In Forge of Empires, Legendary Buildings (LG / GB) have determined the long-term success of a city for many years. But honestly: anyone who wants to optimize their city is currently in an absurd situation. Event buildings now deliver more FP and combat power per tile than an LG you've sunk months of FP into – even buildings with combat bonuses get demolished because the efficiency simply can't keep up.
At the same time, the Prestige Rework is about to bring a comprehensive overhaul of the GB system: new tier structure, changed cost curve, no more special goods. The old buildings are regaining relevance – but not all equally strong.
This article ranks all 49 Legendary Buildings by playstyle (GG / GEx / QI / General) and explains the latest changes to the prestige system. As of: October 2026, beta rework.
1. Why the Value of LGs Has Changed
In the past, an LG was almost always a good investment: few alternatives, global bonuses as the main driver. Back then you could still play successfully as a merchant or through pure goods production – today that's nearly extinct. This has changed dramatically over the years.
Event buildings now deliver up to ~1000 FP/day and effects like global %-bonuses on FP production. Example: Cape Canaveral (formerly "best FP efficiency" per tile) only yields 80 FP/day at level 80 after roughly 302 days of payback. Even average event buildings beat that easily.
Loop quests are dead. InnoGames introduced a hard daily limit for abandoned quests. Anyone who used to click on Château Frontenac in the background for hours to farm goods infinitely via "Pay Coins & Supplies" now has a fixed limit. The rewards have additionally been devalued so much that the clicking effort simply no longer pays off – GBG shop and event buildings deliver multiples of it in a fraction of the time.
Negotiation is niche. An auto-battle takes 1–2 seconds, a negotiation 15–30. In the time it takes a merchant to complete a single negotiation, a fighter pushes through 15–20 encounters. On top of that come the goods costs: at high fatigue, prices explode to 400+ goods per slot, while units are virtually infinitely available due to event power creep. Negotiation is only worth it today at the "wall" (battles can't progress further).
Consequence: In the competitive scene there is almost only fighting left as a relevant option. The priority of Legendary Buildings depends on your own mode focus – GG, GEx, or QI.
2. The Great LG Lottery: Why Every Click in City Rebuilding Is Currently a Gamble
Anyone sitting in front of their city map today feels one thing above all: bewilderment. On the live servers, many LGs still lead an inferior existence – they block space while every new event pushes their efficiency further to the edge. The logical consequence of recent years for many was: get rid of the old blocks, make way for event buildings.
But whoever demolishes prematurely now is playing Russian roulette with their investment. A look at beta brings not clarity but mainly uncertainty:
- It's impossible to predict what the system will ultimately look like on live servers. Nobody knows if the current beta state is the final version – between two beta versions, e.g., the silver bonuses were completely removed and very strong bonuses were taken from some LGs and given to others instead.
- Buildings that were still useless yesterday suddenly receive a completely new strategic role.
- Best example: The Arctic Orangery. Its gold effect (150% damage against units of other eras) is almost worthless for players in the Stellar Era – you fight in GG/GEx almost exclusively against troops of your own era. For everyone below, it's a top effect. Will that remain so? Nobody knows.
Three paths, three risks:
- The Demolition: If you demolish an LG now, you risk that exactly this building becomes a mandatory build at live release due to a new gold bonus. All invested FP and blueprints are then gone.
- The Wait-and-See: If you don't level up top buildings like Alcatraz or Zeus Statue right now, you'll be left behind in the competitive scene – because others take the risk.
- The Misinvestment: If you pump massive amounts of FP into a "future talent" whose bonus gets changed one last time just before release, the invested points are wasted – and the space remains blocked.
There is no clear line at the moment. Anyone who claims to have the perfect master plan for the coming months is deceiving themselves. The developers have taken predictability out of the game – and that's exactly why FoE is currently as nerve-wracking as an evening in a casino.
3. The Prestige System (Briefly Explained)
The rework system (in beta since Oct 8, 2026) introduces a new tier system that doesn't exist on live servers yet:
| Tier | Level Range | Who Gets It? |
|---|---|---|
| Copper | Lv 1–200 | All 49 GBs. Buildings with only copper levels end at Lv 200. |
| Gold | Lv 101–500 | Only 21 selected GBs. (Between Lv 101 and 200, both tiers grow simultaneously.) |
Key Changes vs. Live:
- No more special goods. Players from any era can build and level any GB. In return, all gold levels additionally require goods, medals, coins, and supplies.
- Contribution rewards: Fixed %-share of level costs. Gold levels reward 7 slots instead of 5.
⚠️ Prestige values are based on the beta state (rework from Oct 7, 2026). InnoGames has confirmed: "at least a few more months" until live. All numbers may change.
4. The Ranking by Playstyle
The classification combines official gold effects (rework beta) with practical factors like space requirements, mode relevance, and community consensus. Each building is classified exactly once – in the category where it contributes most.
4.1 Foundation – Every City Needs This
These GBs are relevant regardless of playstyle. Whoever doesn't have them is structurally at a disadvantage.
| Building | Copper Effect (Live) | Gold Effect (Rework) | Why Foundation? |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ark (7×5) | Patron bonus + guild goods | Patron Bonus (Gold) – increases rewards for gold-level donations | Core of the donation system. But: On live, you can still participate in regular guild contributions with a level 80 Ark. After the rework, that looks different. An Ark at level 101 then only has an 85% patron bonus for copper levels (pure copper LGs as well as gold LGs up to level 100) and 5% for gold levels from level 101 onward. For maximum copper bonus you need level 194. Level 201 could become a new standard value. Maximum gold bonus only through currently utopian-looking level 500 for both Ark and Horizon Rift Siphon. |
| Horizon Rift Siphon (4×4) | Supply production + Att&Def (both armies) | Patron Bonus (Gold) – analogous to Ark, additive with its bonus | "Second Ark." Fills the gap left by the reduced gold bonus of the Ark. More compact than the Ark. Practically: The combat bonus reaches its maximum of 5% at level 200. |
| Zeus Statue (2×3) | Battle Frenzy (Att+Def attacker) | Multiplier Att+Def attacker in GEx | Tiny space, cheap, first combat bonus. Ideal as your first GB – remains S-tier even with prestige. In GEx it multiplies the entire attacker army. |
| Arctic Orangery (7×7) | Critical Hit (150% against own era) + FP | Enhanced Critical Hit – 150% damage against units of other eras (no agents) | Gold: In the Stellar Era worthless (you only fight your own era), but for everyone below: top effect. Recommendation: Bring it to Lv 201 and leave it there – those playing in the highest era get no benefit from it at all. |
4.2 GG Specialists (Guild Battles)
GG is the competitive PvP mode. These GBs deliver their main effect there.
| Building | Copper Effect (Live) | Gold Effect (Rework) | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cologne Cathedral (4×6) | Battle Frenzy + coins | Multiplier on attacker attack in GG | Mandatory for GG fighters. Stacks with Alcatraz (both multiply GG attackers). Second part of the "Trinity" (Zeus → Cologne → CdM). Scaling: Copper 980%→1200% (Lv 100→200), Gold 1%→7%→11%→12%→13% (Lv 101→500). The multiplier scales with all other GG bonuses – those with a high base benefit most. |
| Alcatraz (10×7) | Units + satisfaction | (1) Multiplier Att+Def attacker GG + (2) flat % Att+Def both armies GG | You're never left without troops. Largest space in the game, the only real space conflict. Gold: double GG boost. |
| Seed Vault (5×6) | Supply production + Helping Hands | (1) Improved Helping Hands + (2) Multiplier Att+Def of defenders in GG | Strong for GG defense. The effect on Helping Hands is a nice side effect, but the Def multiplier is the real value. |
4.3 GEx Specialists (Guild Expedition)
GEx is the weekly PvE event. These GBs deliver their main effect there.
| Building | Copper Effect (Live) | Gold Effect (Rework) | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terracotta Army (4×6) | Advanced Tactics (Att+Def, both armies) | Multiplier Att+Def both armies in GEx | Broadest combat multiplier in the game. Both roles, both stats, one mode. But: The scaling is flat – 1% (Lv 101), 7% (Lv 201), 10% (Lv 300), 11% (Lv 400), 12% (Lv 500). Those standing at 201 only gain another 5 percentage points for millions of FP. Recommendation: If you don't have a TA: build to Lv 201 and leave it there. If you already have one at 201+: no reason to level further. |
| Observatory (3×3) | Guild goods + flat % Att+Def defender | (1) Guild Goods – Adjacent Eras + (2) Multiplier on defender defense in GEx | Small (3×3). Gold: double effect – guild economy + GEx Def multiplier. Practically: The Def multiplier alone doesn't justify leveling beyond 201. Guild goods are nice, but no reason to invest in further levels. |
| Space Freighter (7×4) | Orbital Transfer + Diplomatic Gifts | (1) Special Goods Production Boost + (2) Multiplier Att+Def of attackers in GEx | Pure economy in the Copper tier. Gold finally brings a combat multiplier for GEx attackers – but: since special goods are no longer needed, the copper effect (Orbital Transfer = special goods) is no longer as important. The GEx multiplier is nice, but base values are weak and scope narrow. Verdict: No reason to build or level further. |
4.4 QI Specialists (Quantum Incursions)
QI is a niche mode with its own seasons. Those who only play QI on the side can skip these upgrades.
| Building | Copper Effect (Live) | Gold Effect (Rework) | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deal Castle (7×7) | Flat % Att+Def defender + medals | Multiplier on defender attack in QI | Atk/Def in the copper tier, gold only on attack but as a multiplier. The multiplier is 6% (Lv 201) and only 10% (Lv 500) – 300 levels for 4 percentage points. And QI is a niche mode. Those who take QI seriously and have a high base: okay. For everyone else: questionable whether it's worth building. |
| Castel del Monte (5×5) | Battle Frenzy + FP production | Multiplier on attacker attack in QI | Third part of the classic Trinity. Without QI focus: only a solid copper bonus. |
| The Virgo Project (5×5) | Coins + Rocket Launch (chance to eliminate enemy units) | (1) Missile Launch – Second Wave + (2) Multiplier on attacker defense in QI | Pure QI niche. The rocket mechanic is cool, but scope is narrow and base values moderate. |
| The Blue Galaxy (7×5) | Double Collection + medals – requires a higher level than on live for equal strength | QI double harvest (chance for double harvest in QI settlement) | Copper: maximizes yield of all production sources – broad and useful. Gold: pure QI niche. Those who don't play QI excessively only benefit from the copper effect. |
4.5 "Meh" / Extremely Specific
These GBs have gold tiers, but the effect is either too narrow, too weak, or irrelevant for 98% of players.
| Building | Copper Effect (Live) | Gold Effect (Rework) | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Himeji Castle (6×6) | Spoils of War + supplies | (1) Enhanced Spoils of War (up to 80 attempts/day) + (2) Multiplier on defender defense in GG | Most important loot source through battles. Gold: double effect – Evergreen + GG Def multiplier. But: The Def multiplier jumps from 3% (Lv 201) to 5% (Lv 500) – 300 levels for 2 percentage points. Those standing at 201 must think carefully about it. |
| The Kraken (5×5) | First Strike + FP | Second Strike – chance to eliminate enemy unit at start of 2nd wave | Complements the copper first strike with a second wave. Statistically too weak to justify the enormous upgrade costs. In the first prestige version, a GG attacker multiplier (Att+Def) was planned – in the end it only became a small elimination chance in the 2nd wave. For purists: okay. For everyone else: don't build. |
| Colosseum (6×7) | Medals + satisfaction | Military Ally Boost – increases military allies (level >100 possible) | Only relevant if you already have your historical allies at level 100 and want to artificially over-level them further. For most: uninteresting. |
| Lotus Temple (6×6) | Coins + satisfaction | (1) Science Ally Boost + (2) Multiplier Att+Def of defenders in GEx | Like Colosseum, but for science allies. The GEx multiplier is nice, but the narrowest scope of all combat GBs. Verdict: Don't build – and if you have one: demolish it. 6×6 tiles are too expensive for this effect. |
| St. Mark's Basilica (6×6) | Goods production + coins | Goods Production Boost – increases goods production by % | Solid economy, Evergreen effect. But: no combat bonus, many event buildings offer more value per tile. Practically: If Inno had limited the goods boost to a selectable era (to cover level costs), that might have been interesting. As it is, it's a "probably not" – space is needed for better things otherwise. |
| Château Frontenac (5×6) | Quest reward boost + coins | Heroic Tavern Quest Reward Boost – additional %-bonus on hero tavern quests | Was once one of the best GBs in the game. For players in the current era: Rather demolish. The gold bonus (tavern quests) doesn't make up for the loss of loop quests, and event buildings deliver coins better. Only relevant for enthusiasts anymore. |
| Royal Albert Hall (7×6) | Goods production + supply boost | Goods Reserve – produces random goods every 24h (from all goods buildings in the city) | Useful, but no combat bonus. The 1,200 goods in the copper tier are solid, gold is potentially useful for future needs. But: 7×6 tiles for a daily goods drop? Space shortage remains the problem. For most: waste of space. |
4.6 Copper-only – Frozen at Level 200
These 28 GBs get no gold tier. They remain stuck at Lv 200 and lose ground long-term compared to the 21 Gold-tier GBs. Event buildings additionally overtake many of their effects.
| Building | Era | Size | Copper Effect (Live) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tower of Babel | Bronze Age | 4×4 | Population + goods production – only useful in early game, then demolish |
| Lighthouse of Alexandria | Iron Age | 4×4 | Goods production + supply boost – strong in early phase, demolish later |
| Hagia Sophia | Early Middle Ages | 7×6 | FP production + satisfaction – event buildings deliver more FP/day |
| Galata Tower | Early Middle Ages | 3×3 | Goods production + raid defense – small, but little relevant in endgame |
| Notre Dame | High Middle Ages | 4×6 | Supply production + satisfaction – event buildings superior |
| St. Basil's Cathedral | Late Middle Ages | 5×5 | Coins + flat % Att+Def defender (Fierce Resistance) |
| Dresden Frauenkirche | Colonial Era | 5×5 | Goods production + satisfaction – niche |
| Capitol | Industrial Age | 7×5 | Supply production + population – too large for the little benefit, demolish |
| Space Needle | The Moderns | 6×5 | Coins + satisfaction – event buildings superior |
| Atomium | The Moderns | 7×6 | Guild goods + satisfaction – frozen |
| Cape Canaveral | Postmodern | 4×5 | FP production – clearly overtaken by event buildings (102–470 FP/day) |
| The Habitat | Postmodern | 7×6 | Coins + population – space hog without endgame value |
| Innovation Tower | Present | 6×6 | FP production + population – event buildings deliver more |
| Voyager V1 | Tomorrow | 4×7 | Supply production + raid goods – niche |
| Peace Tower | Tomorrow | 6×5 | Supply production + aid goods – Mopo niche |
| Rainforest Project | The Future | 6×6 | Goods production + aid blueprints – Mopo niche |
| Gaea Statue | Arctic Future | 6×4 | Medals + satisfaction – event buildings superior |
| Atlantis Museum | Oceanic Future | 6×7 | Goods production + double loot (raid/loot) |
| Star Gazer | Spaceflight: Mars | 5×5 | Goods production of previous era – niche |
| Flying Island | Spaceflight: Venus | 4×6 | Mysterious Shards – very niche |
| K.I. Core | Spaceflight: Jupiter Moon | 5×5 | Guild goods + Algorithmic Core |
| Saturn VI Gate CENTAURUS | Spaceflight: Titan | 4×4 | Goods production (previous era) + Battle Frenzy (attacker) |
| Saturn VI Gate PEGASUS | Spaceflight: Titan | 4×4 | FP production + Fierce Resistance (defender) |
| Saturn VI Gate HYDRA | Spaceflight: Titan | 4×4 | Guild goods + Advanced Tactics (Att+Def, both armies) – strongest of the three Saturn gates |
| Stellar Warship | Spaceflight: Space Base | 5×3 | Punishment unit + Att&Def (both armies) – compact, solid combat bonus |
| Cosmic Catalyst | Spaceflight: Space Base | 4×4 | Guild goods + Critical Hit – crit bonus boosts total damage |
| Relic Temple | No Era | 6×6 | Relic search in GEx (Common/Uncommon/Rare) – pure GEx niche |
| Oracle of Delphi | No Era | 3×3 | Supply production + satisfaction – only briefly sensible at level 2–3 at the start, then demolish |
Short rule for Copper-only: Those who need space and build event buildings should demolish everything that doesn't have an active combat or guild bonus. The Saturn gates (especially HYDRA) and the Stellar Warship are the only ones still worth it in endgame – but they freeze at 200 and continue to lose relative value.
5. The FP Cost Curve
Classic System (currently on Live)
Costs rise exponentially. From level 10 onward, each level grows by about 2.5% over the previous one. That sounds moderate, but sums up to enormous amounts over many levels.
Practical tip: Those who want to bring an LG to level 80 should use the Ark Calculator. Without guild support (1.9 system), you waste large amounts of FP from level 30–40 onward.
Prestige System (Beta since Oct 8, 2026)
The rework system replaces the exponential curve with piecewise linear costs with fixed thresholds:
| Range | Cost Behavior |
|---|---|
| Within a tier | Flat / linear |
| At tier breakpoints (101 / 201) | Cost jump – this is where a "stop point" in leveling strategy makes sense |
| Maximum cap | Level 200 (Copper-only) or Level 500 (Gold tier, 21 buildings) |
The FP cost curve is flatter in the prestige system than on live, but the difference varies depending on the level range. A gold GB additionally costs goods, supplies, coins, medals, and gold blueprints (sets) on top of FP.
Regarding FP: It was announced that bringing an LG to 500 will cost about 80% less than currently on live. But that's a somewhat distorted statement, since costs only really start hitting the ceiling from level 300 onward – and how many players actually have several LGs in that range? In the prestige system I'd say the first gold levels (101–200) will go relatively quickly – but after that, and at least from levels 300 and 400 onward, the additional cost per level increases significantly. Of course it's not foreseeable yet how the whole thing will develop and what sums can be expected in harvests in the future.
The real question is: What does a multiplier at level 500 bring if you practically never finish leveling? Example: The Terracotta Army scales from 1% (Lv 101) through 7% (Lv 201), 10% (Lv 300), 11% (Lv 400) to 12% (Lv 500). The jump from 201→500 is thus 5 percentage points of multiplier – for millions in FP and resources. Whether that's worth it depends heavily on how the game develops.
⚠️ Harvest amounts are expected to increase with the prestige update – this could significantly shorten the time to Lv 500. But "expected" is no promise.
6. The Patron Share in the Prestige System
In the new system, donation rewards are based on the total cost of the level – no longer a fixed value. The percentage share for donors rises up to level 40 and then falls:
| Levels | Patron Share (Base) | With Maximum Ark Bonus (+100%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1–9 | 25% | 50% |
| 10–39 | 30% | 60% |
| 40–69 | 40% | 80% |
| 70–100 | 25% | 50% |
| 101–200 | 15% | 30% |
| 201–300 | 10% | 20% |
| 301–400 | 7% | 14% |
| 401–500 | 5% | 10% |
The percentage share does fall, but level costs rise much faster – the absolute reward therefore continues to grow with each band.
Critical: The Ark patron bonus (Copper) now only applies up to target level 200. From level 101 onward for Gold-tier LGs, the Gold Contribution Boost applies instead – provided by both the Ark AND the Horizon Rift Siphon (both add together). The classic 1.9 system therefore continues to work, but with different values and 7 reward slots instead of 5 at gold levels.
Reward distribution per slot:
| Slot | Copper (5 slots) | Gold (7 slots) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 58.25% | 58.20% |
| 2nd | 29.13% | 29.10% |
| 3rd | 9.71% | 9.70% |
| 4th | 2.43% | 2.42% |
| 5th | 0.49% | 0.48% |
| 6th | – | 0.08% |
| 7th | – | 0.01% |
7. Recommended Build Order (Short Rule)
- Trinity early: Zeus Statue → Cologne Cathedral → Castel del Monte (all at level 10, as long as the Ark isn't standing)
- Level up the Ark (level 80+, as far as possible – the full gold boost only kicks in at Lv 500, which is an investment over years)
- Alcatraz level up
- Horizon Rift Siphon unlock and level – together with the Ark = provisional forecast: Level 201
- Then by mode focus:
- GG → Arctic Orangery / Himeji Castle / Seed Vault
- GEx → Terracotta Army / Observatory (both: Lv 201 is enough in most cases)
- QI → Castel del Monte / Deal Castle (higher if you take QI seriously)
- Copper-only without combat/guild bonus can safely be skipped or demolished (Babel, Capitol, Oracle, Notre Dame, …)
Important for leveling strategy: The first gold levels (101–200) are relatively cheap and bring the biggest effect jump. From level 300/400 onward, costs increase significantly while the effect gain per level decreases. For most GBs, Lv 201 is a sensible stop point – unless you don't know what to do with your FP anymore.
TL;DR
The Ark and the Horizon Rift Siphon form the foundation of every city in the prestige system – together they deliver the gold patron boost (factor 1.9 only once both are at level 500; more realistic for now is probably reaching level 201, where you already have 51%). Alcatraz is the clear winner of the update; the Zeus Statue remains relevant as a cheap GEx multiplier. The Terracotta Army and Cologne Cathedral are the strongest mode specialists – but for both, leveling beyond Lv 201 is only rarely worth it. Cape Canaveral, Babel, Capitol and most Copper-only GBs have lost value due to event buildings. The prestige rework (in beta since Oct 8, 2026) brings two tiers (Copper + Gold), a flatter FP cost curve and 21 Gold-tier GBs up to level 500 – but on top of FP, billions in supplies, coins, and medals are required. Those planning today: Lv 201 is a sensible stop point for most GBs, and beta values may still change before live release.
Sources
- InnoGames KB: Great Buildings Prestige – redesigned (official feature overview, Oct 7, 2026)
- Official Forge of Empires Beta Forum & Discord Server (community feedback & discussions)