LOJ Wiki

Guides / Beginner's guide

Beginner's guide

Start here if you are new to Lands of Jail (some players call it Land of Jail). It tells you what to do first, which heroes you get for free, what to keep for events and which buildings to upgrade.

Community guide — the advice is from players, not game data. The levels, rewards, points and days next to it come from the game. Advice by LOJ Wiki dev · CasPop #135 · RachH94.

Where the advice comes from

First steps

Do these in order. Each one says the Warden's Office level it opens at. They give free things.

  1. Finish the tutorial

    Right at the start.

    It gives you
    Lofili
    Lofili    , your first hero. Your first Advanced Recruitment then always gives you
    Gerd
    Gerd    .

  2. Redeem a gift code LOJ Wiki dev

    Shows from Warden's Office Lv.5 (the server can turn it on earlier). Some builds hide it.

    Tap your avatar, then Settings, then Redeem. Do it as soon as Redeem appears: codes give free Diamond and items.

    No Redeem in Settings? Not every build has it. Use the “Redeem CDKey” tab on the top-up website for your version instead: pick your server and character, then enter the code.

    Dev note: once the website said a code was wrong but the reward still arrived. Check your in-game mail before you try again.

    Active gift codes Global (international) version ↗Vietnam version (Vượt Tường Thép) ↗

  3. Hero Banquet: pick a Bomber LOJ Wiki dev

    From Warden's Office Lv.6, when the server runs it.

    The server decides when the Hero Banquet runs: the game has no schedule for it. The dev saw it on new accounts. You choose which of four heroes to host. Pick Minyeon & Taehun or Samir. Skip Iwakado and Vesaryon: both are Shieldbearer heroes. Both Bomber heroes stay useful later, for free and paying players alike.

  4. Join an alliance LOJ Wiki dev

    Around Warden's Office Lv.7.

    The Alliance opens after your first Scout Hangar Intelligence Task, and the Scout Hangar unlocks at Warden's Office Lv.7. So expect the Alliance around Warden's Office Lv.7. Pick an alliance that lets you in without approval. Your first alliance pays 400 Diamond.

  5. Bind your account LOJ Wiki dev

    The event opens at Warden's Office Lv.10, on day 2 of your account. The task opens at Warden's Office Lv.5.

    Bind Facebook and Google in the Binding Rewards event. Binding one account gives Guardian Pact (Permanent) + 1K Diamonds; binding both gives 1K Diamonds more. The task “Bind Account” also pays 2,000 Diamond.

  6. Get the PC version LOJ Wiki dev

    From Warden's Office Lv.15. Not every version has it.

    The PC Version Gift event gives free rewards. You can claim them only in the PC version.

Top up on the website LOJ Wiki dev

The publisher has a top-up website for each version of the game. The two are nearly the same: use the one for your version.

  • The Store sells only Gold Cuffs. You get +8% extra, and +10% from the US$99.99 pack (2,999,000 VND on the Vietnam site) up.
  • Benefits has a weekly check-in on the web, once a day, that resets every Monday: 800 / 1,500 / 800 / 800 / 1,500 / 1,500 / 2,000 Diamond, 8,900 Diamond a week. The rewards come by in-game mail.
  • Both sites have a “Redeem CDKey” tab for gift codes. The global site also has a “Points” tab (top-up points).
  • Log in with your User ID: tap your avatar, open Settings, then User Center, and copy the ID.
  • An account from the Vietnam version cannot use the global site: it says “This service is currently unavailable in this region”.
  • Careful: Gold Cuffs bought on these sites count for VIP and your top-up total only once you spend them in the game. Buying Gold Cuffs does not open the first-purchase bonus by itself; spending them on a pack worth US$2.99 or more does (the dev checked this in game).

Do this: Check in on the web every week, and buy Gold Cuffs there if you plan to top up.

Do this: Tick all six before you spend anything.

Golden rules

Six rules that save you the most.

One core team CasPop

Put your resources into one main team first. Do not spread them over many heroes.

One hero at a time CasPop

Finish levelling one hero before you start the next.

Shooters first CasPop

For tomes and hero gear, Shooter first, then Shieldbearer, then Bomber.

Promote your troops RachH94

Every time a new troop tier unlocks, promote your soldiers to it.

4 stars is enough for skills

4★ is the star every skill needs for its top level (you still need the skill books). 5★ adds no skill level. A hero needs 475 shards for 4★ and 1,075 for 5★, counting the 10 to recruit. It is the same for every hero.

Do not spend it all at once LOJ Wiki dev

Keep your hero shards, speed-ups, gear materials, recruitment cards (Supply Card for Normal Recruitment, Advanced Supply Card for Advanced Recruitment) and Lottery Coin I–IX. Events give points for using them, so wait for the right event. The table below shows which one.

Do this: Pick one team and keep the rest of your shards.

Save it for the event LOJ Wiki dev

Events score the things you use. If you use them on the right day, the same resources earn you rank rewards.

Beginner's Tournament

A points race for new accounts: 6 phases, one a day, about server days 3 to 8. It opens at Warden's Office Lv.6. You compete in a group on your own tier, and each day scores different things.

The tiers, lowest first (the number is how many of a group move up):

  • Beginner (10)
  • Elite (10)
  • Master (5)
  • Legendary

From the game's help:

1. Achieve top 10 in your group allows you to advance to a higher tier in the next phase, where you can earn even better rewards.

2. Only the top 5 Wardens in the Master Tier advance to the Legendary Tier.

3. In the final day's rankings (Phase 6), the top 25 Wardens in the Legendary Tier receive an event-themed Relocation Effects, the top 10 receive a permanent Prison Skin, and the top 3 receive an exclusive Rally Background.

What each day scores

  1. Day 3: Stamina Consumption
    • Consume Every 1 Stamina 600 Point(s)
  2. Day 4: Field Rally
    • Initiate rally to defeat Casimir the Destroyer 1 time(s). 30,000 Point(s)
    • Initiate a rally to hunt 1 beast(s). 30,000 Point(s)
  3. Day 5: Resource Growth
    • Gather 1,000 Food in the field. 30 Point(s)
    • Gather 1,000 Wood in the field. 30 Point(s)
    • Gather 200 Steel in the field. 30 Point(s)
    • Gather 50 Gasoline in the field. 30 Point(s)
    • Use Lv.1–9 Chance Machine at Fortune Arcade. 50–23,400 Point(s)
  4. Day 6: Building Speed-up
    • Speed up construction for 1 min(s). 240 Point(s)
    • Consume 1 min(s) speed up research. 240 Point(s)
  5. Day 7: Hero Recruitment
    • Consume 1 Diamond(s) 5 Point(s)
    • Perform a Normal Recruitment. 1,650 Point(s)
    • Perform 1 Advanced Recruitment. 5,500 Point(s)
  6. Day 8: Power Up
    • Increase Construction Power by 1. 5 Point(s)
    • Increase Research Power by 1. 5 Point(s)
    • Increase soldiers' CP by 1 through training and promotion. 5 Point(s)
    • Consume 1 Diamond(s) 5 Point(s)

No day scores hero shards. Hero shards score in Ace Warden, on its Hero Training day (about server day 7). The tables below list it.

How to play it LOJ Wiki dev

  • The final day decides. Before it, you only need to stay in the top 10 of your group (top 5 in Master) to climb to Legendary.
  • Keep your speed-ups for the final day. On the Building Speed-up day, use only what you need to stay in the top 10 (top 5 in Master). On the final day, finishing buildings and research turns into Power points.
  • Save resources. In the Lab, research only the Development tab and a little Economy. Leave Combat for the final day, because it holds the most Power.

Research that needs Lab Lv.15 or lower adds about 397,000 Power in Development, 51,000 in Economy and 764,000 in Combat.

Ace Warden: run 1 is days 6 to 11. It comes back from day 22, then every 14 days, and each run scores different things.

Rare Hero Shard Epic Hero Shard Legendary Hero Shard

Show the table
Event About server day Points
Ace Warden Hero Training Day 7 every run
Consume 1 Rare Hero Shard(s) to upgrade any Hero's star level. 8,000 Point(s)
Consume 1 Epic Hero Shard(s) to upgrade any Hero's star level. 28,000 Point(s)
Consume 1 Legendary Hero Shard(s) to upgrade any Hero's star level. 70,000 Point(s)
Ace Warden Enhance Power Day 42 from run 3
Consume 1 Rare Hero Shard(s) to upgrade any Hero's star level. 8,000 Point(s)
Consume 1 Epic Hero Shard(s) to upgrade any Hero's star level. 28,000 Point(s)
Consume 1 Legendary Hero Shard(s) to upgrade any Hero's star level. 70,000 Point(s)
Leading Legends Day 49 3 runs, every 14 days
Consume 1 Rare Hero Shard(s) to upgrade any Hero's star level. 30 Point(s)
Consume 1 Epic Hero Shard(s) to upgrade any Hero's star level. 100 Point(s)
Consume 1 Legendary Hero Shard(s) to upgrade any Hero's star level. 250 Point(s)
Supreme Honor Hero Lineup Day 79 back every 28 days also on Day 80 (Tactical Drill )
Consume 1 Rare Hero Shard(s) to upgrade any Hero's star level. 1,050 Point(s)
Consume 1 Epic Hero Shard(s) to upgrade any Hero's star level. 3,660 Point(s)
Consume 1 Legendary Hero Shard(s) to upgrade any Hero's star level. 9,120 Point(s)
Warden Rating Day 85 back every 14 days
Consume 1 Rare Hero Shard(s) to upgrade any Hero's star level. 75 Point(s)
Consume 1 Epic Hero Shard(s) to upgrade any Hero's star level. 250 Point(s)
Consume 1 Legendary Hero Shard(s) to upgrade any Hero's star level. 625 Point(s)
Prime Time Day 91 back every 14 days
Consume 1 Rare Hero Shard(s) to upgrade any Hero's star level. 500 Point(s)
Consume 1 Epic Hero Shard(s) to upgrade any Hero's star level. 1,750 Point(s)
Consume 1 Legendary Hero Shard(s) to upgrade any Hero's star level. 4,350 Point(s)
Holiday rankings (e.g. Spooky Clash, Oct 27 – Nov 3, 2026) Hero Development, Boost Development needs Warden's Office Lv.9 Several times a year, on holidays
Consume 1 Rare Hero Shard(s) to upgrade any Hero's star level. 600 Point(s)
Consume 1 Epic Hero Shard(s) to upgrade any Hero's star level. 2,640 Point(s)
Consume 1 Legendary Hero Shard(s) to upgrade any Hero's star level. 7,200 Point(s)

Building Speed-up Research Speed-up Training Speed-up Universal Speed-up

Show the table
Event About server day Points
Beginner's Tournament Building Speed-up Day 6
Speed up construction for 1 min(s). 240 Point(s)
Consume 1 min(s) speed up research. 240 Point(s)
Pioneer Race Construction Speed-up needs Warden's Office Lv.8 Day 15 every day from this day, in 4-hour stages
Speed up construction for 1 min(s). 60 Point(s)
Pioneer Race Technology Speed-up needs Warden's Office Lv.8 Day 15 every day from this day, in 4-hour stages
Consume 1 min(s) speed up research. 60 Point(s)
Technological Advancement Day 18 or Rising Forces: a server gets one of the two
Consume 1 min(s) speed up research. 5 Point(s)
Rising Forces Day 31 3 runs, every 14 days
Consume 1 min(s) to speed up soldier training and soldier promotion. 1 Point(s)
Treasures Unveiled Day 33 4 runs, every 14 days
Speed up construction for 1 min(s). 5 Point(s)
Consume 1 min(s) speed up research. 5 Point(s)
Consume 1 min(s) to speed up soldier training and soldier promotion. 5 Point(s)
Ace Warden Enhance Power Day 42 from run 3
Speed up construction for 1 min(s). 600 Point(s)
Consume 1 min(s) speed up research. 600 Point(s)
Consume 1 min(s) to speed up soldier training and soldier promotion. 600 Point(s)
Full Throttle Day 43 3 runs, every 14 days
Speed up construction for 1 min(s). 5 Point(s)
Consume 1 min(s) speed up research. 5 Point(s)
Supreme Honor Full Preparation Day 78 back every 28 days also on Day 79 (Hero Lineup )also on Day 82 (Pre-war Action )
Speed up construction for 1 min(s). 90 Point(s)
Consume 1 min(s) speed up research. 90 Point(s)
Consume 1 min(s) to speed up soldier training and soldier promotion. 90 Point(s)
Warden Rating Day 85 back every 14 days
Speed up construction for 1 min(s). 5 Point(s)
Consume 1 min(s) speed up research. 5 Point(s)
Consume 1 min(s) to speed up soldier training and soldier promotion. 5 Point(s)
Warden Rating Day 89 back every 14 days
Speed up construction for 1 min(s). 3 Point(s)
Consume 1 min(s) speed up research. 3 Point(s)
Consume 1 min(s) to speed up soldier training and soldier promotion. 3 Point(s)
Prime Time Day 91 back every 14 days
Speed up construction for 1 min(s). 45 Point(s)
Consume 1 min(s) speed up research. 45 Point(s)
Consume 1 min(s) to speed up soldier training and soldier promotion. 45 Point(s)
Holiday rankings (e.g. Spooky Clash, Oct 27 – Nov 3, 2026) Boost Development, Treasure Collection needs Warden's Office Lv.9 Several times a year, on holidays
Speed up construction for 1 min(s). 72 Point(s)
Consume 1 min(s) speed up research. 72 Point(s)
Consume 1 min(s) to speed up soldier training and soldier promotion. 72 Point(s)

Precision Gear Magnet and parts for any Hero's exclusive equipment

Show the table
Event About server day Points
Ace Warden Enhance Power Day 10 run 1 only
Consume 1 parts for any Hero's exclusive equipment. 100,000 Point(s)
Ace Warden Hero Equipment Day 11 run 1 only
Consume Precision Gear x1. 50,000 Point(s)
Consume 1 Magnet(s). 25,000 Point(s)
Rising Forces Day 18 or Technological Advancement: a server gets one of the two
Consume 1 parts for any Hero's exclusive equipment. 2,400 Point(s)
Consume Precision Gear x1. 1,200 Point(s)
Consume 1 Magnet(s). 600 Point(s)
Ace Warden Enhance Power Day 26 run 2 only
Consume 1 parts for any Hero's exclusive equipment. 100,000 Point(s)
Consume Precision Gear x1. 50,000 Point(s)
Consume 1 Magnet(s). 25,000 Point(s)
Rising Forces Day 31 3 runs, every 14 days
Consume 1 parts for any Hero's exclusive equipment. 4,000 Point(s)
Consume Precision Gear x1. 2,000 Point(s)
Consume 1 Magnet(s). 1,000 Point(s)
Ace Warden Hero Training Day 37 from run 3
Consume 1 parts for any Hero's exclusive equipment. 100,000 Point(s)
Consume Precision Gear x1. 50,000 Point(s)
Consume 1 Magnet(s). 25,000 Point(s)
Ace Warden Hero Equipment Day 40 from run 3
Consume 1 parts for any Hero's exclusive equipment. 100,000 Point(s)
Consume Precision Gear x1. 50,000 Point(s)
Consume 1 Magnet(s). 25,000 Point(s)
Combat Insight Day 73
Consume 1 parts for any Hero's exclusive equipment. 2,400 Point(s)
Consume Precision Gear x1. 1,200 Point(s)
Consume 1 Magnet(s). 600 Point(s)
Supreme Honor Deploy Legion Day 81 back every 28 days also on Day 82 (Pre-war Action )
Consume 1 parts for any Hero's exclusive equipment. 12,000 Point(s)
Consume Precision Gear x1. 6,000 Point(s)
Consume 1 Magnet(s). 3,000 Point(s)
Prime Time Day 87 back every 14 days
Consume 1 parts for any Hero's exclusive equipment. 18,000 Point(s)
Consume Precision Gear x1. 9,000 Point(s)
Consume 1 Magnet(s). 4,500 Point(s)
Warden Rating Day 89 back every 14 days
Consume 1 parts for any Hero's exclusive equipment. 2,400 Point(s)
Consume Precision Gear x1. 1,200 Point(s)
Consume 1 Magnet(s). 600 Point(s)

Trove Trove Souvenir Coin Seal of Mystery Tome

Show the table
Event About server day Points
Ace Warden Treasure Collection Day 27 run 2 only
Increase the Collecting Rating by 1 Point(s). 840 Point(s)
Treasures Unveiled Day 33 4 runs, every 14 days
Increase the Collecting Rating by 1 Point(s). 12 Point(s)
Ace Warden Treasure Collection Day 41 from run 3
Increase the Collecting Rating by 1 Point(s). 840 Point(s)
Ace Warden Prison Development Day 64 from run 5
Increase the Tome Rating by 1 Point(s). 1,600 Point(s)
Ace Warden Tome Day 67 from run 5
Increase the Tome Rating by 1 Point(s). 1,600 Point(s)
Combat Insight Day 73
Increase the Tome Rating by 1 Point(s). 12 Point(s)
Supreme Honor Full Preparation Day 78 back every 28 days also on Day 80 (Tactical Drill )also on Day 81 (Deploy Legion )
Increase the Tome Rating by 1 Point(s). 210 Point(s)
Supreme Honor Pre-war Action Day 82 back every 28 days
Increase the Collecting Rating by 1 Point(s). 108 Point(s)
Warden Rating Day 85 back every 14 days
Increase the Collecting Rating by 1 Point(s). 15 Point(s)
Prime Time Day 87 back every 14 days
Increase the Tome Rating by 1 Point(s). 210 Point(s)
Warden Rating Day 89 back every 14 days
Increase the Tome Rating by 1 Point(s). 210 Point(s)
Prime Time Day 91 back every 14 days
Increase the Collecting Rating by 1 Point(s). 100 Point(s)

Advanced Supply Card Supply Card

Show the table
Event About server day Points
Beginner's Tournament Hero Recruitment Day 7
Perform a Normal Recruitment. 1,650 Point(s)
Perform 1 Advanced Recruitment. 5,500 Point(s)
Pioneer Race Advanced Recruitment needs Warden's Office Lv.8 Day 15 every day from this day, in 4-hour stages
Perform a Normal Recruitment. 1,650 Point(s)
Perform 1 Advanced Recruitment. 5,500 Point(s)
Holiday rankings (e.g. Spooky Clash, Oct 27 – Nov 3, 2026) Hero Development, Boost Development needs Warden's Office Lv.9 Several times a year, on holidays
Perform a Normal Recruitment. 1,980 Point(s)
Perform 1 Advanced Recruitment. 6,600 Point(s)

Do this: Keep both kinds of recruitment cards, Supply Card and Advanced Supply Card, for the Hero Recruitment day of Beginner's Tournament, the Advanced Recruitment stages of Pioneer Race and the holiday rankings. LOJ Wiki dev

Stamina

Show the table
Event About server day Points
Beginner's Tournament Stamina Consumption Day 3
Consume Every 1 Stamina 600 Point(s)
Pioneer Race Stamina Consumption needs Warden's Office Lv.8 Day 15 every day from this day, in 4-hour stages
Consume Every 1 Stamina 110 Point(s)

Power

Show the table
Event About server day Points
Ace Warden Prison Development Day 6 runs 1, 2
Increase Construction Power by 1. 75 Point(s)
Increase Research Power by 1. 75 Point(s)
Beginner's Tournament Power Up Day 8
Increase Construction Power by 1. 5 Point(s)
Increase Research Power by 1. 5 Point(s)
Increase soldiers' CP by 1 through training and promotion. 5 Point(s)
Ace Warden Enhance Power Day 10 run 1 only
Increase Construction Power by 1. 50 Point(s)
Increase Research Power by 1. 50 Point(s)
Increase soldiers' CP by 1 through training and promotion. 35 Point(s)
Ace Warden Hero Equipment Day 11 run 1 only
Increase Construction Power by 1. 50 Point(s)
Increase Research Power by 1. 50 Point(s)
Increase soldiers' CP by 1 through training and promotion. 35 Point(s)
Rapid Development Day 16 2 runs, every 12 days
Increase Construction Power by 1. 1 Point(s)
Increase Research Power by 1. 1 Point(s)
Power Sprint Day 20
Increase Construction Power by 1. 1 Point(s)
Increase Research Power by 1. 1 Point(s)
Increase soldiers' CP by 1 through training and promotion. 1 Point(s)
Ace Warden Resource Gathering Day 25 run 2 only
Increase Research Power by 1. 75 Point(s)
Ace Warden Enhance Power Day 26 run 2 only
Increase Construction Power by 1. 50 Point(s)
Increase Research Power by 1. 50 Point(s)
Increase soldiers' CP by 1 through training and promotion. 35 Point(s)
Ace Warden Treasure Collection Day 27 run 2 only
Increase Construction Power by 1. 50 Point(s)
Increase Research Power by 1. 50 Point(s)
Increase soldiers' CP by 1 through training and promotion. 35 Point(s)
Ace Warden Prison Development Day 36 from run 3
Increase Construction Power by 1. 50 Point(s)
Increase Research Power by 1. 50 Point(s)
Increase soldiers' CP by 1 through training and promotion. 35 Point(s)
Ace Warden Power Armor Enhancement Day 39 runs 3, 4
Increase Research Power by 1. 75 Point(s)
Ace Warden Hero Equipment Day 40 from run 3
Increase Construction Power by 1. 50 Point(s)
Increase Research Power by 1. 50 Point(s)
Increase soldiers' CP by 1 through training and promotion. 35 Point(s)
Ace Warden Treasure Collection Day 41 from run 3
Increase Construction Power by 1. 50 Point(s)
Increase Research Power by 1. 50 Point(s)
Increase soldiers' CP by 1 through training and promotion. 35 Point(s)
Ace Warden Tome Day 67 from run 5
Increase Research Power by 1. 75 Point(s)

Diamonds

Show the table
Event About server day Points
Beginner's Tournament Hero Recruitment Day 7 also on Day 8 (Power Up)
Consume 1 Diamond(s) 5 Point(s)
Pioneer Race needs Warden's Office Lv.8 Day 15 every day from this day, in 4-hour stages
Consume 1 Diamond(s) 5 Point(s)

Lottery Coin

Show the table
Event About server day Points
Beginner's Tournament Resource Growth Day 5
Use Lv.1–9 Chance Machine at Fortune Arcade. 50–23,400 Point(s)
Fortune Quest Day 16 back every 14 days
Chance Machine 1–9 10–600 Point(s)

Do this: As soon as the Fortune Arcade opens, spend Cash every day to buy the highest-level coin you can, up to 10 a day. Do not spin them right away: keep the coins for Fortune Quest. A higher coin scores far more per spin (10 points with Lottery Coin I, 600 with Lottery Coin IX), and you can only buy 10 a day, so stacking the biggest coins gives the most points. LOJ Wiki dev

Show the table and the game's help text

Points for one spin at each machine level:

Lottery Coin Cash Opens at Beginner's TournamentDay 5 Fortune QuestDay 16
Normalx2x4
Lottery Coin I 30,000 Factory Lv.10 50 101216
Lottery Coin II 120,000 Factory Lv.12 100 151824
Lottery Coin III 500,000 Factory Lv.15 200 253040
Lottery Coin IV 1,600,000 Factory Lv.18 1,200 354256
Lottery Coin V 4,000,000 Factory Lv.21 2,400 6578104
Lottery Coin VI 9,000,000 Factory Lv.24 5,100 90108144
Lottery Coin VII 18,000,000 Factory Lv.27 7,500 140168224
Lottery Coin VIII 32,000,000 Factory Lv.30 15,000 275330440
Lottery Coin IX 170,000,000 Factory Lv.30Requires all facilities to reach Lv.30. 23,400 600720960

From the game:

You can redeem 10 Lottery Coins daily at the Cash Shop.
The limit applies to all levels of Lottery Coins. Redemption resets daily at 00:00 (Server Time).

Days are an estimate for a server that opened on a Monday. Servers are in 4 groups, and some events come 7 to 21 days earlier or later than shown. The server decides the real start, so check the event on your server.

No points event scores Hero EXP. Iron Fist (days 1 to 8) counts your total Power, and hero levels raise Power. Level your heroes any time. LOJ Wiki dev

Do this: Keep these until the day above. Use them on that day.

Your heroes

Free heroes

You get these without paying.

Paid heroes

These come mostly from packs and events.

The sources shown are for a new server (Season 1). They change by season: open a hero's page to see yours.

Hero Training Camp LOJ Wiki dev

Level your 5 highest heroes. Every hero you put in a slot is raised to the level of the lowest of those 5. Only the level is shared: stars and skills stay the hero's own.

It opens at Warden's Office Lv.13 with 7 slots, and grows to 17 slots. When a hero leaves a slot, the slot waits 24 hours, or 1,000 Diamond to skip.

Show the table and the game's help text
Warden's OfficeLv.13Lv.17Lv.19Lv.21Lv.23Lv.25Lv.26Lv.27Lv.28Lv.29Lv.30
Slots7891011121314151617

From the game:

1. The top 5 Heroes will auto become instructors in the Training Camp.
2. Heroes assigned to a training slot will be promoted to the lowest level among the instructors.
3. Heroes in training slots cannot manually level up but can still star up and upgrade skills.
4. When a Hero leaves a training slot, their level will revert, and the slot will undergo a 24-hour cooldown before another Hero can be assigned.
5. Upgrading the Warden's Office unlocks additional training slots.

Do this: Level your top 5. Then fill every slot with your weaker heroes.

Universal shards LOJ Wiki dev

Rare Hero Shard, Epic Hero Shard and Legendary Hero Shard turn into shards of a hero you already own, 1 for 1, of the same quality. They do not work for Tyronn, Phoenix, Omega Rugal, Terry Bogard, Mai Shiranui. The exception is SSR Mia: she takes Epic Hero Shard.

Do this: Keep them for the event day, then use them on the hero you star up.

Hero tier list CasPop LOJ Wiki

Two lists, one for War and one for Arrest. S is the best, D the weakest. A hero in a high tier for Arrest may be weak in War. CasPop's list covers seasons 1 to 3; every other hero is ranked by LOJ Wiki (marked *).

War
S
A
B
C
D
Synchronous Hero

At least as strong as the hero they sync with. A Sync hero takes a Legendary hero's level, stats and War Skills (same troop type). In War it fights in that hero's place, with 100.26% to 115% of that hero's War stats (more with its own stars), and the synced hero itself cannot march. In Arrest you can use either. Its passive buffs all your troops even when it is not deployed. Sync it with your best hero of that type.
Arrest
S
A
B
C
D

* LOJ Wiki's ranking for the heroes CasPop's list does not cover (seasons 4-7, the KOF heroes and a few others), based on our Gorilla and Ultimate Trial guides and each hero's skills.

Do this: Aim for the S and A heroes of your troop type. If you play free and have few Legendary (gold) heroes, at least avoid the D-tier heroes.

Alliance

Special Alliance

For the first 7 days after a server opens, new players are put into a Special Alliance automatically, when their Alliance unlocks. It has no Leader and no Admins, and it groups players who use a similar language.

It becomes a normal alliance when any one of these happens: it is 2 days old, it reaches alliance Level 4, or the total power of its members reaches 30,000,000.

Then the member with the highest power who was online in the last 18 hours becomes Leader (R5), and the members ranked 2 to 5 by power become Admins (R4). The appointments are made once, when it converts. The game mails you: “Beginner Alliance Promoted to Normal Alliance”.

Members who are offline for more than 24 hours are removed automatically. The game then mails: “Due to not meeting the Activity requirement, you have been removed from Beginner Alliance.”

From the game's help.

A Golden Egg holds free Diamond. When a member's Warden's Office reaches one of these levels, one is sent to the alliance: Lv.10, 13, 17, 21, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30. More come from event packs.

Special eggs from event packs hold 10,000 to 50,000 Diamond, for 20 Wardens each. You can claim at most 50 eggs a day.

Show the table and the game's help text
Warden's OfficeDiamonds in the egg (shared by up to 30)Wardens who can claim
Lv.109,00030
Lv.139,00030
Lv.179,00030
Lv.2112,00030
Lv.2412,00030
Lv.2712,00030
Lv.2815,00030
Lv.2915,00030
Lv.3015,00030

Higher levels (Forticlad Level 1 to Forticlad Level 10) come with later server stages.

From the game:

1. After joining an Alliance, once your Warden's Office reaches Lv.10 , 13 , 17 , 21 , 24 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30, automatically send a Golden Egg to allies and share it in the Alliance chat channel.
2. Special Golden Eggs obtained from event packs will be stored in the Golden Egg Inventory and can be sent to the Alliance channel anytime.
3. Claiming Golden Eggs will randomly grant Diamond rewards. When sending, you will automatically claim 1 Golden Egg reward.
4. Each Golden Egg has a claim limit and expires after 24 hours. Once a Golden Egg reaches its claim limit or expires, it can no longer be claimed.

Alliance hopping LOJ Wiki dev

Join open alliances and claim the Golden Eggs in each one. Eggs sent before you joined can still be claimed, and there is no wait before you can join again. The dev checked this in the game.

While you are between alliances, turn on a Shield so nobody can attack you. Tap the arrow under your avatar, open Prison Buffs, then Shield. The free one is the Rechargeable Shield (8h): it protects your prison for 8 hours. You can hold up to 5 Energy, and 1 Energy comes back every 7 days.

From the game:

Restores 1 Energy every 7 days. It can protects your prison from being attacked or scouted for 8h upon use.

Careful: in Seize Orochi's Power the game says “You've already joined in this event in your previous Alliance today, cannot join now.” You can only take part with one alliance a day, so take part with your own alliance. The special egg of that event can be claimed only in the alliance you took part with that day: the game says “You can claim this special gift in the Alliance where you joined an event today!”

Careful: do not hop while Strongest Alliance runs. The game says “Changing Alliances will prevent you from participating in this event.” and “At the start of the event, you were the member of Alliance. You must rejoin that Alliance to continue participating.” If you leave the alliance you were in when it started, you cannot take part until you rejoin it. The dev saw that you can carry on after you rejoin, and your points are not lost if you go back. LOJ Wiki dev

Strongest Alliance comes about server day 15, lasts 6 days and is back every 28 days. Its window opens at Warden's Office Lv.7. The help says you need Warden's Office Lv.10 to take part, and at least 15 qualifying members in your alliance.

Show the game's help text

From the game:

1. Warden can only participate in the event if their Warden's Office reaches Lv.10+ and there are at least 15 qualifying members in the Alliance.

2. During the event, if you leave the Alliance, you must return to your original Alliance to continue participating.

3. Alliances with no member logins in the 2 days before the event starts cannot participate.

Stay with the big spenders LOJ Wiki dev

For the long run, choose the alliance of the top spenders. When a member buys a pack that includes an Alliance Chest, every member gets an Ally's Gift. The bigger the pack, the better the gift. The Diamond Pack and the Gold Cuffs Pack give none. Some US$4.99 packs (Daily Specials, Triple Treats) give it 3 times. Gold Cuffs bought on the top-up website count too: spend them on such a pack in the game and every member still gets the gift (the dev checked this in game).

Show the table and the game's help text
Pack price (US$)GiftCo-op Points
0.99–5.97 Ally's Gift I 60
9.99 Ally's Gift II 120
19.99 Ally's Gift III 240
49.99 Ally's Gift IV 600
99.99 Ally's Gift V 1,200

From the game:

1. When Alliance Members rally to defeat monsters in the field, all members receive a Loot Chest.

2. When an Alliance Member purchases a pack that includes an Alliance Chest, all members receive a Ally's Gift.

3. Both Loot Chests and Ally's Gifts contain item rewards and Co-op Points.

4. Once enough Co-op Points are accumulated, all Alliance Members can open the Co-op Chest to claim generous rewards.

5. The higher your Alliance Level, the more advanced the Co-op Chest becomes, offering even greater rewards.

Do this: Hop for the eggs now, then settle in an alliance with big spenders.

Building

Every Warden's Office level needs other buildings first. Upgrade those, then the Office. No building can go above the Office's level.

The Warden's Office is more than power: its Building Details also show Prisoner Level and Offline Earnings.

Warden's Office: what each level needs

Show the table
Lv.RequirementsUnlock
1
2
3
Police Car
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Forticlad Energy Station (from Season 3)

Levels 31 and up are for later seasons.

Upgrade order RachH94

A suggestion, not a rule.

Show the two lists

Outside the prison

  1. Warden's Office
  2. Communication Center (Warden's Office Lv.9 needs it at Lv.8)
  3. Shooter Barracks (Warden's Office Lv.10 needs it at Lv.9)
    Shieldbearer Barracks (Warden's Office Lv.8 needs it at Lv.7)
    Bomber Barracks (Warden's Office Lv.11 needs it at Lv.10)
  4. Medical Station (Warden's Office Lv.9 needs it at Lv.1)
  5. Inventory
  6. Lab (Warden's Office Lv.10 needs it at Lv.1)
  7. Command Center (Warden's Office Lv.12 needs it at Lv.1)
    LOJ Wiki dev Dev correction: RachH94's list has the Cosmos Hub here. The Command Center raises Rally Capacity and Increased Expedition Capacity.
  8. Gate

Inside the prison

  1. Guard Room
  2. Factory (Warden's Office Lv.4 needs it at Lv.3)
  3. Kitchen (Warden's Office Lv.2 needs it at Lv.1)
    Cafeteria
  4. Shower Room (Warden's Office Lv.6 needs it at Lv.5)
    Laundry
  5. Cell (Warden's Office Lv.3 needs it at Lv.2)
  6. Utility Room
  7. Playground (Warden's Office Lv.7 needs it at Lv.5)

Not on RachH94's list, but you need them: Supply Center, Scout Hangar.

On RachH94's list the Playground is last, but the Office needs it early. Follow the table first, then the list.

Barracks LOJ Wiki dev

Keep all three Barracks as high as you can. A higher Barracks trains a higher soldier tier and adds to your Troops Training Capacity, which sets how many soldiers you train in a batch. That number adds up over all three Barracks and other sources.

When a Barracks level opens a new soldier tier, promote your soldiers to it. RachH94

Show the table

The Barracks levels that open a new soldier tier (the same for all three). The last column is what that one Barracks adds:

Lv. Shooter BarracksShieldbearer BarracksBomber Barracks Troops Training Capacity (this Barracks adds)
1 Junior ShooterJunior ShieldbearerJunior Bomber 18
4 Raid ShooterRaid ShieldbearerRaid Bomber 31
7 Riot ShooterRiot ShieldbearerRiot Bomber 44
11 Armored ShooterArmored ShieldbearerArmored Bomber 62
13 Senior ShooterSenior ShieldbearerSenior Bomber 70
16 Special ShooterSpecial ShieldbearerSpecial Bomber 94
19 Elite ShooterElite ShieldbearerElite Bomber 119
22 Brave ShooterBrave ShieldbearerBrave Bomber 144
26 Valiant ShooterValiant ShieldbearerValiant Bomber 178
30 Ace ShooterAce ShieldbearerAce Bomber 211

Building queues

  • Queue 1 is free and always yours.
  • Queue 2: the Construction Queue Pack (US$2.99) makes it permanent. You can also rent it for 2,000 Diamond per 2 days. There is a free 15-minute try.
  • Prison Room: from Warden's Office Lv.8, prison rooms can use their own queue (up to 5 in a row). It is not free: a 2-hour free try, then rent it for 2,000 Diamond per 2 days, or buy the Room-Specific Queue Pack (US$4.99) to keep it for good.
  • VIP makes building faster. It does not add a queue.

Do not buy the Construction Queue Pack: renting Queue 2 costs only 2,000 Diamond for 2 days, and the game gives plenty of Diamond. Keep your money for better packs. LOJ Wiki dev

Do this: Follow the table, and use the room queue for rooms.

Spending smart CasPop

If you want to spend, this order gives the most for your money.

  1. Value Monthly Pass
  2. Daily Specials
  3. Event packs, only during events like Ace Warden that score spending and upgrades
  4. Special Weekly Pass, only if you play every day
  5. Tailored bundles

Skip the packs that are always in the shop.

“If it is always in the shop, it is priced for impatience.”

No top-ups for gacha or skin events LOJ Wiki dev

Do not top up for gacha events, or for events whose top prize is a permanent skin. A skin adds only small stats (for example the permanent prison skin of the Beginner's Tournament, Land of the Oath: Troops Lethality +3%), while events like Ace Warden give hero shards, which raise your real strength. Collecting skins is for whales.

Serious about the top ranks? LOJ Wiki dev

If you are serious and want to spend for the top ranks, put the money into Phoenix, Tyronn and the three Synchronous Heroes (KOF). They only come from VIP and special packs and from events, and universal hero shards cannot be exchanged for them. Every other hero can be built with universal shards, and later seasons add older heroes to recruitment and free-shard events.

First purchase

Buy one pack worth US$2.99 or more to open a 3-day bonus. Day 1 gives Phoenix. A 2nd and a 3rd pack of that price unlock days 2 and 3 at once. The game shows the price in your own currency. Buying Gold Cuffs itself does not open it, but a qualifying pack paid with Gold Cuffs does (the dev checked this in game).

Unlock rewards with US$2.99+ packs!

Show the rewards day by day

Top-Up Bonus

Gold Cuffs

Show the game's help text

From the game's own help:

The official currency of Isle of the Banished.
Gold Cuffs can be used to purchase packs.
During checkout, the system will prioritize using Gold Cuffs if the balance is sufficient. If the balance is insufficient, a standard purchase will be required.
The following rewards are not granted when purchasing Gold Cuffs Packs:
1. Cannot unlock the first-time top-up bonus.
2. Cannot earn Pioneer Race event Loyalty Cards.
3. Cannot accumulate top-up points. However, purchasing packs with Gold Cuffs can accumulate points.
4. Cannot used for completing the Strongest Alliance pack purchase task.

Do this: Skip the always-on packs. If you want the first-purchase bonus, buy one pack worth US$2.99 or more.