Coin rewards and interest solve different problems
The following comparison uses a prototype discussion between player AldyDerg and developer Dyrkabes. The build number was not supplied, so it describes that reported interaction rather than a current best-upgrade order. Read their coin and interest discussion.
| Upgrade choice | Reported interaction | How to use this distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Coins from destroying the enemy base | AldyDerg chose these early, then reported restarting at Level 12 and losing the earlier reward opportunities. | For a restarted run, count only the base victories still ahead. Do not budget rewards from skipped levels. |
| Compound Interest | The developer described interest as contributing little around Level 20 in that discussion, with a larger role later. | A benefit that needs time to accrue cannot pay for a factory needed immediately. Keep the timing separate from the total eventual reward. |
Example: an early coin route and a restart at Level 12 do not offer the same earning window. The developer favored early coin upgrades but also acknowledged the lost benefits of skipping. This explains the disagreement without treating either account as a guaranteed route for every build.
Open the tree and return to a branch
- Press U, or use the upgrades button on the left.
- Use the in-game node description for its effect and prerequisites. The overview image above is not a readable node chart.
- When revisiting a branch, the developer’s popup update describes the upgrade scroll position being retained.
The same update added unit popups with damage, health and speed, useful when a branch changes a particular unit. Developer notes on popups and retained scrolling.
U is an upgrade control, not a documented pause shortcut. Do not rely on opening the tree to stop a battle.
Search the tree or bring it back into view
The September 9 update added keyword search and a way to center the upgrade view. If you know the unit or effect you want, use its keyword in the tree search instead of inspecting every branch. If the tree has drifted out of view, use the centering control; retained scroll position alone will not bring it back.
The same update introduced more prominent Apex upgrades and weak, indefinitely repeatable upgrades intended as resource sinks. A repeatable node is not evidence that a hidden one-time prerequisite is missing. The announcement does not provide a full node order or a universal best route. September 9 tree changes.
If the close button disappears
Player Nexis XI reported that pressing Esc once to leave full screen, then Esc again closed the tree when its X was missing. This is one player’s workaround in an unspecified build, not a guaranteed shortcut or a confirmed fix in 0.5.3. The developer acknowledged the report but had not reproduced it in that reply. Original missing-X report · Developer reply.
A blank or displaced tree and a missing close button are different symptoms: try centering for the first, and the reported Esc sequence for the second. Neither requires a full save reset.
An old interest label can be misleading
In the public comments, LiminalPyre173 reported that a second compound upgrade was labeled as the third. Dyrkabes explained that an intended hidden node had been mixed up with another. That was a historical labeling issue, not proof that an unseen prerequisite must be bought. If your tree has an unexpected numeral, use its displayed effect and connection rather than the numeral alone. Developer reply to LiminalPyre173.
Before choosing the next branch
For a Mosquito army, distinguish survival effects from damage upgrades; the unit comparison explains why that matters. For factory affordability, use the cost example and saving-time calculation.
This page does not supply a complete node sequence, prerequisite map or optimal opening build. Those need a matching, readable build; the dated examples above should not be followed as a universal purchase order.