Gear Guide (Season 4)
Gear in Season 4
By Season 4, your primary squad should have a complete gold gear set at Level 40 with multiple pieces at 2-star or higher. Many competitive players are pushing toward 4-star and Mythic gear. The gear system itself does not change — what changes is how gear interacts with two new systems: the Armament Institute and Tactics Cards.
For full gear mechanics, see the Pre-Season 1 Gear Guide.
Season 4 gear strategy has two priorities: continue star promotion toward Mythic, and start Armament Institute research. The Armament Institute adds a new layer of stat progression that complements your existing gear. Tactics Cards interact with gear by providing additive stat bonuses that compound with your gear's base stats. Together, these systems make every gear upgrade more valuable than before.
What Changed from Season 3
Armament Institute
The Armament Institute is a new building introduced in Season 4 that provides additional stat boosts through 4 sequential research paths:
The Institute cannot be upgraded — it functions from the moment you unlock it. The progression is entirely through research, which requires two new resources: Armament Materials (common, steady supply) and Armament Core (rare, the bottleneck).
The Armament Institute research paths are long. Start Helmet research on Day 1 and keep the queue running constantly. Every day you delay is a day further from the Weapon path's offensive bonuses. The sequential order is non-negotiable — you cannot skip to Weapon research.
Tactics Card Interaction with Gear
Tactics Cards provide additive stat bonuses that stack with your gear:
- A Tactics Card that gives +ATK adds directly to your gear's ATK bonuses
- This means higher-starred gear benefits more from Tactics Cards — the same percentage bonus on a larger base number equals more raw stats
- Gear star promotion becomes even more valuable because Tactics Cards amplify the promoted stats
- Exclusive Weapons scale from base stats that include both gear and Tactics Card bonuses
Resource Scarcity
Season 4's darkness mechanic reduces resource generation by 30% when outside Lighthouse range:
- Material farming is harder — keep your base in the light to maintain full production
- Ceramic production from the Material Workshop is affected — ensure your base stays powered
- Plan gear upgrades carefully — resource waste in Season 4 is more punishing than any previous season
- The absence of stone and quartz from alliance tiles means planning material sources in advance
Star Promotion Priority (Season 4)
If you are still working on star promotion, priorities remain carry-first:
All Squad Types
Mythic Gear Progression
By Season 4, Mythic (5-star, red) gear should be achievable for your carry's Gun at minimum:
Mythic Blueprint Sources
Realistic Season 4 Mythic Timeline
- Most competitive players should have 1-2 Mythic pieces by early Season 4
- Target: Carry's Gun at Mythic, working toward carry's Chip at Mythic
- Do not rush Mythic at the expense of balanced star promotion — three 4-star pieces outperform one Mythic and two 2-stars
- Armament Institute research provides separate stat gains — do not neglect it for Mythic chasing
Armament Institute Strategy
Resource Management
Research Priority
The research order is fixed (Helmet, Body Armor, Accessories, Weapon), but within each path:
- Complete each path fully before the next unlocks — no shortcuts
- Prioritise the highest-tier nodes within each path — they provide the largest stat increases
- Keep the research queue running constantly — downtime wastes the season
- Stockpile Armament Core for the later paths (Accessories and Weapon) where the requirements increase
Gear Loadout Considerations for Copper War
Copper War introduces specific gear considerations:
- Garrison defenders should maximise defensive gear star levels — Murphy's Radar and Armor are the highest priority
- Rally attackers should maximise carry's Gun and Chip — burst damage breaks garrisons
- If you play both roles, note that gear does not swap with T11 troop type — your gear stays the same regardless of Armored or Assault mode
Common Season 4 Gear Mistakes
- Not starting Armament Institute research — the research is long and the building requires no upgrades. Start on Day 1
- Ignoring Tactics Card synergy with gear — cards and gear are additive. Both matter. Investing in one without the other leaves power on the table
- Operating in darkness — the -30% resource generation penalty slows your gear progression. Stay in Lighthouse range
- Hoarding Armament Materials — spend them on research. They are the common resource, not the bottleneck
- Neglecting star promotion for Armament Institute — both provide stats, but star promotion on existing gear is usually more impactful point for point. Balance your investment
- Not planning around missing stone and quartz tiles — Season 4 removes alliance stone and quartz tiles. Source these materials elsewhere
- Rushing Mythic on second squad before primary is complete — your primary squad's star promotion always comes first
Related Guides
- Season 3 Gear Guide — previous season reference
- Pre-Season 1 Gear Guide — full gear mechanics and crafting
- Tactics Cards Guide — how card stats interact with gear
- T11 Troops Guide — Armament Institute details
- Lighthouse & Electricity Guide — resource generation in the light