Technology

The Hearth

The muhafaza branch's doctrine node (tier 4); its prerequisite is Fieldworks.

The doctrine choice is exclusive

While one doctrine node is known or queued, another branch's doctrine cannot enter a queue. If you send ocak to research, you can never open the harp and imar branches' doctrine nodes for the rest of that match — the choice is one-time (Research and the tech tree).

You see a rival's doctrine: even though your own tree is fully visible, of a rival's you see only the doctrine they have finished — in the badge next to their name on the score strip. The rest of their research stays hidden.

What it unlocks

It unlocks Janissary: the most durable infantry type, it requires Iron (Iron deposit).

Also gives a passive

ocak also carries a passive, seen in the table above's Effects row: it adds 1 to the infantry types' (Spearman, Janissary) discipline, on top of what comes from their type. This is not a ceiling change — the 4 cap stays the same, it just makes it easier to reach. A rival knowing this node shows up on the discipline line of the preview of a fight your infantry walks into (Research and the tech tree).

What it keeps unlocking

Knowing ocak is also the prerequisite for researching the mastery node Household Troops — you reach the muhafaza branch's mastery only by choosing this doctrine. kapikulu carries a passive, seen in the table above's Effects row: infantry raised in a city that has a Barracks (Barracks) are born more experienced than usual.

When to research it

This is a mid-game decision: you need to have finished every tier ahead of it (Banners, Healing, Fieldworks) and committed to the muhafaza doctrine — the choice cannot be undone. This is the doctrine that fits best with a playstyle that holds the front for a long time and prefers to stay on the defensive.

The numbers on this page are read from the game’s balance tables.