Artwork is still in development and may change.
Two Phases of War: Build Up, Then Break Through
Every expedition into the Jade Empire unfolds in two phases. Knowing when to build and when to strike is the key to victory.
The Build-up comes first. This is the time to establish your alliance, raid the Palace Fortresses, refine your materials, trade at the Oasis Settlements and grow your Citadel. Every movement stays within your own territory during this phase: attacks, support and trade caravans alike. Battles between alliances are still possible, but only where your territory reaches theirs. Settle in wisely, because the strongest economy at the end of the Build-up will carry you through what follows.
You will never be caught off guard by the change. The event dialog shows how long the Build-up has left. Before the Free for All begins, you will receive a warning. When it starts, a message arrives in your inbox, the event icon lights up and an information window greets you the next time you enter the event. The new rules apply the moment the phase changes, with no need to log in again.
The Free for All changes everything. The deeper shroud lifts and every castle and Citadel on the map becomes a target, no matter how far away. Fortresses and oases still need to lie within your territory, but rival castles are now within reach. A successful attack on a castle can plunder its Ancient Jade Statuettes and its materials. Part of your stock is kept safe in your hideout, while Restored Jade Statuettes can never be stolen.
The Citadels themselves become the great prize. A Citadel can never be conquered, but a successful attack weakens it by one level and its territory shrinks with it. The Ancient Jade Statuettes invested in that level are torn loose, along with the points they were worth. Part of them falls to the attackers, while the rest is scattered back among the defending alliance’s strongest members. Afterwards, a weakened Citadel is protected for a while, marked by the familiar dove, until the protection runs out or the alliance upgrades it again.
Upgrades alone will not make your Citadel stronger. Its defence comes from the troops your members station there through support, from the general you appoint to command it and from alliance improvements that strengthen its defences. Plan your defence before the shroud lifts, because once it does, every rival on the map knows where you are.