For the first 500 or so levels,

• Progress through levels as quickly as possible.

• Do not worry about your formation. You can randomly place troops and just blast through levels.

• Do not watch advertisement to gain extra coins. You will not gain very much.

• Do not spend any gem.

After you have gained enough troops, start building a template of your future formation:

• Use as many 9-load troops as possible.

• Avoid merging 9-load troops unless you have other troops to fill in the space.

• Build a symmetrical formation and have clear roles of each troops.

By level 1,000, you have all troops (except Frost Archers) unlocked. At this point, you should keep upgrading your current formation.

• Slowly upgrade your troops. Maintain balance by striving to keep all troops at similar levels.

• Do not worry about not having any Epic or Legendary troops. They are complimentary pieces that you can add later.

• If you have Hohenheim, use him to as he helps you gain more coins.

• Watch advertisements to slow down your progress. Levels progressively get difficult, and a player will hit a block sooner or later. If you keep upgrading your formation, you should be able to pass levels with relative ease with Hohenheim as your hero.

• Keeping obtaining common/rare troops until you can fill the whole formation with level 8 common/rare troops.

• Start investing in Epic and Legendary troops.

• By level 4,700, passing levels will become difficult. At this point, you should have separate formations for leveling and arena matches.