Quick read
Prepare information, stamina flexibility and leadership roles. Do not turn pre-season into a blind hoarding exercise.
Player checklist
01
Season grouping determines the warzones and alliances that will matter for diplomacy and faction play.
02
Keep useful stamina available for opening seasonal first-kills and progression.
03
Review Engineer vs War Leader before spending new profession points.
04
Map likely city/Stronghold routes, identify diplomacy contacts, select officers for Alliance Center and territory tracking, and pre-assign high-CR rally leaders.
Pre-season countdown length can vary; use the live countdown on your server.
Facts
- Season grouping determines the warzones and alliances that will matter for diplomacy and faction play.
- Season 3 adds a large number of new systems quickly, so understanding the resource loop before Day 1 has more value than memorizing every event.
- Pre-season countdown length can vary; use the live countdown on your server.
BlackBar Gaming recommends
- Keep useful stamina available for opening seasonal first-kills and progression.
- Review Engineer vs War Leader before spending new profession points.
- Know the four personal building roles before Day 1: Fountain produces Sacred Water, Lab produces Curse Resistance, Field holds Protectors, Altar is a later Protector-stat sink.
R4 / R5
- Map likely city/Stronghold routes, identify diplomacy contacts, select officers for Alliance Center and territory tracking, and pre-assign high-CR rally leaders.
Watch out
- Do not stop normal account progression solely to hoard for Season 3.
- Use the live season countdown rather than assuming every server starts with the same pre-season length.
Live rule check
- Use the actual Season countdown and grouping screen on your server for the exact timing.
Detailed guide
Player checklist
- Know where to find the Season Calendar and live target Curse Resistance requirement.
- Keep stamina and teleports available without sacrificing normal growth.
- Review which heroes receive Season 3 Exclusive Weapons: Marshall, Schuyler and McGregor.
- Understand that Desert Protectors are consumable seasonal combat units, not ordinary troops.
Leadership checklist
- Identify the strongest alliances across the season group.
- Plan the first Digging Stronghold and city route rather than capturing opportunistically.
- Prepare a simple Day 1 message explaining Fountain → Sacred Water → Lab → Curse Resistance.
- Decide how Trade Post, Return of the Dead, Goldust Conquest and Faction Duel calls will be communicated.