Complete Headquarters & Building Guide

What Headquarters level actually changes

Headquarters is the main gate for building levels, hero levels and later systems. Each HQ level raises the hero level cap by five, reaching 150 at HQ30 and 175 at HQ35. It also grants account attributes and unlocks the ability to raise other buildings.

HQ level alone does not create a strong account. A rushed HQ with weak troops, research, heroes, gear and drone can still lose badly. The useful strategy is a controlled rush: reach the next valuable unlock while keeping the systems that make it usable close enough behind.

The two-level runway

1. Open the current HQ and note both prerequisite buildings.
2. Check the following HQ level in this guide or the live upgrade screen.
3. Builder 1 starts the current HQ as soon as requirements are met.
4. Builder 2 starts the slowest prerequisite for the next HQ.
5. During the HQ timer, refill food, iron and coins for the next step.

This prevents the common pattern of finishing a ten-day HQ upgrade and discovering that a forgotten Wall or Alliance Centre now needs another week.

HQ 1–10: sprint and unlock

Timers are short, so follow the tutorial and keep moving. Join an active alliance immediately: alliance help removes time from nearly every meaningful construction.

Building names can appear as Centre/Center or Alliance Centre/Alliance Support Hub depending on localisation. The Tank Centre is part of the fixed HQ route even if Aircraft or Missile becomes your eventual main squad.

HQ 11–20: build the foundation

This is where construction changes from minutes to days. Keep the Tech Centre near the HQ route, begin concentrating on one hero type and maintain enough Hospital and Drill Ground capacity for the battles you actually fight.

HQ 21–30: the resource wall

These are base costs before research, profession, survivor, title or temporary reductions. The live screen shows the amount your account will actually pay. At this stage, unopened level-based resource chests are particularly valuable because their contents grow with HQ level.

HQ 31–35: Age of Oil

Progress beyond HQ30 opens during the post-Season-2 Age of Oil era. It requires the appropriate HQ Expansion research and Oil in addition to ordinary resources. The route also changes from two simple prerequisites to several high-level buildings at once.

Server timing and later updates can alter the expansion route. Confirm all prerequisites and Oil costs in the live HQ screen before opening chests or committing long builders.

What to upgrade besides prerequisites

Controlled rush versus maxing the base

Maxing every building before the next HQ feels tidy but delays hero caps, building ceilings, troop progression and level-based rewards. An uncontrolled rush creates the opposite problem: a high HQ with weak combat, poor hospital capacity and no resources.

Builder strategy

One builder

Follow the prerequisite chain tightly. Start the slowest required building first and avoid decorative upgrades. A second permanent or subscription builder offers enormous value because construction time is the main constraint.

Two builders

• Builder 1: current HQ or its slowest prerequisite.
• Builder 2: the next HQ prerequisite, Tech Centre, main troop centre, Hospital or Drill Ground.

More builders or temporary queues

Give every queue a lane. Extra queues should prepare future prerequisites or repair a defined weakness; they should not consume resources on low-value buildings just to remain visibly active.

Construction speed: apply every reduction first

1. Activate the best available construction profession skills, survivor bonuses or temporary title.
2. Use the appropriate construction-speed buff if the upgrade justifies it.
3. Start the building.
4. Request alliance help and wait for the help cycle.
5. Only then apply construction speed-ups.

Speed bonuses usually affect the timer when the construction begins. Applying them after starting may not recalculate the existing job. Check the live timer before confirming.

Resource-chest discipline

• Keep resource-choice and level-based chests closed until the builder is ready.
• Open only the shortfall, not the whole inventory.
• Spend exposed resources quickly so they cannot be looted.
• Keep a coin reserve for research; buildings and Special Forces compete for it.
• Plan Oil separately because the HQ31–35 requirement accelerates sharply.

Time construction for Alliance Duel

Construction power and construction speed-ups normally score on Day 2, Base Expansion, with further building opportunities on Day 5 depending on current rules. Start a long prerequisite in advance so it completes after reset, ask for helps, then speed through planned upgrades.

Do not build something useless for points. A correct prerequisite completed on the right day gives permanent progress and event rewards together.

Building priorities by account stage

Common building mistakes

• Upgrading every building to match Headquarters.
• Checking only the current prerequisite instead of the next two levels.
• Leaving a builder idle while waiting for a perfect event.
• Opening all resource chests and exposing the surplus.
• Using speed-ups before alliance helps arrive.
• Raising all three troop centres equally before one formation is strong.
• Neglecting Hospital capacity and turning wounded units into permanent losses.
• Assuming HQ30 alone unlocks T10 without the Special Forces research path.
• Entering Age of Oil without a production and research plan.

Commander checklist

• I know the prerequisites for my next two HQ levels.
• Each builder has a defined route.
• The Technology Centre and main troop buildings remain functional.
• Resource chests stay closed until the exact shortfall is known.
• Alliance helps are complete before speed-ups are used.
• Construction is aligned with VS Day 2 when waiting is sensible.
• My HQ level has not outrun the squad, research, hospital and troop foundation needed to use it.

Frequently asked questions

Should I rush Headquarters?

Yes, in a controlled way. Reach valuable caps and unlocks without maxing every side building, but pause when the working squad, research or troop infrastructure can no longer use the higher level effectively.

Which building should the second builder upgrade?

The slowest prerequisite for the following HQ is the default answer. If that is already covered, use Tech Centre, the main troop centre, Barracks, Hospital or Drill Ground according to the current bottleneck.

Should all Barracks remain equal?

No. Maintain enough high-level capacity for the troop tier and promotion routine you use. Lower barracks can produce or promote lower tiers while the leading barracks handles the strongest available units.

Does HQ30 unlock T10 immediately?

No. HQ and Technology Centre levels are part of the gate, but Unit X/T10 is reached through the Special Forces research path and its prerequisites.

Referenzen und Nachweise

1. Last War Wiki — Headquarters (level requirements, base costs, hero caps and HQ31–35 expansion).
2. Last War Vault — HQ Progression Guide (account stages and building priorities).
3. Last War Handbook — HQ Requirements 1–35 und HQ Requirements Calculator (current cross-check).
4. Game Zone Academy — Complete Research Guide und Ressourcenmanagement.

Evidence reviewed 26 July 2026. Costs shown are published base values and can be reduced by account bonuses. Localisation, server era and updates can change prerequisites or unlock timing; the live HQ panel is the final authority.