7 Best Tips & Tricks | 9 Kings Beginner Guide
Image Credits: Sad Socket, 9 Kings
If you’re new to 9 Kings, this guide will save you a lot of time, gold, and frustration. The game looks simple at first, but between card synergies, building placement, and unit upgrades, it gets complicated fast.
Here are 7 beginner tips that actually matter... and no, hoarding gold is not one of them.
Speed Things Up Early
Once you understand how combat works, go into the settings and max out the speed.
You can’t control battles once they start, so keeping things slow is just wasting time.
While you're there, turn off extra animations like troop movement and building effects. It makes runs much smoother and way less repetitive.
Take Duplicates When You See Them
Every troop or building starts at level 1. The only way to level them up is by grabbing duplicates.
You can find these after battles or in the shop. When you do, take them.
Higher level cards deal more damage, gain better effects, and survive longer. It’s one of the easiest ways to get stronger early.
Use Buff Cards on Units That Deserve It
Some cards give special buffs, like bonus gold per kill or immunity to the first hit.
These don’t help much if you throw them on random troops.
Check the damage numbers after each battle. Then stack those buffs on your top-performing units. You’ll see a huge difference in the next fight.
Just don’t waste strong buffs on units that explode or die after one hit. They won’t live long enough to benefit.
Place Your Buildings Carefully
Some buildings deal damage. Others give buffs to troops nearby.
Only the four tiles directly next to a building count as “adjacent.” Diagonals don’t help.
If you get a powerful support building, drop it in the center of your 3x3 grid. That way, it buffs the most troops.
Put damage-dealing buildings on the edges or corners, where they won’t waste potential buffs.
Don’t Save Gold Like It’s Real Life
Gold in 9 Kings is easy to earn... and should be spent just as easily.
Use it in the shop when it appears, or to reroll rewards after fights.
You can always get more gold from battles or card effects. But missed chances to reroll or buy cards? Those don’t come back.
Reroll Until It Feels Right
If you’re offered cards that don’t fit your build, don’t just take them out of panic.
Spend the gold and reroll.
Especially once you know what synergies you want, rerolling helps fill gaps, level cards, or get just one more Knight to finish your combo.
It’s worth it.
Pick a King and Level Them Up
Each king you use gains XP as you play.
When they level up, you get perks that make future runs better.
Perks only apply to the king you’re playing, so it’s smart to stick with one early and build it up.
You’ll unlock new kings later, but building a strong favorite early helps a lot with win consistency.
Final Blurb & FAQ
9 Kings is one of those games that rewards small choices. Card placement, unit leveling, and buff timing all matter more than they first seem.
Keep your board tight, reroll when needed, and please... stop sitting on a pile of gold like you’re running a fantasy bank.
FAQ
Q: Can I upgrade cards without duplicates?
Yes, but it’s slower. Some cards can clone or boost others, but duplicates are the easiest method.
Q: Does unit placement actually matter that much?
Yes. Building buffs only apply in the four main directions, so corners are bad for key units.
Q: What should I spend gold on first?
Rerolls and strong cards in the shop. Don’t hoard it.
Q: Can I use perks across kings?
No. Each king has their own perk tree. They don’t transfer.
Q: What’s a good king to start with?
King of Greed is a safe pick early. Easy gold, easy perks, and flexible cards.
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