Clash of Clans Laboratory research order guide
The right order in the Laboratory depends on the army you use: it makes sense to upgrade your main attacking troops and spells first, then support units. The most important rule is not to leave the Laboratory empty; every idle hour is lost research time.
Why is the Laboratory critical?
The Laboratory is the building that raises the level of troops and spells. A higher-level troop means a stronger attack with the same army size. Research also takes a long time; that's why an empty Laboratory is a silent loss that slows your village's growth. For general information, you can check the Laboratory wiki page.
We don't give research times and costs as numbers here because they vary by level and game version. What matters is the ordering logic.
How do you decide the research order?
1. Base it on the army you use
If you always attack with the same army composition, start research with that army's main units. Upgrading a unit you never use is a waste of resources and time. Every level that boosts your main attacking power shows up in results right away.
2. Don't forget spells
Spells are often overlooked. Yet spells like Lightning are decisive in disabling defenses. Spell levels are raised in the Laboratory too; troops are the heart of the army, but spells tip the result. For the lightning details, see the related article.
3. Leave support units for last
Support units outside the main army play a helper role. It's usually more efficient to upgrade them after the main units. Of course, this order can change depending on your own play style.
4. Take resources into account
Laboratory research costs resources too, usually elixir and dark elixir. That's why you need to think of your research plan together with your farming plan. Our farm guide covers collecting resources.
Priority table
| Research type | Why it matters | Priority logic |
|---|---|---|
| Main attacking troops | Directly increases attacking power | Before |
| Spells | Decisive for getting through defenses | In parallel with main troops |
| Support units | The helper part of the army | Later |
| Unused units | Give no benefit in the short term | Last |
Not leaving the Laboratory empty
When one research finishes, you need to start a new one. If you open the game an hour late, the Laboratory sits idle for that time. These gaps, piling up over weeks, turn into a serious lag. The solution is to start research automatically wherever possible.
| Approach | Advantage | Disadvantage |
|---|---|---|
| Starting by hand | Full control | If you forget, the Laboratory sits empty |
| Setting a reminder | Simple | You still have to act by hand |
| Automatic start | Minimal idle time | You need to set the priority |
cocbot starts Laboratory research automatically. You know which research matters in the game; the bot helps keep the queue from sitting empty. It also starts the building and hero upgrades the game recommends and verifies the spending. For how the bot works in general, see our introduction article.
Resource plan
Research resources and wall resources can overlap. Because elixir is used for both research and walls, you need to set a priority. A practical rule: keep the Laboratory running without a break and let the leftover resources go to walls. We cover this in our wall guide.
To try the bot, you can go to the download page.
Example priority scenarios
The right order depends on your play style, so looking at scenarios is more useful than a single list. For a player using an air army, spells like Lightning stand out next to the main units, because neutralizing Air Defenses decides the army's fate. For someone playing with a ground army, the main ground units and the spells that support them come first. The common point in both is not to upgrade what you don't use.
| Play style | Priority research | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Air-heavy army | Main air units, Lightning Spell | Getting past Air Defenses is critical |
| Ground-heavy army | Main ground units, support spells | The main striking force comes first |
| Mixed army | The two or three most-used units | Focus instead of scattered research |
| Farming only | Cheap, fast-training units | Attack frequency sets efficiency |
Balancing the Laboratory against other upgrades
In a village, many upgrades compete for resources at once: heroes, defenses, walls, army and the Laboratory. It isn't possible to keep all of them maxed at the same time. The smart approach is to keep the Laboratory running without a break while spreading the remaining resources across the other areas. An idle Laboratory isn't just lost time; it means your whole army's rate of growth slows down. For the wall side, see our wall upgrade article.
Questions to ask yourself when making a research plan
- Which units did I use the most in the last week?
- Which unit's level is the weak link in my army?
- Are my spells keeping up with the level of my army?
- How many hours did the Laboratory sit empty this week?
- Do the resources needed for research fit my farming plan?
The answers to these questions give you enough direction to pick the next research. We don't write exact time and cost values; because they change with the game version and level, checking current sources is best. As a community resource, the Laboratory page gives the general picture.
Summary: three rules for the Laboratory
First, don't leave the Laboratory empty; every idle hour is lost research time. Second, upgrade the main units and spells you use first and leave the units you don't use for last. Third, think of the research resources together with your farming and wall plans, because resources like elixir are shared across several areas. These three rules are enough to build a good order without memorizing a complicated list.
Reviewing your research plan once a month is also a good habit. If your play style has changed, for example if you've switched to an air army, your priorities should change too. Automatic start makes it easier to carry out the plan, but you are still the one who makes it. For current time and cost information, turn to community sources; we don't write numbers because they change with level and version.
To try the bot and see how the Laboratory starts automatically, you can get a free code from the download page.
The long view: why patience is needed
Laboratory research runs on a scale of days and weeks, so the effect of today's choice shows up long after. Upgrading the wrong unit in a hurry spends most of your time in a way you can't take back. That's why it's worth stopping for a minute before each new research to think about what the army really needs. A player who moves along with a plan builds a more balanced and stronger army in the same time. The bot's job is to carry out this plan without interruption; making the plan always stays with you.
The Laboratory is the silent engine of village growth: it makes no noise, but when it stops, everything slows down.
Frequently asked questions
Which research should I start first in the Laboratory?
Generally the main attacking troops and spells you use. Leave units you never use for last.
What happens if the Laboratory sits empty?
Idle time is lost research time. Once it accumulates, it causes a serious lag.
How long does research take and what does it cost?
It varies by level and game version. For current values, it's right to look at the wiki pages.
Does research start automatically with the bot?
Yes, cocbot starts Laboratory research automatically.