Iron Mining
More actions
Iron Mining refers to the activity of gathering Iron from iron ore tiles on the world map. Iron is a late-game resource critical for upgrading high-level buildings, training advanced troops, and crafting powerful gear.
Overview
Iron becomes increasingly important as your city grows past the early-game stages. It is primarily consumed by high-level construction, troop training (Tier 3+), and gear crafting. Iron Mining on the world map is the main way to accumulate Iron beyond what your production buildings generate.
Iron Tile Levels
Iron deposit tiles appear on the world map:
| Tile Level | Iron Available | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Low | Basic deposits, widely available |
| Level 2 | Moderate | Common in mid-range areas |
| Level 3 | High | Less frequent, worth prioritizing |
| Level 4 | Very High | Rare and competitive |
| Level 5 | Massive | Extremely rare, near state center |
How to Mine Iron
- Open the world map and look for Iron tile icons (ore/mineral rock imagery).
- Tap an Iron tile to view available ore and current miners.
- Tap "Gather" to deploy a gathering march.
- Troops travel, mine Iron, and return automatically when full.
Iron Consumption
Iron is used for:
- **High-level construction** — Required for upgrading Furnace, military buildings, and advanced structures
- **Advanced troop training** — Tier 3 and higher troops require Iron to train
- **Gear crafting** — Hero Gears and Chief Gears require Iron components
- **Advanced research** — Some top-tier Battle Research technologies need Iron
Improving Mining Efficiency
Heroes
Assign heroes with Gathering bonuses to lead Iron mining marches. These heroes increase load capacity and reduce travel time, resulting in more Iron per hour.
Research
The Economy Research tree includes:
- Iron Gathering Speed — reduces gathering trip time
- March Load Capacity — increases Iron per trip
- Iron Production boost — enhances passive Iron generation
Chief Gear
Gathering Chief Gear benefits all resource gathering including Iron. A full Gathering set significantly increases Iron yield.
Iron vs. Other Resources
Iron is typically gathered less frequently than Meat, Wood, or Coal because:
- It is primarily needed in the mid-to-late game
- Iron tiles are less common than other resource types
- Early game priorities favor Wood and Coal
However, once you reach higher Furnace levels, Iron demand spikes significantly. Building up an Iron stockpile early prevents bottlenecks later.
Tips
- Don't neglect Iron early: Start accumulating Iron before you actually need it — demand increases sharply at higher furnace levels.
- Prioritize high-level tiles: Iron Level 4–5 tiles yield far more per trip than Level 1–2.
- Use Gathering gear: Even a partial Gathering gear set dramatically improves Iron collection rates.
- Coordinate with alliance: Alliance territory near Iron deposits gives better access to high-level tiles.
- Balance with Coal: If Coal and Iron are both needed, prioritize Coal first since it fuels the Furnace.