Getting Started

Disclaimer: This guide is intentionally vague about some concepts because the game is currently in beta. Being too specific may cause this article to become outdated quickly as mechanics evolve. For more information, refer to the Discord.

First steps

The interface

Once you have joined the game, you should familiarize yourself with the interface. At this stage, the following sections are most relevant:

• Left side panel — displays server time, current resources and hourly production for the village you have selected. Includes icons that will send you too your Army page, or your Logistics page for sending resources back and forth.
• Advisor (Left side panel, bottom-left) — access tasks: Tasks
• Kingdom Overview — displays information on your settlements.
• Village Overview — displays specific village.
  • Resources view — upgrade resource fields: Village
  • Buildings view — upgrade buildings: Buildings
  • Queue — add Science or Culture to your Queue.
  • Manage — change your village name, or upgrade village to town and town to city.
• Map — view your position in the world: Map
• Statistics — displays player rankings, as well as basic information on when important events spawn in the 'Server' tab.
• Reports — displays reports of your most recent activities.
• Messages — send and receive messages to other players. Either personal messages, or to your Empire.
• Right side panel — displays Empire information; Aether Store; Science research; Culture Calculator; and Kingdom Statistics. Each will box is a link that shows current relevant information, and will send you to the relevant page if clicked.

A special mention goes to the Aether Store, where spending your Aether can provide a significant boost.

Note

Important: Aether is an in-game currency. It cannot be purchased and can only be earned through gameplay. Real money does not provide any gameplay advantage.

First upgrades

Your initial goal is to complete tasks quickly to earn Aether. Always follow your tasks - they reward you with Aether and show you what to build next. The Aether you earn can then be used to buy resources and accelerate your development.

It is recommended to purchase all resources from the Aether Store. You may choose between focusing on a specific resource for higher individual rewards or distributing across all resources for a greater total. Excess resources can be used in trading events or at the Exchange.

A basic upgrade path:

1. Barracks level 1
2. Food Cellar level 1
3. Marketplace level 1
4. Theater level 1
5. Library level 1
6. Claim first tile at 40 population
7. Water Mill level 1
8. Warehouse level 1
9. Archery Range level 1
10. Economy level 1 buildings to reach 80 population
11. Claim second tile at 80 population (if not 80 pop yet, make one more level of Town Hall)
12. Town Hall level 3
13. Upgrade Economy buildings to level 2 for the rewards (in order of the rewards system to gain Aether along the way)
14. Upgrade Warehouse and Food Cellar to level 3 to get Aether and builder rewards
15. Town Hall level 5

At Town Hall level 5, two paths are available. Follow your tasks to decide which one fits:

Path 1 - Continue directly	Path 2 - Build army first
Theater level 5 Library level 5	Complete army tasks (Barracks, Archery Range, Stables) Grow your army to 100 soldiers Theater level 5 Library level 5

After either path, focus on culture and science buildings to work toward your second village. See Guides for more information on next steps.

You can claim a tile from the Village view by clicking "Claim Tile". It is recommended to prioritize Hills, Mountains, or Forest tiles.

Events

Participating in Events is one of the most effective ways to grow your kingdom.

There are three types of events:

• Trading (yellow background)
• Offensive (red background)
• Defensive (green background)

To do combat events, you'll need army.

Trading events

Require sending a specified amount of resources (any type). You may send resources in multiple steps, but failing to complete the event will result in losing the invested resources.

Rewards may include Aether, culture, or science. Aether events are especially valuable and should be prioritized when you have excess resources (often food).

Defensive events

Types:

• Shield — troops wait until the timer ends before fighting (rewards: resources and Aether)
• Swords — progressive combat against increasing enemies (rewards: resources)
• Shield and Arrow — immediate combat (rewards: resources and Aether)

Offensive events

Types:

• Swords — enemies gathering; immediate combat for resources
• Palisade — enemies developing; immediate combat for resources and Aether (based on stage)

It is recommended to prioritize Aether events at the highest stage.

Event Strategy

If you joined a new server	If you joined an ongoing server
Focus on offensive events Send 3–4× militia compared to enemy size Add 1× lancers once unlocked Example: Event size 15 → send ~45 militia	Focus on resource events to catch up Build spearmen and longbows Send 10x spearmen + 10x longbows to defensive events Once available, send 5–7× lancers per event

Empire

Aether Kingdoms is fundamentally a team-based game. While PvP can be avoided early on, joining an Empire is strongly recommended. An empire is also necessary to gain prestige and compete for the win.

To choose an empire:

• Check the map and look for nearby players
• Contact them directly, their leader, or via Discord

Warning

Important: Joining an empire is critical. There is no early raiding advantage, so you are generally safe at the beginning. Later, you may become a target due to expansion and conquest. Make sure to team up and build enough army!

Explore!

These are the core basics of the game. Additional mechanics and strategic decisions—such as balancing village tiers, research priorities, or army composition—are more subjective and are covered in other wiki articles.

Late start benefits

If you're starting later in the server, you get awarded certain benefits:

• More resource production
  • Village resource fields start at level 3 + 2 every 28 days.
  • Newly claimed tiles start with resource fields at level 1 + 2 every 28 days.
• Faster second village
  • 200 Culture per day after the first day, up to 5000. You need 4000 to settle a second village.
  • Free Settlers unit after 24 days, so you can settle a new village right away.
• Faster research
  • Early science costs go down significantly. The first 2 tiers after 28 days, then 1 tier per 28 days.
• Faster development
  • 2 Builders per day after the first day, to help speed up anything you build.
  • Every week Aether gets more valuable. You get more resources per Aether, and buying units with Aether is cheaper too.