Drones and reconnaissance
Drones in Build and Conquer: the three-drone research chain, what the second drone needs, and how drones are used for raiding and for keeping eyes on the.
Drones come from research, not the military base alone: the second drone needs the first drone researched plus a medium research office. There are three drones in the game after the V0.1 update, and they are the cheapest way to see and hit the mainland early.
Drones are the first military thing most Build and Conquer players should build. They are cheaper than tanks, faster than infantry, and they do both jobs you need early: hurting small targets and finding out what is happening outside your plot.
The research chain
| Step | Requirement |
|---|---|
| First drone | Available once military production is up |
| Second drone | Research the first drone and build a medium research office |
| Third drone | Further research down the same line (added in the V0.1 update) |
The medium research office is the gate most players hit. It is not expensive relative to what it unlocks, and it also speeds up everything else you research, so it is usually worth building before you need it.
What drones are for
- Raiding exposed targets. A drone can reach mainland targets that infantry cannot, for less than a tank.
- Keeping watch. Knowing when a neighbour's units move is worth more than any single kill.
- Feeding missile quests. Drone hits count toward your missile unlock quests — which is exactly the advice community guides give for grinding the SRBM's five hits and beyond.
- Not for standing fights. Drones lose to air defence and to massed ground fire; they are a scalpel, not a hammer.
Drone discipline
Stockpile them. The most common mistake new players make is spending each drone the moment it is built; veterans sit on a flight of them and use them when the fight is worth it. Drones you still have are drones the enemy has to plan around.
Related reading: research guide for the tech side, missile guide for the quests they feed.
