Waterfall Training (Season 3)

Waterfall Training in Season 3

By Season 3, T10 is the standard combat tier and your waterfall chain should be fully optimised around it. The core waterfall mechanic has not changed — train low-tier troops, promote through the chain on Day 5 for multiplied points. What Season 3 adds is a strategic layer: troop losses from combat now generate Desert Protectors, which means your training decisions interact with the Protector economy.

For the full explanation of how waterfall training works, see the Waterfall Training Guide.

What Changes in Season 3

T10 Is Standard

By Season 3, T10 should be your waterfall endpoint:

• Special Forces research should be complete — T10 is available at Barracks Level 30
• Valor Badges should be stockpiled from months of Alliance Duel participation
• If T10 is not yet unlocked, completing the Special Forces research tree is an urgent priority

Troop Losses Feed Desert Protectors

This is the key Season 3 interaction with training:

• When your troops die in combat, a portion converts to Desert Protectors (10x stronger, consumed in battle)
• Training replacements is part of the Protector economy — you lose troops to combat, gain Protectors, lose Protectors in Spice Wars, then train new troops to start the cycle again
• Waterfall training on Day 5 replenishes your combat force after Spice Wars losses
• The troops you train this week are the troops you lose next week to create next week's Protectors

Spice Wars Troop Consumption

Spice Wars on Wednesday and Saturday consume troops:

• Offensive rallies against enemy buildings cost troops
• Garrison defence costs troops when your buildings are attacked
• Day 5 waterfall training must account for Spice Wars losses — you need enough troops to fight effectively on Wednesday and Saturday while still having reserves for Day 6 VS combat
• Overtraining low-tier troops (the stockpile) is a feature, not a waste — they promote up and become your next week's combat force

Recommended Season 3 Setup

Standard T10 Waterfall (4 Barracks)

This should be your default setup by Season 3:

Weekly routine: Train T6 troops all week. On Day 5: T6 to T7 to T8 to T9 to T10 through the chain. Four promotion steps with T10 as the endpoint.

Extended Chain (5 Steps)

If you have a fifth barracks or can manage a wider spread:

Weekly routine: Train T5 troops all week. On Day 5: T5 to T6 to T7 to T8 to T9 to T10. Five promotion steps — maximum points per cycle.

Season 3 Weekly Routine

Monday-Tuesday:

• Train T5 or T6 troops continuously in all barracks
• Save all training and general speedups for Friday
• Tuesday: Fight PvE content to top off Desert Protectors before Wednesday Spice Wars

Wednesday (Spice Wars + VS Day 3):

• Spice Wars takes priority if timing conflicts with VS Research Day
• Combat losses generate Desert Protectors — this is expected, not a problem
• You will replenish troops on Friday

Thursday (VS Day 4):

• Spend all hero items — Marshall's Exclusive Weapon upgrades count toward points
• Continue stockpiling low-tier troops

Friday (VS Day 5 — Total Mobilisation):

• Run the full waterfall chain — your primary point-earning day
• Use all saved speedups to maximise promotion cycles
• After waterfall, your army should be at full T10 strength for Saturday's double header
• Fight PvE in the evening to top off Protectors before Saturday

Saturday (VS Day 6 + Spice Wars):

• Day 6 VS combat uses your freshly trained T10 troops
• Heal between VS Day 6 and Spice Wars
• Troop losses from both events generate Protectors for next week
• Begin restocking low-tier troops after Saturday combat

Sunday:

• Resume T5/T6 training
• Start stacking radar missions for Monday

Strategic Training Decisions

Training More Than You Need

In Season 3, overtraining troops has value:

• Excess troops that die in Spice Wars or PvE generate Desert Protectors
• Training cheap low-tier troops gives you a larger pool to promote and a larger pool to lose in combat
• The more troops you cycle through combat, the more Protectors you accumulate
• There is no such thing as "wasted" training in Season 3 — everything feeds the Protector economy

Balancing Troop Types

Your waterfall chain trains all troop types equally (Tank, Aircraft, Missile). In Season 3:

• You need all three types for squad diversity in Spice Wars
• Train additional troops of your primary squad type if you consistently run low
• Troop type does not affect waterfall points — all types earn the same per promotion step

Common Season 3 Waterfall Mistakes

1. Not having T10 unlocked — Special Forces research should be complete by Season 3. If not, this is urgent
2. Rushing all barracks to Level 30 — staggered barracks are still required for waterfall. Keep them staggered
3. Forgetting that Friday sets up Saturday — your waterfall troops are your Day 6 + Spice Wars combat force
4. Not accounting for Spice Wars troop losses — train enough to replace Wednesday and Saturday losses
5. Ignoring the Protector connection — troop losses create Protectors. Training replaces those losses. The cycle is intentional
6. Spending training speedups before Friday — discipline remains essential across all seasons

Related Guides

• Waterfall Training Guide — full explanation of waterfall mechanics
• Season 3 VS Guide — VS and Spice Wars dual commitment
• Spice Wars Strategy Guide — why troop reserves matter
• Season 3 Overview — Desert Protector mechanics
• Alliance Duel VS Guide — Day 5 scoring mechanics