Just started playing Lands of Jail and feeling a bit overwhelmed? You’re not alone. This strategy war game throws you into the chaotic world of prison-building, troop-training, and alliance warfare—and without proper guidance, it’s easy to waste resources and fall behind.
Don’t worry. This Lands of Jail Beginner guide will walk you through everything you need to progress fast, manage your prison smartly, and avoid early-game mistakes.
Lands of Jail Beginner Guide – Fast Progress & Prison Management
1. Don’t Waste Diamonds – Save Them for Events
At the start of the game, you’ll receive some diamonds. Most beginners make the mistake of spending them on speeding up construction. Don’t do that.
Instead, save your diamonds for time-limited events that offer rare rewards and boosts. These events can give you resources, troops, and other items far more valuable than a rushed upgrade.
Bonus Tip: You’re protected by a 3-day shield. Use this time wisely to build up without fear of attacks.
2. Prioritize Buying a Second Builder
You start with just one builder, and that really slows down your prison’s development. You can rent a second builder for 2,000 diamonds (2 days), but that’s not sustainable.
Instead, buy the second builder permanently as early as possible. Over time, it’ll save you hundreds of thousands of diamonds and let you upgrade both the interior and exterior of your prison simultaneously.
. Get the Premium Vending Machine
The vending machine is your main source of in-game money, which is crucial for upgrading prison interiors.
Purchasing the premium vending machine gives you more resources daily, which in turn:
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Speeds up room development
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Helps level up faster
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Makes your prison self-sustaining
Combine this with regular missions and factory work to keep your funds flowing.
4. Prevent Riots by Managing Prisoner Happiness
Riots can cripple your progress. If prisoners riot, your guards die, your income stops, and everything slows down.
Here’s how to keep prisoners calm:
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Upgrade the Cafeteria, Laundry, and Shower Room to meet their basic needs.
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Increase Guard Levels in line with Prisoner Levels
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Adjust Factory Work Intensity to avoid overworking them
Always monitor the happiness bar to prevent chaos before it starts.
5. Capture Felons Daily for Buffs & Rewards
Many players ignore the felon arrest system, but it’s one of the best ways to boost your account.
Capturing felons gives:
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Buffs like training speed, attack, defense, and more
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High-value rewards for each stage cleared
To win arrests consistently:
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Optimize your hero formation
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Focus on upgrading your top 5 heroes
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Increase their levels and stars before investing in others
After catching a felon, set them free inside your prison to activate their buff. You can swap felons every 12 hours (up to 3 saved swaps).
6. Join a Strong & Active Alliance Early
This might be the most important step of all.
Joining an active alliance opens the door to:
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Event participation with shared rewards
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Alliance donations that unlock buffs
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Access to the Alliance Store with premium items
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Group raids and monster hunts
Bonus: When members top-up (buy currency), you get free rewards too. So be active, contribute, and grow together.
7. Set Up Your Game Comfortably
Before diving into intense gameplay, adjust your:
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In-game language settings
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Graphics/performance
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Notifications & alerts
Also, make sure to:
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Link your account to Gmail for backup
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Change your in-game name (leaders trust non-default names more)
💡 Pro Tip: Check the world chat and server rankings to see which alliances dominate. It helps you pick the right team.