Gems of War is Infinity Plus 2's match three RPG where two teams of four trade turns on a single 8x8 board. Matching gems fills each troop's mana in that colour, matching skulls sends your front troop in to attack, and matching four or more gems hands you another turn. Over 1,400 troops and more than 30 kingdoms across Krystara sit on top of that one loop.
Gems of War - Puzzle RPG features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whitehelm | Kingdom level 1 to 10 early, 20 later | 10 Glory tribute, kingdom skill bonus, quest line troops | Frostmage |
| 2 | Broken Spire | Kingdom level 1 to 10 early | 200 Gold tribute, Arena access, ogre troops | Frostmage |
| 3 | Zhul'Kari | Kingdom level 1 to 10 early | Tribute income, Dark Elf troops, quest line rewards | Titan |
| 4 | Khetar | Kingdom level 1 to 10 early | 40 Souls tribute, undead troops, Khetar quest line | Titan |
| 5 | Zaejin | Kingdom level 1 to 10, then push for the goblin team | Goblin troop line, tribute income, kingdom skill bonus | Titan |
Whitehelm: Starting Area
One of the first kingdoms most players level, with a Glory tribute worth 10. Every kingdom you reach level 10 grants all your troops plus one to a particular skill, and plus two once Kingdom Power hits five gold stars.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Kingdom level 1 to 10 early, 20 later |
| Key Rewards | 10 Glory tribute, kingdom skill bonus, quest line troops |
| Recommended Build | Frostmage |
| Key Equipment | Divine Protector |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Mana colours and spell casting. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Broken Spire.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Broken Spire: Early Game
The ogre kingdom, whose people worship a Lava Wyrm, and the kingdom that opens access to the Arena draft mode. Its tribute pays 200 Gold rather than Glory or Souls.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Kingdom level 1 to 10 early |
| Key Rewards | 200 Gold tribute, Arena access, ogre troops |
| Recommended Build | Frostmage |
| Key Equipment | Divine Protector |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering Skull damage. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Divine Protector if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Zhul'Kari.
Zhul'Kari: Mid Game
Dense forest under eternal night, home to the Dark Elves and their troop line. Worth levelling early because elven troops feature in a lot of budget teams.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Kingdom level 1 to 10 early |
| Key Rewards | Tribute income, Dark Elf troops, quest line rewards |
| Recommended Build | Titan |
| Key Equipment | Divine Protector |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Dawnbringer becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Extra turns from four and five matches for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Khetar: Late Game
An ancient kingdom that fell centuries ago and whose dead still walk, which makes it the undead troop source. Its tribute pays 40 Souls, which matters more than gold while you are still levelling troops.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Kingdom level 1 to 10 early |
| Key Rewards | 40 Souls tribute, undead troops, Khetar quest line |
| Recommended Build | Titan |
| Key Equipment | Dawnbringer |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Dawnbringer should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Hero class and weapon mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Zaejin.
Zaejin: Endgame
A chaotic sprawl of small goblin villages, and the home of the Goblin troops that anchor one of the most reliable looping teams in the game. Nobend Brothers, Queen Grapplepot, Princess Fizzbang and Goblin King all come from here.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Kingdom level 1 to 10, then push for the goblin team |
| Key Rewards | Goblin troop line, tribute income, kingdom skill bonus |
| Recommended Build | Titan |
| Key Equipment | Dawnbringer |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Archer for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: Whitehelm → Broken Spire → Zhul'Kari → Khetar → Zaejin. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment: Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Gems of War - Puzzle RPG Guides
- Gems of War - Puzzle RPG Gems of War - Puzzle RPG Overview
- Gems of War - Puzzle RPG Best Builds
- Gems of War - Puzzle RPG Tier List
- Gems of War - Puzzle RPG Walkthrough
- Gems of War - Puzzle RPG Beginner's Guide
- Gems of War - Puzzle RPG Tips & Tricks
- Gems of War - Puzzle RPG Weapons Guide
- Gems of War - Puzzle RPG Combat Guide
- Gems of War - Puzzle RPG Boss Guide
- Gems of War - Puzzle RPG Crafting Guide
- Gems of War - Puzzle RPG Classes & Characters
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