Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Empire War.
Getting Started
What is Empire War?
Empire War is a free browser-based idle strategy game where you build a corporate empire. Execute deals, build divisions, recruit employees, and compete on the Power 500 leaderboard.
Do I need to download anything?
No. Empire War runs entirely in your web browser. No downloads, no app store, no plugins required.
Is it free to play?
Yes, completely free. The game is supported by ads and optional affiliate links. There are no pay-to-win mechanics.
How long are play sessions?
Typical sessions are 20-30 minutes. You execute deals, collect income, manage your company, then come back when AP refills or timers complete.
Action Points (AP)
What are Action Points?
AP is your stamina. Every deal, recruit view, and management action costs AP. It regenerates at 1 AP every 3 minutes.
How do I get more AP?
AP regenerates over time. Your max AP increases by +2 per CEO level and +5 permanently per IPO exit. Level-ups refill your AP to max.
What happens when I run out of AP?
You wait for it to recharge, or come back later. This is the core idle mechanic — multiple staggered timers always give you a reason to return.
Deals
How do deals work?
Each deal costs AP and has a success rate. Successful deals earn cash, XP, and may drop collection items. Failed deals still earn some XP.
What are the deal tiers?
There are 5 tiers: Hustler (5min-1hr), Entrepreneur (30min-4hr), Mogul (2hr-12hr), Titan (6hr-24hr), and Tycoon (12hr-48hr). Higher tiers unlock as you level up.
Do deals have individual cooldowns?
Yes. Each deal has its own cooldown timer. You can run different deals simultaneously as long as you have AP.
What affects success rate?
Base success rate is modified by SEC Heat (high heat reduces success), employee skill bonuses (matching specialty helps), and other factors.
Divisions
What are divisions?
Divisions are businesses you own that generate passive income over time. There are 90 unique types across 6 industries.
How does passive income work?
Income accumulates while you are offline, capping at 12 hours. Log in and click Collect to claim it.
What are specialization and synergy bonuses?
Own 3+ divisions in one industry for +15% income, 5+ for +30%. Certain industry pairs (like Tech+Media) unlock synergy bonuses.
How do upgrades work?
Divisions can be upgraded from Level 1 to 10. Each upgrade costs cash and takes real time (1 hour to 48 hours). Divisions produce no income while upgrading.
Employees
Why do I need employees?
Employees boost deal success rates, division income, attack power, and defense power based on their specialty and skill level.
What happens if I cannot pay salaries?
Employees go on strike. Striking employees provide zero bonuses. You must pay their owed salary plus a 10% penalty to resolve the strike.
How does recruiting work?
The recruiting pool refreshes every 6 hours with 5 candidates. Higher CEO levels give better odds of finding high-level talent (Level 10 executives are very rare).
PvP (Hostile Takeovers)
When can I attack other players?
PvP unlocks at CEO Level 11. Levels 11-15 can only attack within ±5 levels. Level 16+ is open PvP.
What happens when I attack?
You spend 30 AP + a cash stake. If you win, you skim 20% of the target division income for 24 hours and deal damage. If you lose, you forfeit your cash stake.
How do I defend against attacks?
Assign employees to your defense team. Higher-level divisions have higher defense ratings. After being attacked, you get a 4-hour shield and a free retaliation attack.
Is there griefing protection?
Yes. Max 5 attacks per day, 8-hour cooldown per target, 4-hour shield after being attacked, and levels 1-10 are fully immune to PvP.
SEC Heat
What is SEC Heat?
SEC Heat (0-100) represents regulatory attention from the Securities and Exchange Commission. Aggressive deals and attacks increase heat.
What are the heat penalties?
0-25: Clear (no penalties). 26-50: Watchlist (random audits). 51-75: Investigation (deal success -10%). 76-100: Lawsuit (forced fine, heat resets to 50).
How do I reduce heat?
SEC Heat decays naturally at -1/hour. You can also use PR Campaigns (10 AP, -10-15 heat) or Charitable Donations (8 AP + $5,000, -5-10 heat).
IPO & Prestige
What is the IPO system?
IPO is the prestige mechanic. At CEO Level 25+, after 3 preparation deals, you can take your company public. This resets your company but gives permanent bonuses.
What do I keep after IPO?
15% of exit valuation as starting cash, weekly dividends (0.5% of exit value), +5 permanent max AP, all achievements, and completed collection set bonuses.
What resets?
CEO level (back to 1), all divisions and employees, incomplete collection pieces, SEC Heat, and PvP immunity is restored until Level 10.
Should I IPO early or late?
Strategy choice! Early IPOs (Level 25-30) give smaller payouts but compound faster across multiple exits. Late IPOs (Level 50+) give massive single payouts.
Collections & Achievements
How do I get collection items?
Loot drops randomly from completed deals. Higher tier deals have better drop rates and access to rarer items.
Do collection bonuses survive IPO?
Yes! Completed set bonuses are permanent and tied to your account, not your company.
How many achievements are there?
Over 50 achievements across 8 categories. Each awards XP and cash. Some unlock cosmetic titles displayed on your profile.
Account & Technical
Can I play on mobile?
Yes. Empire War is fully responsive and works on any modern mobile browser. No app needed.
Is my data safe?
We use bcrypt password hashing, HTTPS encryption, CSRF protection, and prepared SQL statements. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
How do I delete my account?
Contact [email protected] to request account deletion. Per our Privacy Policy, deletion is processed within 30 days.