War and Order community guide
Play smart. Grow faster.
What actually matters in War and Order, from Azurite and Obsidian to formations, events and getting the most out of every gem. Whether you spend or play for free.
Handy tools
Event timesLive server clock with every event slot shown in your own time zone.
Castle cost calculatorTotal food, wood, stone, iron and Azurite between any two castle levels.
Formation viewerSee 4-1-4 and every variation laid out on the battlefield.
Free-to-play gem plannerCan your gem gathering cover AZ boosts, VIP and shields?
Goals by budgetWhat to aim for at C34+, from no spend to high spend.
Start Here
GlossaryAbbreviations and slang you'll see in alliance chat. Most acronyms don't translate in game, so here's what they mean.Event TimesThe game runs on server time, which is UTC. Every event slot below is converted to your own time zone automatically.Events GuideHow Strongest Lord and the Kill Event work, the point tables, and tips for every weekly and alliance event.
Economy & Growth
Azurite (AZ)The most important resource in the game. How to unlock it, boost production, and why the monthly AZ card is the best buy at C30.Castle UpgradesResources, required buildings and base build time for every castle level from C1 to C40, plus what to skip after C30.Inner Castle LayoutHow to use your 42 land plots: what to max first, and what can stay low.College ResearchWhich research lines to finish first. College only costs resources, so in theory it's free.Farms & Farm AllianceKeep your main castle fighting and let farms do the gathering. How farm alliances, open/close settings and realm teleports work.Buffs & DecorationsThe cheapest place to buy buffs, when castle skins are worth using, and the realm-wide buffs you can earn.
Spending Smart
Monthly BudgetYou can play for free, but growth is much slower. A low monthly budget, and what each card actually gives you.Free-to-Play GemsHow to use gems effectively when you don't spend: gather gems on your main castle and budget for AZ boosts, VIP and shields.W-CoinBuying W-coin on the official website can give more back for the same money, especially during purchase events.Exchange ShopsWhat to buy in every exchange shop, from Infinite War and Knight shops to the shell merchant, Benefits shop and Trade Ship.
Power & Gear
Achievements & Lord SkillsWhich achievements to equip for attack and defense, how to save them for free, and how to split War vs. Development lord skills.Equipment & ObsidianWhy the Special Stat matters more than armor color, how to roll it without wasting Obsidian, and where to get more.JewelsJewels belong to the equipment slot, not the item. Two ways to level them, depending on how much you spend.ArtifactsWhich Force and Crown artifacts to chase, the best purple and blue picks, and why Apollo's Bow beats the flashier options.Star & Northern PalaceWhich zodiacs to upgrade for attack and defense, and why the Northern Palace can wait.ColossusUnlock your second colossus at level 70, spread the upgrades, and get Titan Crystal without buying packs.TotemsFire vs. Guard, where Psionic Tattoos come from, and why you level the three Totem Forces evenly to 48.BeastWhich beast fits your budget, which skills to run, and how to think about beast talents.Elder TitanTalents need titan levels, so gather Elder Titan materials from the Infinite War shop every week.Stat Caps (Nerfs)Hidden limits where extra stats stop paying off. Past them, each 1% you add only counts as 0.3%.
War & Alliance
FormationsFrontline vs. backline, odd vs. even tiers, why Elite War uses 4-1-4, and every formation variation laid out visually.Troop Loading TricksLoad troops with one setup and fight with another, for extra army size in Anubis Tower and Elite War and a proper defense in Star Mine.Alliance & DefenseWhere to hide troops, how shields and shield-hiding work, coordinating timed and speed attacks, and elite mine etiquette.Army Care & Daily TipsFast Re-equip between attack and defense gear, batch healing, Guardian Force, hospital cap, Drill Ground presets and monster hunting.
Planning
About this guide
This guide gives you a solid foundation in War and Order (WaO). Everyone starts with a different level of understanding, so some of it you may already know.
It is not here to push you to spend more than you're comfortable with. If you do spend, it helps you put money where it makes the biggest difference. If you play for free, it shows which exchanges give you the most value. It's all about playing smart, building your technology the best way possible and keeping your growth balanced.
Spending levels used in this guide
No spend Free to play: gems come from gathering and events.
Low spend A monthly card or two and the cheap weekly packs.
Mid spend Regular packs in a few focused areas.
High spend Can afford to push most systems.