SEASON 1 · START HERE

Season 1 Overview

The Crimson Plague from Day 1 through settlement and the modern off-season.

ScopeModern Serum rollout

Quick read

Season 1 is a resistance-and-territory season. Build the Protein → VRI → Virus Resistance engine first, then use it to unlock stronger PvE, territory, cross-warzone expansion and the Week 4–7 war phase.

Facts

Normal HQ, heroes, gear and research do not reset when Season 1 begins.
Season-specific progression adds Protein Farms, Immune Protein, VRI/Virus Resistance, professions, infected map content, Strongholds/Cities and later cross-warzone territory war.
Profession Level cap is 40 in Season 1.
The modern target version uses Serum Collection and the Serum Shop; older Genetic Recombination guides may describe a different rollout.

R4 / R5

Before Day 1, identify grouped warzones, major alliances, likely diplomacy partners and a route toward higher-value Cities.

Watch out

Do not copy Season 2 mechanics backward into Season 1.
Do not follow legacy Genetic Recombination advice as though it describes the modern Serum rollout.

Evidence & version note

Version-sensitive items are deliberately guarded: Stronghold protection, exact Capitol victory wording, VRI maximum display and some settlement conversions.

DETAILED GUIDE

How it works

Page: Season 1 — Start Here

What changes in Season 1?

Season 1 adds a new progression layer on top of your normal account. Your HQ, heroes, gear, research and normal progression do not reset. Instead, you gain seasonal resources, buildings, Virus Resistance, professions, infected map enemies, Strongholds/cities and later cross-warzone territory wars.

The one loop to understand before Day 1

Raise Resistance -> defeat stronger seasonal enemies -> earn more seasonal resources -> improve seasonal buildings -> raise Resistance again.

If a player understands that loop, most Week 1 decisions make sense.

Before the season starts — player checklist

Check which warzones are grouped with yours.
Keep useful stamina available for the opening progression push.
Do not stop normal account growth just to hoard everything for the season.
Know that older guides showing Genetic Recombination may describe a legacy Season 1 version.
Learn the difference between Protein Farms, Immune Protein, Mutant Crystals and VRI before Day 1.
Expect Virus Resistance to become a more important PvE gate than raw displayed squad power.

Before the season starts — R4/R5 checklist

Identify the strongest alliances on every grouped warzone.
Open diplomacy early.
Map the alliance's intended route toward higher-level cities before the first Stronghold is taken.
Assign who tracks Stronghold/city protection windows.
Identify members likely to lead high-Resistance PvE rallies.
Prepare a simple Day 1 alliance announcement explaining Protein Farms, VRI and Resistance.