Advanced Troops vs. Regular Troops

All troop types gain an attack boost vs. their strong troop type. Advanced Troops however, get DOUBLE the attack boost when attacking their strong troop type. The downside is that when attacking the same troop type (e.g. Tactical vs. Tactical) they get a 50% damage reduction.  Here is an example comparing the difference in boosts of the new Counter Terrorist tactical troop versus the regular Soldier:

T1 Advanced Troop vs. T1 Regular Troop

As you can see, advanced troops do a lot of extra damage against their strong troop type but suffer a damage reduction when attacking the same troop type.

All things being equal, the total damage output is increased so using advanced troops will increase your total damage output.

They also cost the same to build as regular troops so that you get more damage for your buck.

Note: the defense stats are identical for the two troop types.

Should I use Advanced Troops or Regular Troops?

Once you have completed both research trees, you should generally use Advanced Troops as there is an overall damage increase in most scenarios (i.e when attacking balanced armies). The exception to this is if you ever find yourself having to attack an all-Infantry Army and all you have is Infantry. Then use regular troops.

What are the Disadvantages of Advanced Troops?

There are two disadvantages to Advanced Troops. The first being the cost. To unlock them you need to complete a second, more expensive research tree. If you are a spender then this might not be an issue, but for everyone else, this requires a significant amount of additional resources. Also, your Advanced Troops  won’t benefit from the Troop Attack and Troop Defense research from the Regular Combat tree. This means that until you have completed this research, your Advanced Troops will be receiving smaller boosts to their attack and defense.

The second disadvantage is the 50% damage reduction when attacking troops of the same type. In general, this shouldn’t be much of an issue as in most scenarios your total damage will increase but you need to mindful that at times there could be a damage reduction (e.g. when attacking your infantry into their infantry).

Are Advanced Traps Worth It?

It depends on your budget. If you are not a big spender and you are having to prioritize your research and resources then do not bother with Advanced Troops right away. They do not offer enough of an advantage to justify the cost in the short term.  If, however, you plan on playing at a high level then you will be at a disadvantage until you do unlock them.

Additional Questions

Do Regular Troop Boosts also apply to Advanced Troops?

Most boosts apply to both troop types. Currently, the only exceptions are those in the combat research tree itself and some Prototype Gear  which does not always offer symmetrical boosts – some prototypes offer larger boosts to Advanced Troops and vice versa.

How Do I Build Advanced Troops?

In the exact same way that you build regular troops – just go to the Training Ground building inside your base and start training some. You will have to have completed the necessary research first though.

Can I Build Both Regular Traps and Advanced Traps?

Yes, assuming you have done the appropriate research.