Nest Upgrades Guide in Empire of the Ants – Best Upgrades [Winter Update]

As a seasoned gamer with countless hours spent navigating various digital worlds, I can confidently say that the power upgrades in Empire of the Ants are nothing short of game-changing.

Essential in the Empire of the Ants, enhancing your Nest structures is vital for safeguarding your colony and increasing its dominance over various terrains. Curious about their functions? Here’s a simplified guide to every Nest upgrade available in the game and their respective roles.

Best Upgrades in Empire of the Ants – All Nest Upgrades, Listed

As a devoted Empire of the Ants gamer, here’s a breakdown of all the Nest upgrades I’ve discovered so far:

Best Defense Upgrades

Nest Upgrades Guide in Empire of the Ants – Best Upgrades [Winter Update]

Prioritize constructing defense enhancements based on the importance of your mission objectives and the strategic placement of your bases in relation to the enemy’s positions.

If a nest is situated at some distance from the main activity (and not serving as your base), it might not immediately require fortifications, allowing you to allocate those resources towards other upgrades or defense for nests under greater threat. In essence, defending every nest across the map isn’t always essential.

Regarding the best defense upgrades, starting with wood barriers and nest guns is always best, as those can help buy time against an invading enemy until your legions intervene. If you have the resources, upgrade them to Slime Reserves and Veteran Nest Gunners.

List of All Defense Upgrades in Empire of the Ants

Keep in mind that as you strengthen each nest, the cost will gradually increase. By the time you construct the third or fourth Wood Barrier for a nest, it’ll end up costing significantly more than your initial fortification.

UpgradeTierCostBenefits
Wood BarrierI60 x WoodRaises a barrier around this nest
that must be destroyed before damage is applied.
(Price increases by 30 Wood for each one built)
Nest GunnersI40 x WoodMobilizes gunner ants to serve as acid turrets
defending this nest.
Acid Gland EvolutionII20 x WoodIncreases this nest’s gunners’ firing range by 25%
Veteran Nest GuardsII40 x WoodMobilizes veteran guards to defend this nest
Slime ReservesII60 x WoodUpgrades the wood barrier by granting a 20%
shield protection to friendly legions nearby
Veteran Nest GunnersII60 x WoodMobilizes veteran gunner ants to serve as acid turrets
defending this nest
(This upgrade includes the benefits of Nest gunners
using the same chambers)
Elite Nest GuardsIII60 x WoodMobilizes elite guards to defend this nest
(This upgrade includes the benefits of Veteran nest
guards using the same chambers)
Elite Nest GunnersIII80 x WoodMobilizes elite gunner ants to serve as acid
turrets defending this nest
(This upgrade includes the benefits of Veteran
nest gunners using the same chambers)
Frenzy CatalystIII80 x WoodUpgrades the wood barrier to lock in combat all
ant legions that attack it. Legions will remain
locked until the barrier is destroyed.

Best Legion Upgrades

Nest Upgrades Guide in Empire of the Ants – Best Upgrades [Winter Update]

In simpler terms, enhancing Legion upgrades is crucial for expanding and fortifying your ant (and ally bug) armies. These upgrades are essential for defeating opposing legions like termites and black ants. It’s recommended to prioritize building these upgrades at the nest as soon as possible so you can command as many legions as you can.

UpgradeTierCostBenefits Provided
Workers
(Melee Unit)
I20 x Food
2 Chambers
Creates a worker legion attached to this nest.
Can gather and transport 20 Food or Wood, but
these are lost when entering combat.
(Strong against Gunners but weak against Warriors)
Gunners
(Ranged Unit)
I20 x Food
2 Chambers
Creates a gunner legion attached to the respective nest.
Can attack another legion at range and leave combat
while at range.
(Strong against Warriors but weak against Workers)
Warriors
(Melee Unit)
I20 x FoodCreates a warrior legion attached to the respective nest.
(Strong against Workers but weak against Gunners)
Aphids
(Support)
I20 x Food
1 Chamber
Creates an aphid horde attached to the respective nest.
Aphids reinforce friendly troops nearby.
(Weak against all types of enemies; this upgrade can
only be built once.)
Snail
(Support)
I20 x Food
1 Chamber
Lesser but massive creature used in battle to protect troops.
Very slow. Its slime is very useful.
Out of combat, legions cover themselves with its mucus and
gain a 40% damage shield.
(Weak against all types of enemies; this legion can only
be created once)
Rhino Beetles
(Support)
I20 x Food
1 Chamber
A lesser creature, tamed and used to fly legions over large
distances. Looks ferocious but useless in battle.
Can transport up to two ant legions and carry them over
any terrain.
(Weak against all types of enemies; this legion can only
be created once)
Veteran Workers
(Melee Unit)
II40 x Food
2 Chambers
Creates a veteran worker legion attached to the respective nest.
Can gather and transport 25 Food or Wood, but
these are lost when entering combat.
(Strong against Gunners but weak against Warriors)
Veteran Gunners
(Ranged Unit)
II40 x Food
2 Chambers
Creates a veteran gunner legion attached to the respective nest.
Can attack another legion at range and leave combat
while at range.
(Strong against warriors but weak against workers)
Veteran Warriors
(Melee Unit)
II40 x FoodCreates a veteran warrior legion attached to the respective nest.
Dor Beetles
(Super Predator)
II50 x Food
3 Chambers
Creates a dor beetle horde attached to the respective nest.
It can lock all enemy legions in combat.
(Strong against all types of enemies; this upgrade can only
be built once.)
Elite Workers
(Melee Unit)
III60 x Food
2 Chambers
Creates an elite worker legion attached to the respective nest.
Can gather and transport 30 Food or Wood, and these will not
be lost when entering combat.
(Strong against Gunners but weak against Warriors)
Elite Gunners
(Ranged Unit)
III60 x Food
2 Chambers
Creates an elite gunner legion attached to the respective nest.
Decreases the movement speed of targeted ant legions.
(Strong against Warriors but weak against Workers)
Elite Warriors
(Melee Unit)
III60 x FoodCreates an elite warrior legion attached to the respective nest.
This legion’s speed increases when closing on its target.
(Strong against Workers but weak against Gunners)

Which Legion to Upgrade First?

While it can depend on the map’s layout and the types of enemies you need to defeat, you usually want to start with a Warrior and Gunner legion and upgrade them to Veteran or Elite tier, depending on the difficulty of your enemies. Workers can be useful for flanking Gunners but are still best suited for transporting resources. Only build one if there are Food resource points on the map for you to gather.

It’s advisable to construct a “Super Predator” force at Tier 2 without delay, as they excel against all legion types and boast higher average health. For Support legions, the “Snail” tends to be the most effective choice (once it enters your storyline), thanks to its ability to slow down enemy troops. Aphids are relatively weak and only prove beneficial when situated near an allied force.

Best Information Upgrades

    Nest Upgrades Guide in Empire of the Ants – Best Upgrades [Winter Update]Nest Upgrades Guide in Empire of the Ants – Best Upgrades [Winter Update]

These enhancements serve as intelligence resources, allowing you to gain an advantage over approaching enemy forces before they arrive at your location.

UpgradeTierCostBenefits Provided
CartographersI30 x Wood
2 Chambers
Displays all your nests and visible legions
on a minimap.
(This upgrade can only be built once)
Activity AlertI30 x Wood
1 Chamber
Displays alerts when an opponent is interacting
with nests, foraging points and resources.
(This upgrade can only be built once)
Scout TrainingI30 x Food
1 Chamber
Passive Power: Increases your max stamina, stamina regeneration,
and health by 50%
(This upgrade can only be built once)
Sharp AntennaeI30 x FoodIncreases the detection range of your legions so
they can discover enemies and nests from further away.
(This upgrade can only be built once)
Veteran
Cartographers
II40 x Wood
2 Chambers
Displays all regions by colors: controller by you (blue),
contested (yellow), and enemies (red).
(This upgrade can only be built once)
TraitorsII40 x Wood
1 Chamber
Displays the upgrades built, as well as the state of
the legion, in the enemy nest you are aiming at.
(This upgrade can only be built once)
CounterspiesIII40 x WoodHides your legions in this region
(This upgrade can only be built once)
Elite
Cartographers
III70 x Wood
2 Chambers
Displays locations of nests and enemy legions moving
through your controlled and contested regions.
(This upgrade can only be built once)
InfiltratorsIII70 x Wood
1 Chamber
Displays enemy legions and nest positions in the opponent’s
controlled regions.
(This upgrade can only be built once)

Which Information Upgrade to Build First?

As a strategy game enthusiast, I’m eager to set up the Cartographer’s upgrade right away. It’s an essential tool for me since it reveals the entire map of the mission at once. Additionally, I find the Sharp Antennae and Counterspies to be optimal choices. The Sharp Antennae allows me to explore more territory without venturing too deep into enemy territories, while Counterspies help keep my legions hidden from enemies in specific regions.

As an enthusiast, I’d suggest enhancing other aspects within this category could also be beneficial, especially focusing on leveling up your Cartographers when feasible. However, it might be more prudent to allocate your resources towards different areas for optimal results.

Best Economy Upgrades

Nest Upgrades Guide in Empire of the Ants – Best Upgrades [Winter Update]

Essential upgrades, applicable to virtually all missions, include the following: The Woodyard and Mushroom Farm serve as continuous resource providers, whereas Storage Expansion boosts the capacity to store resources simultaneously.

UpgradeTierCostBenefits Provided
WoodyardI20 x Wood
1 Chamber
Produces 10 x Wood per minute
(The cost increases by 20 for each one built)
Mushroom FarmI20 x Wood
1 Chamber
Produces 10 x Food per minute
(The cost increases by 20 for each one built)
Storage ExpansionI30 x Wood
1 Chamber
Increases maximum storage of Food and Wood by 100
Chemical LaboratoryI80 x Food
80 x Wood
2 Chambers
Unlocks upgrades of superior tier.
(This upgrade can only be built once)
SalvageII40 x Wood
1 Chamber
Gives you a 50% refund when manually destroying
a chamber.
(This upgrade can only be built once)
MultitudeII60 x Wood
1 Chamber
Increases the maximum number of legions you
can command by one.
(This upgrade can only be built once)
Pheromone ReservesII60 x Wood
2 Chambers
Reduces powers cooldown by 30%
(This upgrade can only be built once)
NurseryII100 x Wood
2 Chambers
Decreases all legions recovery food cost by 30%
(This upgrade can only be built once)
Chemical LibraryII120 x Food
120 x Wood
2 Chambers
Unlocks upgrades of superior tier.
(This upgrade can only be built once)
SwarmIII80 x Wood
1 Chamber
Increases the maximum number of legions you
can command by one.
(This upgrade can only be built once)

Which Economy Upgrade Is Most Important?

The Chemistry Lab is crucial, as it provides you with all Tier 2 enhancements. Later on, the Chemistry Library will grant you access to Tier 3 upgrades, offering a wealth of options, including the strongest legions. Most of these enhancements are quite beneficial, except for Salvage, which you likely won’t need to use frequently as it destroys chambers.

Best Powers Upgrades

Nest Upgrades Guide in Empire of the Ants – Best Upgrades [Winter Update]

These specific enhancements are ones that your character directly equips, intended to bolster the forces serving under your leadership. By implementing these enhancements, you’ll be able to grant them numerous boosts; several of these buffs prove highly advantageous.

UpgradeTierCostBenefits Provided
Dash PheromonesI20 x Food
2 Chambers
Increases legion’s move speed by 80%
for 12 seconds per charge used.
(This upgrade can only be built once)
Rage PheromonesI20 x Food
2 Chambers
Induces fury to increase legion damage output
but 30% for 30 seconds per charge used.
(This upgrade can only be built once)
Shielding SporesI20 x Food
2 Chambers
Chitin-hardening spores grant a protective
shield of 30% of the legion’s health.
(This upgrade can only be built once)
Reinforcement CallI20 x Food
2 Chambers
Calls reinforcements to slightly heal depleted
legions over 30 seconds.
(This upgrade can only be built once)
Reinforcement CallII30 x Food
2 Chambers
Calls reinforcements to slightly heal depleted
legions over 15 seconds.
(This upgrade can only be built once)
Dash PheromonesII30 x Food
2 Chambers
Increases legion’s moving speed by 100% for
16 seconds per charge used.
(This upgrade can only be built once)
Rage PheromonesII30 x Food
2 Chambers
Induces fury to increase legion damage output
by 50% for 30 seconds per charge used.
(This upgrade can only be built once)
Shielding SporesII30 x Food
2 Chambers
Chitin-hardening spores grant a protective shield
of 60% of the legion’s health.
(This upgrade can only be built once)
Rage PheromonesIII40 x Food
2 Chambers
Induces fury to increase legion damage output
by 70% for 30 seconds per charge used.
(This upgrade can only be built once)
Dash PheromonesIII40 x Food
2 Chambers
Increases legion’s moving speed by 120% for
20 seconds per charge used.
(This upgrade can only be built once)
Shielding SporesIII40 x Food
2 Chambers
Chitin-hardening spores grant a protective shield
of 90% of the legion’s health.
(This upgrade can only be built once)
Reinforcement CallIII40 x Food
2 Chambers
Calls reinforcements to heal depleted legions slightly over 10 seconds.
(This upgrade can only be built once)

Most Important Powers Upgrades in Empire of the Ants

When speed is essential for your troops to swiftly move across the battlefield to confront the enemy or you’re under pressure with a time limit, Dash Pheromones become indispensable. On the other hand, Rage Pheromones provide a temporary attack enhancement for your troops, which can enhance your chances of winning and lessen casualties/recovery time. Lastly, Shielding Spores are a useful option as they offer shield protection to your legion up to a certain extent, enabling them to engage in combat for a longer duration.

After learning about the top-tier improvements for your colony in the Empire of the Ants, take a look at Unveiling the Complete Bestiary in Empire of the Ants on GamerTop.

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2024-12-11 14:51