Dominating Day One: The Essential First Builds in Conflict of Nations
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
The opening hours of a Conflict of Nations game are crucial. A smart start sets the stage for a successful campaign, while missteps can leave you scrambling to catch up. So, what should you build first? The answer is a carefully orchestrated combination of economic infrastructure and basic military capability, prioritized based on your nation’s resources. The first key builds are:
-
Arms Industries: In most cities, your absolute priority should be Arms Industries. These structures offer a substantial increase in resource production, which is paramount for fueling both your research and military production. They are also a prerequisite for mobilizing the vast majority of your units. Delaying Arms Industries means crippling your resource generation and locking you out of essential units. Start these in cities that are rich in resources, especially those producing Rares and Supplies.
-
Level 1 Army Bases: Next, you need Level 1 Army Bases in your core cities. These bases are cheap to build, providing a quick means of deploying basic infantry units for defense and expansion. They are your first line of defense and a crucial component for securing nearby territories.
-
Recruiting Offices: Alongside Army Bases, you need Recruiting Offices. Manpower is a finite resource, and you will soon run out. Recruiting Offices will help you continuously produce troops.
The specific order may vary slightly depending on your immediate surroundings and strategic goals. If you’re surrounded by neutral territories, prioritizing Arms Industries in a few key cities might be optimal for a rapid economic boom. If you’re facing immediate threats, churning out infantry from Army Bases and bolstering manpower via Recruiting Offices might be essential for survival. But the core principle remains: Economy fuels military, and basic military secures your economy.
The Importance of Resource Prioritization
Understanding which resources are most crucial early on is key to an effective build order.
- Supplies: Supplies are the backbone of your army. Troops, vehicles, and structures all consume supplies. Prioritize building Arms Industries in cities that have a high production of supplies.
- Rares: Rares are used in almost every advanced military unit. Without Rares, your research and production will be severely handicapped.
- Components & Electronics: These are used for more advanced units like planes and ships, so you can start those later.
- Money: Crucial, but less immediately pressing than the others. Money trickles in passively, and early on, you should be focusing on resource infrastructure to generate money later.
- Manpower: Vital for infantry. Recruiting offices and annexing occupied cities will increase manpower production.
Why This Strategy Works
This approach focuses on a few core principles:
- Rapid Economic Growth: Arms Industries provide the economic engine to fuel your expansion and technological advancement.
- Early Military Security: Army Bases and Recruiting Offices allow you to quickly raise a basic defensive force, deterring early aggression and allowing you to secure valuable territory.
- Flexibility: This opening strategy doesn’t lock you into a rigid path. You can adapt to changing circumstances and adjust your production based on resource availability and enemy activity.
Adapting to Your Nation
The specific nation you choose can influence your starting build order. Nations with bonuses to infantry might prioritize Army Bases slightly higher, while nations with strong resource production might focus more aggressively on Arms Industries. Consider your nation’s strengths and weaknesses when making your decisions. Also consider the units that your nation gets bonuses on. Plan towards producing those units eventually.
Strategic Airfields
It’s easy to think that Airfields should be built right away. However, they are a high-cost structure that should wait until you have a functional base to start from. They also require Electronics and Components, so they are more of a mid-game structure.
Don’t Neglect Research
While building your economy and army, remember to allocate resources to continuous research. Don’t let research fall behind. Researching will allow you to keep up with other countries as they too, are doing research.
FAQs: Building Your Empire in Conflict of Nations
1. What if I’m immediately at war?
If you start the game at war, your priorities shift to immediate defense. Focus on building Army Bases and Recruiting Offices in your border cities. Fortify your frontline with infantry and build anti-tank defenses. Once the initial threat is contained, slowly transition to economic development.
2. Should I build bunkers or other defensive structures early?
Bunkers can be useful in strategic locations but are generally not a priority on Day 1. Focus on mobile defense with infantry and establishing a solid economy.
3. What if I lack a specific resource in my starting cities?
Trade is your friend! Use the market to acquire the resources you lack. Focus your production on the resources you do have and sell them to buy what you need. Annexing cities and territories with the resource you are lacking will help alleviate this issue.
4. Is it worth building Local Industries in non-city provinces?
Generally, no. Local Industries are best suited for later in the game when you have excess resources. Early on, focus on maximizing production in your cities.
5. How important is expanding into neutral territory early on?
Expansion is crucial. Neutral territories provide valuable resources and strategic locations. Secure nearby provinces with infantry to gain access to their resources. Prioritize those with rare resources.
6. When should I start building advanced military units?
Begin producing advanced units once you have a stable economy and sufficient research. Focus on units that complement your nation’s strengths and counter your opponent’s strategies. Don’t build everything at once.
7. Is it ever worth building Naval Bases or Air Bases on Day 1?
In extremely rare circumstances, maybe. If your nation starts with a strong naval focus and is surrounded by water, a Naval Base might be a viable option. But generally, these are mid-game structures. Airbases will always be mid-game.
8. What do I do if someone uses a nuke on my city?
Contamination will appear. Contaminated cities will not be able to construct or mobilize units. You need to start Decontamination. Look for the big green button in the Province Table. Be prepared to lose that city while decontaminating.
9. How do I move troops faster?
You can find the ability on infantry and some other ground units as an icon that looks like a plane in the unit info window. To use this ability, move the unit to a city with an airbase. Once there, you can give another move order to any other city with an airbase and the unit will be airlifted to the location. Building airports in each city is extremely important so you can move units around quickly.
10. What is the best unit in conflict of nations?
Many consider the Multiple Rocket Launcher (MRL) to be the best unit. It is a very powerful unit that requires a lot of activity to use properly. MRL should always have a Mobile Radar with it, as this will allow the stack to locate and fire on units from far away.
11. How do I level up fast in Conflict of Nations?
Ranks are achieved after earning a sufficient number of experience points. These are gained in several ways, such as by defeating units, conquering cities or provinces, and completing build orders.
12. Is artillery good in conflict of nations?
Yes. In general, mobile artillery supports any frontline unit, providing heavy, indirect long-range fire. They are capable of being strategically airlifted and also have 50% NBC damage protection.
13. What is the best infantry?
I generally find Motorised Infantry to be the best infantry, due to being cheap and having ranged attack at final stage that can be useful. European Mechanised Infantry is indeed quite strong, and I use them quite frequently whenever possible.
14. How do I grow an army?
Go to home cities and click one of said cities, then click the construction icon then click army base level one to produce level one infantry. Also, build a recruiting office for manpower. Once you run out of manpower, you can’t make any more troops.
15. What is the first thing you do to avoid conflict?
Listen silently for a few moments. Don’t try to convince the other person that your point of view is better; try to understand their point of view as well. If your conflict is at home, never go to bed angry. However, it’s also about knowing your neighbours. Some players cannot be reasoned with. Prepare.
Conclusion: Building for Victory
The key to a strong start in Conflict of Nations lies in balancing economic development with military preparedness. By prioritizing Arms Industries, Level 1 Army Bases, and Recruiting Offices, you can lay the foundation for a successful campaign. Remember to adapt your strategy to your nation’s strengths and weaknesses, and always be prepared to defend yourself against early aggression. Good luck, Commander! For insights into the educational aspects of gaming, be sure to visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.