Diamond is rare and earned by consistent, correct decisions. Focus on: the right ruler (Spirit Empress if available), early elixir farming, shop cycling, clean decision-making, learning a few strong comps, smart placement, opponent scouting/blocking, mental discipline, and volume practice. Do those things and your win rate will climb.
How to Reach Diamond in Merge Tactics Season 1 (2025)
Pick the right ruler: Spirit Empress (if you have her)
Why it matters? Spirit Empress is exceptional because she gains +2 elixir per merge instead of +1. Over many merges that extra elixir compounds into more buys, more rolls, faster upgrades and stronger late-game snowball.
How to use her
- Prioritize merges: each merge gives extra value beyond the unit itself (you get a net elixir advantage).
- If you don’t have Empress, Goblin Queen is viable — play safer early but aim to emulate Empress’ economy-focused midgame.
When not to force her
If you don’t have her, don’t obsess — play the ruler you know and focus on the other fundamentals below.
Tip 2 — Early game farming: merge → sell loop to build elixir
Core idea
“Farming” means converting early board actions into sustained elixir so you can buy and upgrade the cards you want mid/late game.
Exact loop (repeatable):
- Buy the cheapest card available (keeps leftover elixir to keep rolling).
- When you see duplicates, merge them and sell the merged unit. Because the Empress gives +2 elixir per merge, merging then selling nets you elixir (one extra per merge in the video example).
- Roll and buy more cheap cards; rinse/ repeat until you have 5–7+ cards and ~6+ elixir.
- Once you have a stable stock and enough elixir, stop farming and start buying the cards that fit your comp.
Why cheapest matters
Buying cheap cards maximizes the number of shop rolls you can afford, increasing chances to find duplicates and trigger merges.
Practical threshold
When you can maintain an “infinite” merge-sell cycle (5+ cards + ~6+ elixir), you’ve finished farming — switch to building your comp.
Tip 3 — Cycle (roll) the shop intelligently
What is cycling?
Cycling here = rolling the shop repeatedly to find your cards.
How to do it well
- Low elixir: keep using merge→sell to rebuild elixir so you can continue cycling.
- Medium/high elixir: buy cards that belong to your targeted comp (don’t waste high elixir on random one-offs).
- The goal is to balance: when you desperately need a specific piece, roll aggressively; otherwise conserve elixir to keep long-term pressure.
Don’t over-roll
If you roll without plan you’ll leak elixir. Only spend to push toward a clear comp or to deny a key card to an opponent (see scouting).
Tip 4 — Accuracy beats speed every time
What players mess up
Rushing purchases/rolls leads to misbuys and missed merges. Fast is useless if the decisions are wrong.
Practical rules
- Slow down when learning: confirm each buy is useful (merge, comp piece, or blocker).
- Use a decision checklist for every buy: “Is this a merge? Is this core to my comp? Does this deny an opponent a three-star?” If none, skip or buy the cheapest option to keep rolling.
- Speed will come naturally: once you can identify cards quickly you’ll be fast and correct.
Training drill
Play a session where you force yourself to pause 1–2 seconds before every buy — accuracy first, speed later.
Tip 5 — Learn 2–3 meta comps cold (Juggernaut + Brawler core example)
Why comps matter
A comp is your game plan. Knowing a few comp shells allows instant recognition in the shop and clean decision-making.
Example comp framework (strong early/mid meta)
- Core (4/6 slots): Juggernauts + Brawlers — strong frontline and damage sustain.
- Flex (2/6 slots): Assassins / Blasters / Fire / Electric depending on availability and enemy boards.
How to practice comps
- Choose one comp to learn first. Play it 20–50 times so you recognize which cards matter and when to transition.
- Memorize backup flex picks for each core composition.
Why this helps
You’ll spend less mental bandwidth during games and make consistent buys—this raises average play quality dramatically.
Tip 6 — Unit placement fundamentals
Placement basics
- Tanks/Juggernauts go forward to soak damage and protect ranged units.
- Blasters/Long-range should sit far back — they do more damage if protected.
- Noble/Support may need front/back placement depending on the trait; place to maximize their bonuses.
Trait-focused tips
- If a trait grants a shield to units behind (e.g., Juggernaut), put the Juggernaut in front and your damage dealers directly behind them.
- Assassins typically target backline — place your ranged carefully if the opponent runs assassins.
Counter placement
- Scout opponent layouts and mirror or adapt: if they have a fragile backline, push with frontline breakers or assassins.
Tip 7 — Be flexible: pick comps based on availability & opponent pool
How to decide which comp to go for
- Shop reality: if your early shop is heavy on a trait (e.g., many Juggernauts), lean into it.
- Opponent pressure: if someone else is already stacking a card heavily, don’t duel them for three-stars — pivot.
- Shared pool awareness: there are only four copies of each card total — if two are already on one board, the maximum you can get is limited.
Practical pivot rule
If an opponent holds 2 copies of a key unit early, count that as a red flag to pivot unless you can block a copy or aggressively deny them.
Tip 8 — Scout and block opponents frequently
Why scouting helps
- You can avoid wasting time fighting for the same cards.
- You can perform blocking: buying a single copy of an opponent’s key card prevents them from maxing it.
How to scout effectively
- Check opponents’ boards during the buy phase and note duplicates.
- If an opponent is close to a three-star of your planned card and you can afford it, buy one copy to deny them—even if it’s not perfect for you.
When to block vs. ignore
- Block only when the card is core to their comp and you can afford a small detour; don’t sacrifice your entire plan for a single block.
Tip 9 — Preserve your mental state (tilt management)
Games are RNG + skill
Some rounds will be unwinnable due to bad shops. Your job is to control your decisions, not the RNG.
Practical tilt rules
- Recognize tilt: mistakes pile up, reaction time slows, or frustration spikes.
- Fix it: take a short break (walk, stretch, rest eyes), or stop after a run of losses.
- Review objectively: after a loss, ask “Was this RNG or a decision error?” Focus improvement on decision errors.
Session design for mental health
- Limit your session to defined blocks (e.g., 30 or 50 games). If you lose X in a row or drop many trophies, pause and reset.
Tip 10 — Volume + deliberate practice: play the right way
Muscle memory and pattern recognition are huge
Merge Tactics rewards repeated, correct patterns. Purposeful repetition builds speed and reduces mistakes.
How to practice deliberately
- Replay one comp: play the same comp until your recognition of the shop, rolls, and placements becomes automatic.
- Micro-skills sessions: practice only scouting, or only placement, or only merge→sell loops in short sessions.
- Post-game review: after matches, note one thing you did well and one thing to fix next time.
Targeted practice goals
- 50 games focusing on one comp → comfortable recognition.
- 20 games practicing aggressive blocking and pivoting → better adaptation.
Late-game & push to Diamond: final checklist
When you’re in trophy push mode:
- Prioritize clean decision-making over flashy plays.
- Keep at least a medium elixir buffer for last-minute buys.
- If you see a rival stacking a card for three-star and you can cheaply deny them without wrecking your plan, do it.
- Don’t force full rebuilds mid-game unless you’re certain pivoting is superior.
- If down trophies and tilted, step away — your best push comes when rested and accurate.
Diamond isn’t a single trick — it’s the result of consistent, correct micro-decisions stacked over thousands of small choices. Use Empress when possible, build an elixir engine early, master 2–3 comps, prioritize accuracy over speed, scout and block, protect your mental space, and put in deliberate practice. Follow these ten tips and your climb to Diamond will go from luck-dependent to skill-driven.