First steps
- 01
Build your first Troop Tent
Press B to open CONSTRUCTION, switch to the Army tab and select Troop Tent. It shows NOT BUILT and costs $300.
- 02
Confirm the build
Selecting a card only opens its details. Click BUILD $300 in the bottom-right corner, then wait for the panel to refresh instead of clicking again.
- 03
Check your first squad
The tutorial moves to GETTING STARTED 4/8. Bottom right shows ARMY 6/6 IN THE FIELD, and ARMY and COMMAND buttons appear. Your squad starts on AUTO and fights for objectives by itself.
- 04
Draw your rifle and follow the trail
Press 1 for the ASSAULT RIFLE and follow the yellow trail on the ground. WASD moves, Shift sprints. Our account was sent to H — Bunker Line; follow whichever point your own tutorial marks.
- 05
Walk into the capture point
Keep going until you reach the flag and the yellow circle. Leaving your base shows that you are no longer protected. In our run, our AUTO squad had already taken the point before we arrived.
- 06
Collect the tutorial reward
Reaching the point completes step 4 and pays $400. The next objective is Own 4 Oil Rigs. Your character still has to arrive to trigger the step, even if your troops captured it first.
Your army and unlocks
- 07
Open the ARMY panel
Press V. Pick a spawner on the left (Troop Tent), a unit in the middle, and read its role and requirement on the right. Unit types are unlocked once and losses are replaced for free.
- 08
Compare unlock requirements
Breacher shows UNLOCK $2,500; Marksman shows NEEDS PROMOTION 1. The Health / Firepower / Range / Speed bars are relative; the game does not show exact stats.
- 09
Upgrade the Troop Tent
Back in B → Army → Troop Tent, level 1 → 2 costs $20.0K: 8 infantry and 24s reinforcements. After buying it we saw 8/8 in the field. Level 3 needs HQ 3 and costs $220K.
Economy and HQ
- 10
Build four Oil Rigs
Under B → Economy, build Oil Rig 2, 3 and 4 for $160, $270 and $470. Oil Rig 1 counts toward the four. Upgrading a rig does not add another rig.
- 11
Upgrade your Headquarters
Under B → All, select Headquarters (LEVEL 2/5) and upgrade for $60.0K. HQ 3 lets you build the Armour Depot, Heavy Garage and Radar, which still cost their own price.
- 12
Check the next HQ level
At HQ 3 the next upgrade costs $1.00M for +24/s base income and unlocks tier 4: helicopters, aircraft, warships and artillery.
Promotion and the COMMAND map
- 13
Find the Promote button
Click MORE (three dots, bottom left) to reveal MAP, LOADOUT, RIVALS and PROMOTE. The button moves as you unlock features, so look for the label.
- 14
Read the first promotion
Lieutenant → Captain needs HQ 5 (Command Citadel) and $75.0M. It lists +50% permanent income, 50 Gold, $2,750 starting cash and 1 Doctrine point. Buildings and Cash reset; units, bonus, Gold, orders and stats are kept.
- 15
Learn the COMMAND map
Press C. Choose All / Infantry / Vehicles / Air, then AUTO, FOLLOW ME, HOLD or BASE, or tap the map. The CALLS column costs Gold; they are not free buttons.
The Support Tent
- 16
Build the Support Tent
B → Army → Support Tent: $3,500. Level 1 fields 2 support units with 40s reinforcements.
- 17
Track your orders
Orders moved from "Build the Support Tent" to ORDERS 10/30: Unlock a new soldier type, and total army size went from 8 to 10. Level 2 ($160K) fields 4 support, 30s reinforcements, and heals soldiers resting at base.
Ten quick tips
- Oil rigs first. Rigs 1–4 pay back in about 30–70 seconds each; see the payback table.
- Leave the army on AUTO while you build; it fights for objectives and returns to defend points under attack.
- Unlocks are permanent. Buying Breacher ($2,500) once lets every Troop Tent field it, and losses refill for free.
- Upgrade the Troop Tent to level 2 ($20.0K) for 8 soldiers and faster 24s reinforcements.
- Press H to show the route back to base. It is a guide line, not a teleport.
- Lost a point? A red “NEUTRALISED” banner means you lost its income. Send your army back to retake it.
- CALLS cost Gold: Artillery 29, Airstrike 49, Paratroopers 99, Nuke 799. They are not free buttons.
- HQ gates everything: HQ 2 opens garages and docks, HQ 3 armour and radar, HQ 4 aircraft, warships and artillery.
- Plan for HQ 5: the first promotion needs the Command Citadel plus $75.0M.
- Saturdays matter: official boss battles pay Gold. Check the event countdown.
FAQ
What should I build first in Army Commander Tycoon?
The Troop Tent ($300) for the tutorial, then Oil Rigs 1–4 ($90, $160, $270, $470). Oil rigs pay for themselves in 30–70 seconds, faster than anything else early on.
How do I open the build menu?
Press B on PC, or tap BUILD on mobile. V opens ARMY and C opens COMMAND.
Do I lose units when they die?
No. You unlock a unit type once; losses are replaced for free after the reinforcement timer (30 seconds for a level 1 Troop Tent, 24 at level 2).
How do I capture points?
Your army fights for points automatically on AUTO. You can also open COMMAND (C) and order a group to a point, or walk there yourself.