Tiles Survive – Copper Clash Guide (S3): Lairs, Mines & Merit (All 3 Copper Sources)

Season 3 of Tiles Survive is officially here, and if you’ve spent more than five minutes in the new map, you already know one thing: it’s all about the Copper. Copper is the lifeblood of your progression this season, determining where your alliance and faction sit in the rankings.

But between Lairs, Mines, and the new Faction mechanics, things can get a bit chaotic. If you’re wondering how to actually win the Copper Clash and maximize your Merits, you’re in the right place. Let’s break down the three main ways to stack that Copper and dominate S3.

The Three Big Copper Sources

You can't just rely on one thing if you want to hit the top of the leaderboards. You need to be pulling Copper from all three "taps":

KVK Wins: This is the big one. Winning your KVK matchups provides a massive injection of Copper. It’s the reward for the "big" fights, so make sure your state is coordinated.

Occupied Cities (The Passive Income): This is your bread and butter. Once your alliance captures a city, it starts generating Copper per hour. It’s passive, it’s consistent, and it builds up fast. The more cities you hold, the more your "Copper interest" grows.

The Copper Clash Event: This is the active battlefield. It’s where the real-time strategy happens, and where you’ll spend most of your energy.

 

Lairs vs. Mines: Know the Difference

During the Copper Clash, the map is littered with Lairs and Mines. A lot of players treat them the same, but they function very differently:

• Lairs (Attack for Points): Think of Lairs as capture-and-move targets. You get points primarily for the attack itself. If your alliance wants to jump ahead quickly, you hit the Lairs hard.
• Mines (Defend for Points): Mines are all about the long game. You get points for defending them. Once you capture a Mine, you’ll see "plus points" (like +1 or +2) ticking every minute.

Size Matters: Mines come in Small (S), Medium (M), Large (L), and XX-Large (XXL). Obviously, the XXL ones give the best "per minute" ticks, but they are also the biggest targets for your enemies.

Tip: Look at the screen—if it’s flashing, someone is either attacking or defending that spot. Keep an eye on those timers!

 

The New S3 Meta: Faction Coordination

The biggest change in Season 3 is the shift from "Alliance-only" to "Faction-focused" gameplay. In previous seasons, you were mostly looking out for your own group. Now, your entire Faction shares the burden and the rewards.

You’ll notice on the map that you can see multiple alliances under one faction. This means you can—and should—coordinate defenses. If your alliance is stretched thin, a sister alliance in your faction can help hold a Mine. Communication is non-negotiable here. If you just throw random attacks everywhere without talking to your faction, you’re going to lose ground to more organized teams.

 

Merit Farming: Don't Leave Rewards on the Table

Solo rankings are just as important for your personal growth. You accumulate Merits (solo points) by killing troops and attacking other players.

• Daily Resets: Ranking rewards often reset daily, so don’t panic if you feel behind—just keep grinding.
• The "Stay Put" Rule: As long as you don't leave your alliance, your progress is safe. Keep hitting those tiles and engaging in skirmishes to climb the Merit ladder.
• The Rewards: The S3 rewards are honestly great. We’re talking about permanent skins and massive resource boosts that can level you up two or three times faster than usual.

 

Final Thoughts

Winning Season 3 is a marathon, not a sprint. Focus on holding your cities for that passive Copper flow, coordinate with your Faction to hold the XXL Mines, and don't be afraid to get into those skirmishes for the Merits.

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