SPECIAL ANT LIFE CYCLE · STAGE 1

I just got a new ant. What should I do first?

Do not spend scarce resources just because the ant is new. First identify what you have, develop it to a fair comparison state, and decide whether it can improve a lineup you actually use.

First objective: make the ant testable before making a star or replacement decision.

IDENTIFY

Confirm the ant

Check its name, season, troop class, role, and any position or range information available from its skills. If you are still learning the names, use the Ant Database and portraits.

Find the ant →

DEVELOP

Bring it to a fair test state

Our current lineup-testing standard is normally Level 50 when practical. A low-level candidate should not be judged against a fully developed established ant.

DO NOT RUSH

Hold the stars for now

Do not add stars simply because the ant is newer or appears high on a tier list. First determine whether it has a useful job in one of your formations.

Why stars come later →

PLACE

Find its likely job

Ask: Shooter, Guardian, Carrier, or Universal? PvP or PvE? Front, Middle, or Back? Attack, support, control, healing, or another function?

Check lineup guidance →

COMPARE

Choose the ant it would replace

A new ant becomes useful when it improves something. Pick one developed benchmark ant or lineup position for comparison instead of changing several parts of the march at once.

TEST

Run a fair comparison

Keep troop type, insect, reforms, mutations, gear/evolution, and other major variables as stable as practical. Compare repeated results, not one lucky skill activation or favorable opponent.

Open the replacement test →

BEFORE YOU SPEND

Six questions to answer

Do I know this ant's class and role? Is it at a fair level for comparison? Do I know which lineup position it may fill? Do I know which current ant it would replace? Have I tested it under comparable conditions? Can I explain what improvement I expect before spending stars?

THE DECISION

At the end of Stage 1, the ant should be in one of three states.

TEST

The ant has a plausible role and is ready for controlled comparison.

HOLD

Your developed ant remains stronger or the evidence is not good enough yet. Keep your resources.

MOVE FORWARD

Repeated results show a useful improvement. Now the star-investment question becomes relevant.

Next: Should I add stars to this ant?

IMPORTANT

Newer season does not automatically mean stronger for your account.

Stars, skill development, lineup partners, troop type, combat purpose, and the rest of your account can outweigh the season number. The useful question is not “Is this ant newer?” It is “Does this ant improve what I am trying to do?”