Lords Mobile: Kingdom Wars reached Steam on 2 June 2019, three years after IGG shipped it on phones, and it runs against the same live servers as the mobile build. It is IGG's own PC client rather than a bundled Android emulator, and a bound account carries progress both directions between Steam, iOS and Android. Download is free, in-app purchases are heavy, and every upgrade past Castle 20 is paced around speed-ups you either farm for weeks or buy.
Lords Mobile 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 | Your Turf | Castle 1 to 25 | Resource production, training queues, and the 200,000 troop march cap at Castle 25 | Physical damage heroes |
| 2 | The kingdom map | Early | Progression materials | Physical damage heroes |
| 3 | Darknests | Darknest levels 1 to 5, guild content only | Guild Fest points, Coalition rewards and materials that single player content never drops | Tank heroes |
| 4 | The Colosseum | Any Castle level; hero rank and skills decide the result | Daily Gems, ladder placement rewards and free reroll attempts | Tank heroes |
| 5 | Hero Stages | Chapters scale alongside hero levels 1 to 60 | Hero Medals, Forge materials, speed-ups and a steady Gem trickle | Tank heroes |
Your Turf: Starting Area
The base you actually upgrade: Castle, Academy, Barracks, Wall, Traps and the Shelter that hides troops while you are offline or asleep.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Castle 1 to 25 |
| Key Rewards | Resource production, training queues, and the 200,000 troop march cap at Castle 25 |
| Recommended Build | Physical damage heroes |
| Key Equipment | Ranged |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Castle upgrades up to level 25. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to The kingdom map.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
The kingdom map: Early Game
The kingdom map is the natural progression from the starting zone with increased challenge.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Early |
| Key Rewards | Progression materials and gear upgrades |
| Recommended Build | Physical damage heroes |
| Key Equipment | Ranged |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering Troop counter loop across three types. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Ranged if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Darknests.
Darknests: Mid Game
Guild rally targets that hold defending troops rather than scripted monsters. Slot leaders and War Familiars before the rally timer runs out or you waste the whole march.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Darknest levels 1 to 5, guild content only |
| Key Rewards | Guild Fest points, Coalition rewards and materials that single player content never drops |
| Recommended Build | Tank heroes |
| Key Equipment | Ranged |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Infantry becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Hero recruitment and the Colosseum ladder for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
The Colosseum: Late Game
Hero versus hero ladder that ignores your Castle level entirely. A Castle 12 account with well ranked heroes will beat a Castle 22 account that never levelled them.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Any Castle level; hero rank and skills decide the result |
| Key Rewards | Daily Gems, ladder placement rewards and free reroll attempts |
| Recommended Build | Tank heroes |
| Key Equipment | Infantry |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Infantry should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Kingdom vs Kingdom and Guild Fest events mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Hero Stages.
Hero Stages: Endgame
The single player campaign chapters where five hero teams clear waves. This is the main early source of Hero Medals and the materials your Forge needs.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Chapters scale alongside hero levels 1 to 60 |
| Key Rewards | Hero Medals, Forge materials, speed-ups and a steady Gem trickle |
| Recommended Build | Tank heroes |
| Key Equipment | Infantry |
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 Economy boost heroes for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: Your Turf → The kingdom map → Darknests → The Colosseum → Hero Stages. 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 Lords Mobile Guides
- Lords Mobile Lords Mobile Overview
- Lords Mobile Best Builds
- Lords Mobile Tier List
- Lords Mobile Walkthrough
- Lords Mobile Beginner's Guide
- Lords Mobile Tips & Tricks
- Lords Mobile Weapons Guide
- Lords Mobile Combat Guide
- Lords Mobile Boss Guide
- Lords Mobile Crafting Guide
- Lords Mobile Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Lords Mobile, check out these related guides:
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Maps & Locations: strategy game with similar mechanics
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Maps & Locations: strategy game with similar mechanics
- RimWorld Maps & Locations: strategy game with similar mechanics
