Troops: Troops hub · City Hall requirements · Speedups
Quick Answer
To unlock T5 troops, reach City Hall 25 and Academy 25, complete the research prerequisites shown for your chosen troop type, then finish that type's T5 research. City Hall 25 alone does not unlock T5. You do not need every building at level 25 before upgrading City Hall itself.
The building chain leading to Academy 25, especially Castle requirements and Books of Covenant, is a separate bottleneck from the long research chain. Plan both tracks together.
Trace the Gates in Order
| Gate | What to inspect | Planning consequence |
|---|---|---|
| City Hall 25 | Required buildings in its upgrade panel | Upgrade those dependencies; do not assume the entire city must already be level 25 |
| Academy 25 | Its building dependencies and their own prerequisites | Trace the chain back to the building currently blocking you |
| Castle upgrades | Books of Covenant still needed from your current level | Save books and estimate progress from your own fort rewards |
| Prerequisite research | The locked T5 node and every connected dependency | Run available research while collecting building materials |
| Chosen T5 technology | Its resource cost and adjusted timer | Apply available research bonuses before starting |
| Training or upgrading troops | Training resources, time and future healing cost | An unlock is useful only if you can sustain the troops |
Use the in-game dependency display as the complete list for your account. This page explains the route; it does not replace that display with a universal blueprint-shopping total.
Books and Blueprints
The final Castle upgrade from 24 to 25 is documented as requiring 5,000 Books of Covenant. That is the final step, not the total number needed to build a Castle from level one. Count the remaining costs from your own level.
Barbarian fort rewards can help with books, but drops vary. Do not budget on receiving a fixed 5–15 books from every rally. Record several sessions of your own results to estimate the time required, and compare any gem purchases with other account priorities.
Some level-25 buildings require a Master's Blueprint. Buy for confirmed prerequisites rather than treating sixteen blueprints as a prerequisite to the City Hall upgrade. Check your inventory and the upgrade panel before spending.
Choose the First Troop Type
Pick the troop type supported by your developed commanders and equipment. Each T5 type has its own research; unlocking infantry does not also unlock cavalry.
One completed useful type normally provides a clearer first goal than splitting scarce speedups across multiple unfinished endpoints. Continue useful shared prerequisites when they are available: specialising does not mean leaving the Academy idle.
A Practical Weekly Plan
- Write down the next blocked building and the exact missing materials.
- Keep an available prerequisite research running while you gather those materials.
- Reserve resources for the next planned start rather than spending every speedup immediately.
- Arrange alliance help and available kingdom research buffs before a large timer.
- Time completed upgrades with relevant events when that does not cause an excessive delay.
- Recalculate the next bottleneck after each completed gate.
Keep resource packs unopened until needed, where practical. Use the event calendar to check actual reward windows, not to postpone all progress indefinitely.
How Long Will T5 Take?
There is no reliable universal completion time. Your current research, Castle level, alliance bonuses, resource income and spending make a large difference. For a useful estimate, sum the remaining timers after your actual bonuses and subtract only speedups you already own or can reasonably earn.
Do not use a creator's prepared-account challenge as a promise that a fresh free account can unlock T5 in the same number of days.
Keep T4 Useful
T4 remains useful while you work toward T5, including in KvK. Do not stop supplying the troops your account and alliance need simply because the next tier is closer.
After unlocking T5, compare gradual upgrades with your resource and healing budget. Hospital capacity alone does not make combat safe: some activities can cause permanent deaths, and healing T5 also requires substantial resources.
Separate Building Dependencies from Research Dependencies
Academy 25's direct building requirements are City Hall 25, Watchtower 25 and Trading Post 25, plus its resources and a Master's Blueprint in the published building table. Each of those buildings has its own chain. Castle is part of the wider route, not a reason to rewrite City Hall 25's direct prerequisites.
Use two lists so you can make progress while one is blocked:
| Building route | Research route |
|---|---|
| Finish City Hall 25's Wall 24 and Trading Post 24 requirements | Keep an available useful military prerequisite running |
| Trace Watchtower 25 and Trading Post 25 back through their own panels | Develop shared combat technology rather than only the final troop icon |
| Collect Castle books and Watchtower arrows while building | Follow the chosen troop branch and the shared nodes connected to its T5 unlock |
| Start Academy 25 after its actual dependencies are complete | Use Academy 25 for the final required levels and troop-type research |
The troop-specific late branches include Wootz Steel and Scutum for infantry, Stirrups and Plate Armor for cavalry, and Bodkin Arrows and Pavise for archers. Shared military nodes also matter. These names help you find the right branch; this is not a claim that those two nodes alone unlock the troop.
When estimating the finish, add the remaining research timers in dependency order. Do not add the full level-one cost of a node you already partly researched. Apply the account's actual research-speed effects and only subtract speedups you have allocated to this project.
Finally, reserve the resources to train and heal the result. If unlocking T5 empties your gold, keep using affordable T4 while replenishing. The achievement and the ability to sustain a T5 fighting march are separate milestones.
Reference: Academy building and technology reference. Source reviewed 9 September 2026; examples are editorial scenarios, not measured results.
FAQ
Does City Hall 25 automatically unlock T5?
No. You also need Academy 25, the relevant prerequisites and the individual troop-type technology.
Must every building be level 25 before City Hall 25?
No. Follow the City Hall upgrade's actual prerequisites. The later Academy chain is a different requirement.
Are 5,000 books enough for the entire Castle?
No. That documented amount refers to the final 24-to-25 upgrade. Earlier levels consume additional books.
Should I unlock every T5 type together?
Choose one useful type first. Each type needs separate research, and your commanders, equipment and sustain budget should guide the order.
Sources and Version Checks
The original Rise of Kingdoms Guides T5 progression account describes Academy 25 and the Castle's final book requirement. Chisgule's T5 guide provides a creator walkthrough. Check current upgrade requirements and costs directly on your account before making purchases.