Army customization in Cinderfall

Build your strategy before the match begins

Cinderfall combines the structure of a classic RTS with composition freedom inspired by role-playing games. Players choose more than a faction: they select the units, buildings, runes and abilities that define what their army can do.

With more than 160 units and buildings, the configurator supports economic, defensive, mobile, aggressive and hybrid styles, which then evolve through three technology tiers during the match.

1. Choose units and buildings

Every element in your composition should answer a need: gather, produce, defend, scout, support, siege or control the battlefield.

A building choice can change how the whole base functions. A farm can focus on food, improve nearby building production or regularly summon wolves. An arsenal can provide catapults, trebuchets, ballistae or cannons.

These choices determine:

• which units are available during the match;
• how the economy develops;
• the answers available against specific threats;
• how quickly the army reaches full strength;
• the balance between land, naval and air forces.

2. Plan technology progression

Cinderfall uses three technology tiers, from T1 to T3. Advancing to a new tier progressively unlocks units, buildings, upgrades and abilities.

An army must therefore be planned as a path, not only a final list. Some choices strengthen the early game, while others require more resources and time before reaching their full impact.

The build order connects these decisions: construction sequence, economic priorities, timing of tier upgrades and production of the first units.

3. Change stats with runes

Every unit and building can hold up to three runes, one for each technology tier. Runes are activated during the match through forge upgrades.

They modify individual stats. A damage-focused unit can become tougher, a slow force can gain mobility, and a specialist can move toward a hybrid role.

The system applies to buildings as well. Customization therefore shapes not only the visible army but the economy and infrastructure behind it.

How runes change counterplay

Two players using the same unit can give it different profiles. Recognizing the unit type is no longer enough; you must observe its behavior, understand the build and adapt your answers.

That uncertainty gives scouting, analysis and in-match adaptation greater importance.

4. Combine passive and active abilities

Almost every unit has passive and active abilities that define its role beyond base stats.

Effects can include:

• support auras;
• regeneration;
• buffs and debuffs;
• area damage;
• control abilities;
• effects triggered under specific conditions.

Active abilities can run automatically to reduce the micro-management required by large armies. Players may also trigger them manually to choose the exact timing and target.

5. Configure faction abilities

Each faction adds its own decisions to the configurator.

Humans

Players select Officer Directives and war cries powered by Faith. This setup changes the support aura, coordination and special actions available during the match.

Orcs

Players choose Totems and abilities that spend Rage. These decisions define how the army turns combat into growing power and controls key positions.

Cinderfiends

Under CPU control, the Cinderfiends use souls and Ash to summon, drain mana, recall units or create temporary passages. Their systems demonstrate the depth planned for every faction, including non-playable opponents.

Build a coherent loadout

A strong composition is not simply a collection of the most powerful units. It must cover several roles while accounting for cost, production time and terrain.

Before confirming a build, ask:

• how does this army start its economy?
• how does it respond to early pressure?
• what are its scouting and mobility options?
• can it fight on land, sea or air when the map requires it?
• does it have area damage, siege and support?
• when does it reach peak strength?
• which resources and buildings are essential to its operation?

Test, observe and adjust

Quick Match is ideal for comparing army compositions on known maps. Procedural Match tests their ability to adapt to unexpected terrain. Survival measures economic endurance and unit synergy under pressure.

Customization becomes a continuous loop: create, play, identify a weakness and improve the build.

A system designed to keep evolving

The roadmap includes an additional system for changing unit weapons. This feature is not presented as available in the current build, and its release schedule has not been announced.