I want to upgrade my troops, I think maybe a shooter troop, gaurdian troop, carrier troop and universal troop. What should my troop structure be and in which ants should I invest (all are star-0)
Red Velvet, Meranoplus Castaneus, Nimble Tree Ant, Predator, Blood Giant, Shikaree Master, Reap Master, Gold Armor, Slim Arched, Meranoplus Bicolor, Crematogaster Inflata, Cyphomyrmex Rimosus, Hairy Panther Procryptocerus Adlerzi, Weaver Ant, Strumigenys Eggersi, Graceful Twig Ant, Wise Berserker, Jet Black, Leaf Devourer, Grave Digger, Golden Crystal, Crimson Fragger, Ruby Slender, White Velvet
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Hello @mostley_imaginary! Welcome to the official The Ants forum. 
You have some very interesting Special Ants! Based on your current list, I have a few recommendations for your troop structure and where to focus your investment.
Class Recommendations:
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Shooter Class (Highly Recommended): This is where you should focus your initial investment. You have a very strong lineup with Red Velvet, Weaver Ant, Crematogaster Inflata, and Wise Berserker. These ants can form a powerful troop for PvP battles.
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Guardian Class: You have Leaf Devourer, Hairy Panther, and Meranoplus Castaneus. These are versatile ants that can be used effectively in both PvE and PvP formations.
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Carrier Class: For this class, your best options are Cyphomyrmex Rimosus, Grave Digger, and Golden Crystal, which also provide a good balance for PvE and PvP.
Strategic Advice: Focus on One Class
To achieve faster development, my best advice is to focus on developing only one class at first (for example, Shooters). Your goal should be to build at least one strong main troop. Having a powerful primary squad will help you perform much better in battles and secure more rewards during in-game events.
Deep Dive Guides:
To see exactly how to position these ants and how to maximize their potential in the 2026 Meta, I highly recommend checking out the guides we’ve prepared:
[PvP Formations - 2026 Meta] [GUIDE] Best Special Ant Formations PvP: 2026 Meta
[PvE Formations (Groundhog/Pangolin) - 2026 Meta] [GUIDE] PvE Formations: Maximize Damage on Groundhog & Pangolin (2026 Meta)
Focusing your resources on those top-tier Shooter ants will give you the best return on investment right now. Good luck! 
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Thanks.
Doesn’t awakening make a difference though?
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That is a great follow-up question! Absolutely, Awakening makes a massive difference.
While the basic formation is the foundation, Awakening and other evolution systems are what truly scale your power in the late game. Here’s why:
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Special Ant Awakening: Once you start ‘Starring up’ your ants, you unlock the Awakening tree. This doesn’t just boost stats (Attack, Defense, Health); it also enhances your ant’s specific skills and can even add unique combat effects that change the outcome of a battle.
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Star Level Power Spikes: Each star level significantly increases the percentage of your troop’s attributes. An S-tier ant with 5 stars and full Awakening is leagues ahead of the same ant at 0 stars.
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Mutations & Research: Systems like Cells, Genes, Germs, and Fungus (Mutation) provide massive cumulative bonuses. When combined with the Special Ant Evolution tree in the Evolution Fungi, your troop’s power can grow exponentially.
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Insects: Don’t forget that a 9 or 10-star Orange Insect provides a huge boost that synergizes with your awakened ants.
In summary: If you have the shells to ‘Star up’ and awaken your main troop (like the Shooter lineup we discussed), you will see a significant jump in performance, both in PvP and against high-level PvE targets.
Keep focusing on your primary class, and as you get duplicates of your best ants, use them to start the Awakening process!
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So will something like the Red Velvet get awakening at igher stars, becuase now I can’t see any awakening but for my Golden Armor at star-0 I have it at Lv. 22 Awakening
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Great catch! You are absolutely right.
Currently, not all Special Ants have the Awakening feature enabled, and Red Velvet is indeed one of those that doesn’t have it yet. However, this is something that often changes. The developers release the Awakening function for different ants gradually through game updates. We have seen many ants that previously didn’t have this feature receive it over time, so it is possible that Red Velvet will get it in the future.
The game is constantly evolving with new mechanics to help strengthen your anthill. For example, a new feature called Ascension was recently released, which is currently available only for S5 (Season 5) ants.
As the game receives new updates, more ants will likely receive these power-up options. 
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