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Setting up your defense#
In the Defense screen you choose how your defenders are shared between the three sides (by default 30% left, 40% front, 30% right), the melee and ranged mix on each side (default 50% melee), and which tools sit in each slot.
- Before every battle your soldiers take their places by themselves: the strongest defenders go up on the walls first.
- The wall is always filled up to its capacity; everyone else waits in the courtyard.
- Defense soldiers are the best on walls; attack soldiers left at home help, but defend poorly.
- Alliance support troops join your defenders.
Walls and capacity#
Your castle level sets how many soldiers fit on each side of the wall and the base wall protection. Castellan gear, the Hall of Legends, castle skins and some statues add a percentage of wall space.
| Castle level | Wall defenders per side | All three sides | Base protection |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 | 90 | 28% |
| 2 | 55 | 165 | 36% |
| 3 | 85 | 255 | 44% |
| 4 | 120 | 360 | 52% |
| 5 | 160 | 480 | 60% |
| 6 | 205 | 615 | 68% |
| 7 | 255 | 765 | 76% |
| 8 | 310 | 930 | 84% |
Wall towers and wall levels#
With wall towers, the wall is upgraded on its own (up to level 8) and gives a base number of defenders per side. On top of that, every tower adds soldiers to the wall. A level 1 castle has 4 towers and every castle level adds 4 more (32 at castle level 8). Each tower is upgraded separately up to level 5, one tower at a time, without using your builder.
| Wall level | Wall | Base defenders per side | Player level | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wooden Palisade | 15 | 1 | - | - |
| 2 | Reinforced Palisade | 28 | 5 | 2,000 wood, 3,000 stone | 20m |
| 3 | Stone Wall | 42 | 10 | 8,000 wood, 12,000 stone, 1,000 gold | 2h |
| 4 | Thick Stone Wall | 60 | 16 | 25,000 wood, 35,000 stone, 4,000 gold | 5h |
| 5 | Fortress Wall | 80 | 22 | 60,000 wood, 80,000 stone, 10,000 gold | 10h |
| 6 | Great Fortress Wall | 102 | 30 | 120,000 wood, 160,000 stone, 25,000 gold | 18h |
| 7 | Royal Wall | 128 | 38 | 220,000 wood, 300,000 stone, 50,000 gold | 1d 6h |
| 8 | Imperial Wall | 155 | 46 | 400,000 wood, 550,000 stone, 90,000 gold | 2d |
| Tower level | Tower | Extra wall soldiers | Castle level | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Watchtower | +6 | 1 | - | - |
| 2 | Stone Tower | +10 | 2 | 3,000 wood, 4,000 stone | 30m |
| 3 | Guard Tower | +14 | 3 | 12,000 wood, 16,000 stone, 2,000 gold | 3h |
| 4 | Ballista Tower | +18 | 5 | 40,000 wood, 55,000 stone, 8,000 gold | 8h |
| 5 | Royal Tower | +23 | 7 | 110,000 wood, 150,000 stone, 25,000 gold | 16h |
Protection#
Base wall protection is 28% at castle level 1 and grows by 8% per level. Castellan gear (wall and gate protection), the Library, the Hall of Legends and the alliance defense bonus add more, and defense tools add even more for each wave. Total protection is capped at 150%. The full formula is in the combat guide.
The moat#
From level 60 the moat can be built from the military tab of the build menu, and the Sword and Shield quest line guides you through it. It adds moat protection on every side and opens a moat tool slot on each side.
| Moat level | Moat protection | Player level | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +10% | 60 | 55,000 stone |
| 2 | +20% | 80 | 110,000 stone |
| 3 | +30% | 100 | 300,000 stone |
Defense tools#
- Each side has up to 4 wall slots (opened at castle levels 1, 3, 5 and 7). The front has up to 2 gate slots (castle levels 1 and 4).
- Every wave that hits a side uses one tool from each of that side's slots, and each tool gives its full effect.
- Leave the tool choice on automatic and the game picks your strongest tool for each slot.
- All tools and their numbers are on the tools page.
Alliance support#
Alliance members can send you soldiers for 1 to 12 hours. They defend together with your army; losses are shared in proportion, wounded supporters go to their own hospital, and every supporter gets the battle report. When your castle is attacked, your whole alliance is alerted.
The castellan#
Your castellan is your defensive hero. Gear on the castellan adds melee and ranged defense, courtyard defense, wall and gate protection, wall space, early warning (you see hidden attacks sooner) and less loot taken. See equipment.
Protection and open gates#
- Beginner protection lasts 7 days or until level 15.
- Peace protection can be bought with rubies in Settings, a week at a time (up to 8 weeks). It starts 24 hours after you buy it, and attacking or spying on a player ends it.
- If you have no army to defend with, you can open your gates for 6 or 12 hours (for rubies). Attackers then take resources only: nobody dies and nothing burns. Every new opening doubles the next price until the gates stay closed for 48 hours in a row.
When you are attacked#
- You get a watchtower message (and a phone notification if you allowed them) with the attacker and arrival time. Your alliance is told too.
- Check your defense setup: put more defenders on the side most likely to be hit and the right melee/ranged mix.
- Ask your alliance for support troops, and make sure your defense tool slots are full.
- Free hospital beds save your fallen defenders.
- Afterwards, read the report: it shows how each wave did and what protection it faced.