paramount to success in both attacking and defending your village. Neglecting your Laboratory will quickly leave you at a disadvantage against well-prepared opponents.
Understanding the Upgrade Process
Upgrading units, spells, and Siege Machines in the Laboratory follows a straightforward process:
- Select the Laboratory: Tap on your Laboratory building within your village.
- Choose Your Upgrade: A menu will appear displaying all available units, spells, and Siege Machines that can be upgraded at your current Town Hall level. Each item will show its current level, the next available level, the required elixir (or Dark Elixir for certain units/spells), and the upgrade time.
- Initiate Upgrade: Confirm your selection and the upgrade will begin. During this time, the chosen unit, spell, or Siege Machine will be unavailable for use in battles at its current level. Once the upgrade is complete, it will be available at its new, improved level.
Important Note: Only one upgrade can be active in the Laboratory at any given time. This makes prioritizing your upgrades a critical strategic decision.
Prioritization Strategies
With only one upgrade slot, careful planning is essential. Here's a breakdown of effective prioritization strategies:
Early Game (Town Hall 1-6)
- Core Farming Troops: Focus on upgrading your primary raiding troops first. For example, Barbarians and Archers are excellent early-game choices for collecting resources. Upgrading them quickly increases your farming efficiency.
- Wall Breakers: Essential for breaching enemy defenses. A higher-level Wall Breaker can destroy walls more effectively, allowing your main attack force to penetrate deeper into enemy bases.
- Healer (Town Hall 6): Once unlocked, the Healer is a game-changer. Prioritize her upgrade to keep your tanks alive longer during attacks.
- Lightning Spell: A versatile early spell for taking out key defensive structures like Mortars or Air Defenses.
Mid Game (Town Hall 7-9)
- Dark Elixir Troops: As you unlock Dark Elixir, prioritize units like the Hog Rider and Minion. These troops offer significant power spikes.
- Dragon: At Town Hall 7 and 8, the Dragon becomes a dominant force. Maxing them out quickly will give you a strong aerial attack option.
- Golems and Witches (Town Hall 9): These powerful Dark Elixir troops form the backbone of many advanced attack strategies. Prioritize them if you plan to use GoWiPe or GoWiWi attacks.
- Healing Spell & Rage Spell: These spells are crucial for sustaining your troops and boosting their damage output. Keep them upgraded to maximize their effectiveness.
Late Game (Town Hall 10+)
- Siege Machines: Once unlocked, prioritize upgrading your Siege Machines (e.g., Wall Wrecker, Stone Slammer, Battle Blimp). These provide invaluable support in high-level attacks.
- Elixir & Dark Elixir Troops for War: Focus on the troops you use most frequently in Clan Wars. This might include Electro Dragons, Pekkas, Bowlers, or Yeti.
- Freeze Spell & Poison Spell: These tactical spells become increasingly important for controlling enemy defenses and Clan Castle troops.
- Super Troops: Experiment with and upgrade Super Troops that align with your preferred attack strategies. These temporary boosts can be incredibly powerful.
Maximizing Laboratory Efficiency
- Keep it Running: The golden rule of the Laboratory is to always have an upgrade active. Idle Laboratory time is wasted progress.
- Resource Management: Plan your resource collection to ensure you have enough Elixir or Dark Elixir for your next upgrade as soon as the current one finishes. Consider using Resource Potions to speed up collectors or boost your raiding sessions.
- Book of Fighting / Book of Spells: These magic items instantly complete a troop or spell upgrade, respectively. Save them for your longest and most impactful upgrades to save significant time.
- Hammer of Fighting / Hammer of Spells: These powerful magic items instantly complete and upgrade a troop or spell to its next level without requiring resources. Use them on the most expensive upgrades to save both time and resources.
- Research Potions: These potions boost the research speed in your Laboratory for a short period. Use them strategically, especially for longer upgrades, to shave off hours or even days.
By following these guidelines and adapting your strategy to your specific playstyle and Town Hall level, you'll ensure your Laboratory is always working efficiently to empower your army and dominate the battlefield!