Table of Contents
Choosing and mastering the right server in Ikariam is one of the most critical decisions for your success. This guide covers server selection, preparation, migration, and long-term strategies.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT SERVER
When you create an account, the server you choose sets the difficulty of your entire journey. A server that is too old or too new can cripple your progress .
Old Server Considerations
If you choose a very old server, you may be an easy target for many players and you may not find available islands to build your towns, as most of the good islands will be full .
New Server Considerations
If you choose a very new server, it will take months to build your towns because the islands’ levels of production will be very low . Resources like sawmills and quarries start at low levels, and every player must donate wood to upgrade them.
Best Choice
Experienced players recommend choosing a server that is neither the oldest nor the newest. This provides a balance between developed resources and a reasonable chance to compete . If your language group has one, you may also consider a Speed Server, but this requires fast actions and spending lots of time per day .
OPTIMAL ISLAND SELECTION
Your starting island is almost as important as your server choice. A poor island selection can slow your growth for months.
The Relocation Strategy
A powerful strategy for new players is to treat the first town as temporary. The goal is to build an Academy, research Expansion, build a Palace, and create a colony in a better location . Once the Governor’s Residence is built there, you can nominate that town as your Capital and abandon the first town . You will lose time, but you will be in a far superior position.
Aim for High-Level Mines
When choosing a location, look for an island with a Level 16 Sawmill and Level 16 Quarry . These high-level mines save you enormous amounts of wood and time.
Marble is a Priority
Marble is widely considered the best resource to prioritize because everyone needs it for building upgrades. Marble islands are almost always the first to fill up .
MANAGING THE MERGE PROCESS
GameForge regularly merges low-activity servers to maintain lively worlds . The last major merge occurred in September 2024, and before that in 2022. Understanding how to prepare for a merge is essential for any serious player .
Preparation Before a Merge
Advanced players prepare for merges by:
Building an army and fleet
Stockpiling enough gold in reserve
Coordinating with other players to choose which server to move to
Building up their Palace by 1 or 2 levels to have extra free relocations in case of mistakes
Ensuring all Miracles are at 100 percent
Stockpiling enough wine in each town to survive while mines are being upgraded on the new server
Donating extra wood so it does not stockpile too much
Scouting for good potential locations on the new server
Recruiting missing spies
Attacking the Barbarian Village before the merge, since you would not need to worry about the current truce
Merge Warnings
Avoid having big fleet movements or major upgrades running when a merge starts. These events can be cancelled, and invested resources may be lost . Players who have been through merges before recommend planting as many colonies as possible before the merge so you get extra free warps to rearrange your towns .
POST-MERGE ADJUSTMENT
After a merge, servers become significantly more crowded because the player base has been condensed .
New Competition
You will run into many players with placeholders blocking spots. Some aggressive players take advantage of the chaos to attack the smallest players first . Be prepared for increased activity and potential conflicts .
Location and Defense
Scout your new area carefully to see if it gets crowded . If you dislike your new server, you can always use the Graveyard mechanic to move to another one, although this takes time .
ENDGAME SERVER STRATEGIES
Once your server choice and initial setup are complete, focus on long-term dominance.
The Power Builder Approach
Power building involves keeping your Growth Per Hour as high as possible by maintaining happiness levels . Time management is the most important factor. Schedule longer builds during times you are inactive, like sleeping, to utilize game time that would otherwise be wasted .
Expansion Goals
Aim to build 7, 8, 9, or even 10 colonies. The 9th town requires a Carpenter Level 32 and two level 22 Warehouses . With more towns, you can field a much larger army than opponents who only have 7 or 8 towns .
Protecting Your Empire
Build a Level 32 Hideout to prevent enemies from spying on your cities . Concentrate your army and most resources in one well-protected town with a high-level wall and Hideout . This makes you a much less attractive target. Leave one warship in each port and a token ground force in every town to force attackers to spend time and money . A speedboat is best for this because it costs only 5 gold per hour and is never destroyed .
The Builder’s Advantage
Ikariam can be played as a war game, but it is the builders who will inherit the world . While warmongers clash and waste resources, builders steadily become more powerful . A large builder account can support a larger military than a persistent warmonger . A strong navy is a surprisingly effective strategy, as most aggressive players neglect their fleet. You can blockade enemy sulfur cities, severely hurting their ability to produce troops .
