Originally Posted by
SpearGobs
It's a really easy transition period. I just got new stuff up to level, and not x-bows. However, if you're going true 8.5, that means not building anything (maybe upgrading ADs/teslas or getting that last AD and tesla)
So first things off:
Lab
Spell Factory
CC
New stuff (if you want)
More new stuff (if you want), including queen.
Do get the storages up. I put them off and regretted it.
Once those are done, you need to farm a ton of elixir. Camps should be upgraded as first priority after Lab and Spell Factory, and in my opinion giants to level 6 is going to be your first upgrade. Giants get a huge stat boost, and even with lvl 5 barch (or wiz behind) it's going to wreck. If you're really war oriented, maybe hogs to lvl 5. That would be my next upgrade. If you like to barch, get that up too.
After your farming troops are done, golems, valks, loons, and healers will get you into some sick 3 star attacks. Personally I did golems, ran out of DE, did healers, did golems again (goes from 2 to 4), loons, and a great while later, I did valks.
If you really want to GoHo, golems are key. Valks are great for insanely powerful kill squads.
Once your farming troops are done, and since you're not upgrading a lot of defense, you want to farm a lot of DE. This ensures your heroes (oh and get queen to 5.. her ability if great) will get to a decent level, and that all your DE upgrades are being accounted for.
Once at 10/10 heroes, I'd put down all the remaining defenses except x-bows if you haven't already done so.
I'm planning to put down x-bows at 15/15 heroes, but I may do it before then.
Now just a raw order for upgrades:
Gold upgrades:
CC
AD (if you want)
Teslas (if you want)
Traps (little bombs at lvl 6 1 tile away from a wall blow up approaching wall breakers. Also, WB go between buildings, so if you put it 1 tile away from a wall and have it between buildings, any WB going through there will die)
Walls
Wiz Tower (I wouldn't but since I got my heroes pretty high without xbows I did them)
After that, just keep pouring them into walls until you feel that you are ready for x-bows.
Elixir (Research will get its own little section):
Spell Factory
Lab
Camps
Misc. (like storages)
Dark spell factory? (I never got it to lvl 3 and I don't really care)
You'll notice there's not a lot here: they mostly go towards lab, and once that is done, I think it's onto walls.
DE:
Literally just heroes..
LAB:
Giants to lvl 6 first. This will help you grind out big upgrades, especially DE.
Level 5 hogs-Unless you're really into LavaLoon or GoLaLoon, hogs will help you get those 3 stars.
Opt-Loons: If you like air attacks
Opt-Healers: If you like queen walks, that is nice.
Golems to 4: This is going to take the most DE. I ignored heroes and just got them straight to 4. This is going to help tremendously with 3 star strats, no matter what you use.
Opt-Barch: If you're more farm oriented, I'd get these up (before then use giants not just barch)
Jump: This will help with kill squads.
From here on, it's personal discretion. I'd get valks up, maybe gobs and minions, and heal for sure. That way you can explore GoVaHo and maybe mass valks.
Gobs and minions are clearly for farming.
That's about to where I am.. I'm planning to get minions up (farming and maybe war) and dark spells. Lightning and drags are not my priority.
Just pulled up this guide from forever ago, this helps.
On top of that, AD, tesla, and CANNONS are worth it to stop mass attacks.