SMG Studio's official digital Risk arrived on Steam on 19 February 2020 as a free to play release with cross platform matches against phone and console players. The Classic Map is the familiar 42 territory, six continent board, and more than 120 further maps ship in paid packs ranging from under 20 territories to well past 90. Rule toggles such as Capital Conquest, Blizzards and Fog of War change the maths of a match far more than swapping maps does.
RISK: Global Domination 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 | Classic Map | 42 territories, 6 continents | Australia at 2 troops behind one border, Asia at the largest bonus | Progressive card farmer |
| 2 | World Conquest Map | Medium, roughly 36 to 60 territories | New sea lanes, redrawn continent borders, longer games | Progressive card farmer |
| 3 | Simple World Map | Under 20 territories | Quick matches, ideal for one against one | Australia turtle |
| 4 | Advanced Map Pack | Large, 61 territories and up | Longer campaigns, more continents, higher bonus totals | Australia turtle |
| 5 | Zombie Map Pack | Varies by board | Zombie rule set, altered elimination behaviour | Australia turtle |
Classic Map: Starting Area
The original Risk board: 42 territories across six continents, with Asia paying the most and Australia being the easiest to hold. It is free from the start and it is where almost every strategy discussion is anchored.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 42 territories, 6 continents |
| Key Rewards | Australia at 2 troops behind one border, Asia at the largest bonus |
| Recommended Build | Progressive card farmer |
| Key Equipment | Wild cards |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Fixed and progressive card trade-ins. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to World Conquest Map.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
World Conquest Map: Early Game
A medium sized world map with additional countries and new sea lanes that do not exist on the Classic board. Those extra connections break several of the standard choke point plans, so Classic muscle memory misleads here.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Medium, roughly 36 to 60 territories |
| Key Rewards | New sea lanes, redrawn continent borders, longer games |
| Recommended Build | Progressive card farmer |
| Key Equipment | Wild cards |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering Territory and continent reinforcement. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Wild cards if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Simple World Map.
Simple World Map: Mid Game
The smallest map in the game, built for fast matches where the whole board can change hands inside a few turns. Card trade-ins dominate because there is not enough territory to build a long term income advantage.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Under 20 territories |
| Key Rewards | Quick matches, ideal for one against one |
| Recommended Build | Australia turtle |
| Key Equipment | Wild cards |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Infantry, cavalry and artillery cards becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Three attack dice against two defence dice for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Advanced Map Pack: Late Game
A paid pack of larger and more complex boards aimed at players who already know the Classic choke points. Bigger boards mean more borders, which makes the border trimming approach far more valuable than it is on Classic.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Large, 61 territories and up |
| Key Rewards | Longer campaigns, more continents, higher bonus totals |
| Recommended Build | Australia turtle |
| Key Equipment | Infantry, cavalry and artillery cards |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Infantry, cavalry and artillery cards should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Fog of War and Secret Missions mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Zombie Map Pack.
Zombie Map Pack: Endgame
Themed boards paired with the Zombies rule set, where eliminated troops come back as a neutral hostile force rather than simply leaving the board. It punishes over extension harder than any standard map does.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Varies by board |
| Key Rewards | Zombie rule set, altered elimination behaviour |
| Recommended Build | Australia turtle |
| Key Equipment | Infantry, cavalry and artillery cards |
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 Endgame blitzer for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: Classic Map → World Conquest Map → Simple World Map → Advanced Map Pack → Zombie Map Pack. 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 RISK: Global Domination Guides
- RISK: Global Domination RISK: Global Domination Overview
- RISK: Global Domination Best Builds
- RISK: Global Domination Tier List
- RISK: Global Domination Walkthrough
- RISK: Global Domination Beginner's Guide
- RISK: Global Domination Tips & Tricks
- RISK: Global Domination Weapons Guide
- RISK: Global Domination Combat Guide
- RISK: Global Domination Boss Guide
- RISK: Global Domination Crafting Guide
- RISK: Global Domination Classes & Characters
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