Why Building Priority Matters
In Lands of Jail, your building upgrade order determines how fast your account progresses. Upgrade the wrong buildings first, and you'll find yourself stuck — unable to train troops, defend your base, or participate in events.
This guide provides a definitive priority order for all buildings, tailored for both new and mid-game players.
Table of Contents
- Core Building Categories
- Upgrade Priority Tier List
- Detailed Building Analysis
- Optimal Build Order (Step by Step)
- Base Layout Tips
- Upgrade Cost Reference
- Frequently Asked Questions
Core Building Categories
Every building in Lands of Jail falls into one of these categories:
| Category | Buildings | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Command | Warden's Office (HQ) | Unlocks features, sets level caps |
| Economy | Mess Hall, Workshop, Laundry, Warehouse | Produces and protects resources |
| Military | Guard Barracks, Sniper Tower, Rally Point | Trains and commands troops |
| Research | Research Lab, Library | Provides permanent stat bonuses |
| Support | Infirmary, Embassy, Training Yard | Healing, alliance, troop upgrades |
| Defense | Walls, Traps, Turrets | Protects your base from raids |
Upgrade Priority Tier List
🔴 Priority 1: Always Keep Maxed
| Building | Reason |
|---|---|
| Warden's Office (HQ) | Gates all other building level caps. Always upgrade as soon as possible. |
| Warehouse | Protects resources. Higher level = more protected resources = less lost to raids. |
🟠 Priority 2: High Priority
| Building | Reason |
|---|---|
| Mess Hall | Food production sustains your army. No food = no troops. |
| Research Lab | Permanent bonuses compound over time. Start early. |
| Guard Barracks | Trains your basic troops. Higher level = better troops. |
| Infirmary | Heals wounded troops. Higher level = more healed = fewer losses. |
🟡 Priority 3: Medium Priority
| Building | Reason |
|---|---|
| Workshop | Materials for construction. Important but can lag slightly. |
| Cell Blocks | Prisoner housing. Upgrade when you need more capacity. |
| Sniper Tower | Ranged troop training + base defense. |
| Embassy | Alliance features. Upgrade when joining/moving alliances. |
| Training Yard | Troop tier upgrades. Important for mid-game power spikes. |
🟢 Priority 4: Upgrade When Convenient
| Building | Reason |
|---|---|
| Laundry | Cash production. Useful but not critical early. |
| Rally Point | March capacity. Upgrade when you need more simultaneous marches. |
| Walls | Base defense. Important if you're being attacked frequently. |
| Trap Workshop | Defensive traps. Low priority unless you're a defense-focused player. |
Detailed Building Analysis
Warden's Office (HQ)
The Warden's Office is your account's power core. Its level determines:
- Maximum level of all other buildings
- Which features are unlocked
- Your overall base power rating
- Available tech tree nodes
Upgrade Strategy: Start every upgrade session by checking if you can upgrade your HQ. If yes, do it first. Your HQ should always be the highest-level building in your base.
| HQ Level | Unlocks | Recommended Day |
|---|---|---|
| 1-5 | Basic buildings, tutorial | Day 1 |
| 6-10 | Alliance features, 2nd march | Day 2-3 |
| 11-15 | Advanced troops, 3rd march | Day 4-7 |
| 16-20 | Tier 2 troops, advanced research | Day 8-14 |
| 21-25 | Tier 3 troops, alliance war | Day 15-30 |
| 26+ | End-game content | Day 30+ |
Mess Hall (Food Production)
Food is the most critical resource because it feeds your troops. Without sufficient food, your army starves and you can't train new units.
Key Tips:
- Upgrade Mess Hall evenly with your HQ for the first 15 levels
- Assign economy-focused prisoners to boost production
- Supplement with world map food gathering
- Build multiple Mess Halls if the game allows it
Warehouse
The Warehouse is your insurance policy. Resources beyond the protected limit are lootable by attackers.
| Warehouse Level | Protected Resources | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 50K each | Bare minimum |
| 5 | 200K each | Early game safe |
| 10 | 500K each | Mid-game target |
| 15 | 1M each | Late game |
| 20+ | 2M+ each | End game |
Research Lab
Research provides permanent account-wide bonuses. The earlier you invest in research, the more total benefit you receive over your account's lifetime.
Recommended Research Path:
- Economy Branch → Resource production +20-50%
- Military Branch → Troop attack/HP +10-30%
- Defense Branch → Wall HP, trap damage
- Support Branch → March capacity, healing speed
Infirmary
Wounded troops that can't fit in the Infirmary are permanently lost. This makes the Infirmary one of your most cost-effective buildings — healing is cheaper than training new troops.
Pro Tip: Before any major battle or alliance war, upgrade your Infirmary to maximum capacity. The resources spent on the upgrade are less than what you'd lose from unrecoverable casualties.
Optimal Build Order (Step by Step)
Phase 1: Foundation (HQ Level 1-10)
2. Mess Hall → Match HQ level
3. Warehouse → Match HQ level
4. Research Lab → HQ level - 1
5. Guard Barracks → HQ level - 1
6. Workshop → HQ level - 2
7. Infirmary → HQ level - 1
8. Cell Block → HQ level - 2Phase 2: Military Development (HQ Level 11-20)
2. Research Lab → 18
3. Guard Barracks → 18
4. Sniper Tower → 18
5. Infirmary → 18
6. Mess Hall → 17
7. Warehouse → 17
8. Training Yard → 16
9. Workshop → 15
10. Embassy → 15Phase 3: Endgame Preparation (HQ Level 21+)
2. All Military Buildings → 22+
3. Research Lab → 22+
4. Infirmary → 22+
5. Warehouse → 20+
6. All Economy Buildings → 20+
7. Defense Buildings → 18+
8. Support Buildings → 18+Base Layout Tips
While Lands of Jail has some flexibility in building placement, following these principles will make your base harder to raid:
Placement Principles
- HQ in the center — hardest to reach, best protected
- Economy buildings around HQ — walls protect them
- Military buildings on the outer ring — they can rebuild quickly
- Walls encircling critical buildings — force attackers through kill zones
- Traps near entry points — maximize trap exposure
Defense Layout Example
│ [Wall] [Wall] │
│ [Trap] [Economy] [Trap] │
│ [Mil] ┌───────┐ [Mil] │
│ [Sup] │ HQ │ [Sup] │
│ [Mil] └───────┘ [Mil] │
│ [Trap] [Economy] [Trap] │
│ [Wall] [Gate] [Wall] │
└─────────────────────────────┘Key Tips
- Don't spread walls too thin — it's better to fully enclose a smaller area
- Upgrade walls in batches, not one at a time
- Sniper Towers and Turrets should cover approach paths
- Keep your most important buildings as far from the border as possible
Upgrade Cost Reference
Note: Exact numbers will be updated with in-game data. The table below shows the general cost progression pattern.
Typical Upgrade Cost Pattern
| Building Level | Food Cost | Material Cost | Time | Cash Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 → 2 | 1,000 | 500 | 1 min | 100 |
| 5 → 6 | 15,000 | 8,000 | 30 min | 2,000 |
| 10 → 11 | 80,000 | 40,000 | 4 hours | 12,000 |
| 15 → 16 | 300,000 | 150,000 | 12 hours | 50,000 |
| 20 → 21 | 1,000,000 | 500,000 | 1 day | 200,000 |
| 25 → 26 | 3,000,000 | 1,500,000 | 3 days | 600,000 |
Cost-Saving Tips
- Use speed-ups strategically: Save them for HQ levels that take 12+ hours
- Alliance Help: Always request help for upgrades — it reduces time
- Event timing: Many events boost build speed or reduce cost — time your upgrades accordingly
- VIP/Pass bonuses: If you have a pass, utilize its build speed bonuses
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I upgrade my HQ even if my other buildings aren't maxed?
Yes. Your HQ gates everything. Always push it to the next level as soon as resources allow. Other buildings can catch up afterward.
How many resource buildings should I have?
Aim for at least 2-3 of each resource type. The exact number depends on your playstyle — military-focused players need more Food, economy-focused players benefit from a balanced spread.
Is it worth spending gems on building speed-ups?
Generally no. Save gems for prisoner summons. The exception is during competitive events where build speed gives ranking rewards.
What happens if my HQ is destroyed in an attack?
Your HQ being destroyed means you lose the defense battle, but it doesn't permanently destroy the building. Your buildings auto-repair after each attack.
Can I rearrange my buildings later?
Yes, Lands of Jail allows building rearrangement. You can redesign your base layout at any time without cost.
Should I build walls first or upgrade buildings first?
Both are important, but prioritize buildings first. Walls are defense; buildings are progression. If you can't progress because you spent everything on walls, you've prioritized wrong.
How do I get more builders?
Most SLG games start you with one builder. Additional builders are typically available through:
- VIP/Premium pass
- Gem purchase (one-time)
- Event rewards
Check the in-game shop for current availability.
Last Updated: July 2026 | Upgrade costs and exact numbers will be refined as game data is verified.
See Also: Beginner's Guide | Best Heroes | Tips & Tricks