1) Quick Start (Read This First)
Season 5 success requires capturing territory, depositing CrystalGold, andโcriticallyโholding valuable territory at settlement (weeks 7-8) for persistent buffs that carry into next season. Your alliance can capture up to 2 cities and 2 banks per day. You must have adjacent alliance territory to capture anything.
๐ก PRO TIP: Day 1 Priority Order
- Reset profession to Engineer (building cost reduction applies to seasonal buildings)
- Claim a starting territory and understand your hive location
- Defeat Level 1 Dancer Zombie to unlock Caffeine Institute
- Wait for actual season update notification before killing Doom Walkers (first-kill rewards only count after the notification)
- Capture first Bank Stronghold on Day 1 if VR allows
If You Only Do 5 Thingsโฆ
- Maintain adjacent territory (no scattered land = faster expansion)
- Capture at least one bank to unlock deposits and buffs
- Complete 5 High Noon stages every day without exception
- Coordinate war days (Wed/Sat) with your alliance for city captures
- Defend high-value territory at settlement (buffs from cities/banks you hold persist forever)
2) How Wild West Works
Season 5 divides into three stages: Weeks 1โ6 (regular play where you claim territory), Weeks 7โ8 (settlement phase where outpost/Golden Palace battles occur), and reward distribution. Territory has strict rules: you can only capture what's adjacent to your existing lands, and once captured, there are cooldowns before recapture.
Season Structure
| Stage | Weeks | Key Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Territory | Weeks 1โ6 | Alliances claim cities, banks; earn influence. Adjacency required. |
| Settlement Phase | Weeks 7โ8 | Outpost/Golden Palace battles; final territory counts. Buffs persist. |
| Reward Distribution | After Week 8 | Influence points + territory determine payout. |
3) Season Rewards
Your alliance earns rewards at settlement (week 8) based on total influence points. Critical: Buffs from cities and banks you capture persist into the next season if your alliance holds them at settlement end.
โ ๏ธ CRITICAL: What Persists?
YES: City and Bank buffs held at settlement persist FOREVER.
NO: Outpost and Golden Palace buffs disappear after settlement.
Best ROI Activities
Weeks 1โ3
Expansion
Capture 1โ2 adjacent territories daily. Secure high-value land early.
Weeks 3โ6
Consolidation
5-day deposits in high-level banks. Defend key territory.
Week 7โ8
Settlement
Defend high-value territory. Participate in outpost battles for influence.
4) Land Types Explained
| Aspect | Cities | Banks | Outposts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benefit | Influence + Buffs | Deposits + Buffs | Server Influence |
| Capture Limit | 2/day | 2/day | Battle-driven |
| Recapture Cooldown | 120 hours | 24 hours | N/A |
| Persists? | YES | YES | NO |
Cities โ Mechanics
- War days: Wednesday and Saturday ONLY
- Recapture cooldown: 120 hours (5 days) after capture
- Win condition: Alliance with highest durability damage
- Failed capture cost: Counts as 1 of 2 daily attempts
Banks โ Mechanics
- Capture cooldown: 24 hours
- Protection timer: 55 hours post-capture
- Max holdings: 12 banks per alliance
- Plunder Window: 60 minutes after capture. If nothing plundered, deposits mature normally.
5) Bank Deposits Strategy
The 5-day deposit offers the highest daily return rateโup to 350% for Level 10 banks. Deposits cannot be looted if enemies raid your base.
| Bank Level | 5-Day Return | Example (6k deposit) |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 200% | 12,000 returned |
| Level 5 | ~233% | ~14,000 returned |
| Level 8 | ~280% | ~16,800 returned |
| Level 10 | 350% | 21,000 returned |
๐ก PRO TIP: Maximize Tycoon Points
Set Bank Service Range to "All S5 Commanders" to let allies and random players fill your bank's investment pool. This maximizes your alliance's CrystalGold Tycoon ranking contributions.
6) Warzone Outposts
Outposts are server-level objectives. All alliances in the warzone get 100k Influence Points per outpost held. Buffs do NOT persist.
- Ownership: Server-level (all alliances benefit)
- Occupation %: Determined by squad count ร duration (NOT power)
- Settlement: Winning alliance in Final Battle (Week 7) gets title credit
7) Settlement: What Persists?
Territory buffs from cities and banks you hold at settlement become permanent alliance bonuses.
| Territory | Persists? | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Cities | YES | Attribute buffs become permanent |
| Banks | YES | Deposit efficiency/buffs become permanent |
| Outposts | NO | All buffs disappear |
| Golden Palace | NO | Prestige only; no permanent power |
FAQ & Myths
Common Myths Busted
- Myth: "If I capture an outpost, only my alliance benefits."
Fact: Wrong. All alliances on the server get the influence. - Myth: "Outpost buffs stay forever."
Fact: Wrong. They are lost after settlement. - Myth: "Failed attacks don't count limit."
Fact: Wrong. Failed city/bank captures consume one daily slot. - Myth: "Trade posts count for adjacency."
Fact: Wrong. They are personal and don't count.
Sources & Verification
- Official Discord (Friendly Fire): "S5 Taking Neutral Land" & "Rules of Engagement" (Dec 2025/Jan 2026)
- Cpt Hedge: Series of Season 5 Guides
- Last War Handbook: Wild West Complete Guide
Core mechanics verified against Official Discord posts as of Jan 2, 2026.