After several dozen games, I came to the conclusion that the most scarce resource in Olden Era is not gold or rare resources. The real problem in almost every game is alchemical dust.

At first, it seems like there's enough. You pick up a couple of piles on the map, disassemble some unwanted artifact, and it seems fine. But then you start building upgrades, leveling up spells, enhancing artifacts, and suddenly you realize the stock ran out a week ago.

So I decided to gather all the main ways to obtain dust in one place and share what works for me personally.

Why is alchemical dust needed?

In short, it is one of the key resources for developing your hero and army.

Main uses:

• upgrading creature dwellings;
• upgrading spells;
• enhancing artifacts;
• some special game mechanics and buildings.

Because of this, dust constantly has to be distributed between the army and the hero.

For example, you can invest all resources into upgrading magic and get powerful spells. But then the army will remain weak. Or vice versa, build strong troops but lose magical duels.

That's why dust is always in short supply.

Where to get alchemical dust

1. Simply collect on the map

The most obvious source.

On the adventure map, deposits of alchemical dust are regularly encountered. Many players at the start of the game treat them roughly like piles of wood or ore, but in practice, dust is much more valuable.

If there's a choice between a small pile of gold and dust, I almost always take the dust.

Especially in the first and second weeks.

2. Disassemble unwanted artifacts

Probably the most underestimated source.

Many players stash dozens of artifacts in the hero's backpack and forget about them. As a result, half of the items are never used.

If an artifact is definitely not needed by your hero, you can disassemble it and get alchemical dust.

It's especially profitable to disassemble:

• duplicates;
• weak artifacts from the late game;
• items for a different hero type;
• artifacts that have been replaced by stronger ones.

In the mid-game, disassembling items usually starts bringing in more dust than collecting on the map.

3. Alchemical Laboratory

A very useful object that many beginners underestimate.

The laboratory allows you to exchange some rare resources for alchemical dust.

If you have accumulated a lot of crystals, gems, or mercury, and there's nothing left to build with them, it makes sense to convert part of the stock into dust.

Sometimes this literally saves the development of the town.

4. Alchemical Dust Storage

If you find such an object near your territory, consider yourself lucky.

It regularly provides a supply of dust and becomes an excellent target for a secondary hero.

On large maps, controlling such objects can give a huge advantage over the opponent.

5. Hero skills

Some hero skills allow you to obtain alchemical dust on a regular basis.

Many prefer purely combat builds, but on large maps, such economic bonuses pay off very quickly.

Especially if the game drags on beyond the second month.

6. Creature banks and treasure vaults

Another source that is often forgotten.

Many difficult objects guard not only gold and artifacts but also stocks of alchemical dust.

So don't evaluate a creature bank only by the amount of gold in the reward. Sometimes the main value lies in the additional resources.

What to spend dust on best

Over the course of the game, I've come up with a simple scheme.

Early game

The main priority is upgrading key creature dwellings. A strong army in the first and second weeks gives much more benefit than an upgraded spell. But you can also upgrade artifacts if you have them. At the start, for 30-50 dust you can get, for example, +2 to attack and defense, which easily pays off.

Mid game

Here you can start investing in magic.

Especially if the hero actively uses spells and has a good mana pool.

Late game

At this point, strong artifacts and expensive upgrades usually appear.

Then it makes sense to invest dust in them, because each such upgrade can significantly strengthen the hero.

The most common mistake of beginners

Spending all dust on the first spell upgrade.

The temptation is great. The new mechanic looks interesting, you want to try all the upgrades right away.

But then it's time to build upgraded dwellings, and there's no resource left.

In most games, a strong army gives more benefit than a single upgraded spell.

So at the start of the game, I try to first ensure the development of troops and only then invest in magic.