Just starting out in 9 Kings? This deep strategy autobattler can seem overwhelming at first—but don’t worry. We’ve broken down the 9 Kings Beginner Guide from a seasoned player’s perspective to help you build strong armies, make smart choices, and master the battlefield.
9 Kings Beginner Guide – Upgrade Units & Buildings
1. Understand the Game Flow
In 9 Kings, you always play cards until only two remain in your hand. At that point, you automatically enter Fight Mode. Once you win the battle, you’ll get to choose 1 or 3 cards, depending on which King you defeated.
Pro Tip: You only earn cards from the Kings you’ve battled—so plan your targets wisely.
2. Don’t Auto-Play Every Card
If you change your mind about a card, just drag it to the corner and release—it’ll return safely to your hand. This gives you flexibility without wasting resources.
3. Avoid Throwing Cards Into the Well Early
It might be tempting to toss unused cards into the well for money, but this is a bad move early on. You need every unit on the board to start building momentum.
4. Don’t Reroll Cards Too Soon
Rerolling early cards wastes your gold. Instead, save money for Decrees—these are long-term value investments that define your scaling.
5. Prioritize the “Overwork” Decree Early
If you spot Overwork in your early decree choices, grab it! It’s arguably the strongest early-game decree, helping you scale your army quickly.
Heads up: Some decrees are limited (like Overwork, capped at 2x), while others (like Sharp Blades or Feast) can be stacked many times for late-game scaling.
6. The 4 Pillars of Success
Master these four game elements to thrive in 9 Kings:
- Money – More gold = more rerolls and upgrades.
- Damage – Comes from units, buildings like Beacons or Blacksmiths.
- Sustain – Use cards like Steel Coat on your carry units to increase survivability.
- AoE (Area of Effect) Damage – Spells like Combustion deal big splash damage.
7. Use Merchants Smartly
There are three types of merchants:
- Units
- Spells
- Buildings
You can reroll their shops, but note: the reroll cost increases permanently during your run.
8. Upgrade Units & Buildings
Every unit/building can be upgraded up to 3 times, improving their:
- Base stats
- Squad size
- Building effects (can even double in power!)
9. Take Advantage of Expansion Mode
Occasionally, the game lets you expand your battlefield. Choose a location in a plus-shape pattern around your main squad—these spots buff your carry squad significantly.
10. Build Around AoE Damage
Combustion is one of the best AoE effects. Combine it with high-damage units like Elves, and copy it with the Library building to shred through enemies.
11. Master Unit Positioning
Positioning is crucial. Focus on one strong carry squad surrounded by key buildings like:
- Beacon
- Farm
- Library
- Vault
Only directly adjacent buildings will buff your core unit.
12. Best Carry Units Per King
- King of Nature: Elf (high base damage and scaling)
- King of Nothing: Archer
- King of Spells: Wizard
- King of Greed: Thieves
Build your strategy around these core units, and support them with synergy-based spells and buildings.
13. Use Spells to Amplify Strength
Spells are game-changers. Some top choices include:
- Offering – More card value
- Overinvestment – Buffs base stats
- Procreate – Expands your unit count
Stack these to supercharge your primary squad.
14. Max Your Main Building Early
Once your main building is maxed, it removes lower-tier cards (like Palace) from your shop pool, letting stronger, late-game cards appear more often. This improves your shop quality dramatically.
9 Kings blends strategic deck-building, resource management, and tactical positioning. With these 14 beginner tips, you’re no longer entering blind—you’re stepping onto the battlefield with a solid foundation.