Kingshot Merchant Empire Guide: Caravans, Raids and Strategy

Kingshot Merchant Empire is a recurring caravan event where you dispatch shipments, protect their rewards, assist alliance members, and raid other players. The basic strategy is to complete every available escort, refresh selectively for useful cargo, and reserve successful raids for targets you can defeat.

This guide covers the event schedule, standard rarity and SSR guarantee, Aena’s Legendary caravans, the Enemy Caravan interface, raid rules, and a resource-conscious strategy for free-to-play players.

Merchant Empire Event Overview

Kingdom progression can affect access to Alliance Brawl and Master Aena. Use the active event timer and your unlocked Master skills to confirm which bonuses apply.

What’s Changed in Merchant Empire?

Enemy Caravan Page

An August 2026 update introduced an Enemy Caravan page. It helps you locate caravans belonging to governors who previously raided your shipments. Their caravans can also be identified with the crossed-swords enemy indicator.

This is a targeting convenience, not an extra raid allowance. A previous attacker still needs to have an eligible, active caravan that your squad can defeat. Check its remaining cargo before choosing to retaliate.

Master Aena’s Caravan Bonuses

Aena, the Caravan Queen, changes several established Merchant Empire assumptions. Depending on her unlocked skills, she offers more free refreshes, faster journeys, extra raid cargo, cargo recovery, protected Elite Strongboxes, and guaranteed Legendary-quality caravans. Her highest Trading Ace level also grants an additional daily dispatch.

Aena is not immediately available in every kingdom, and these effects depend on skill progression. Players without her still follow the standard limits described below. For upgrade levels and investment planning, see the Kingshot Aena Master guide.

Merchant Empire Schedule and Daily Limits

The event is generally presented as a seven-day activity, but escorting does not remain available until the final moment. The normal structure is six escort days followed by approximately four hours when raiding continues but new dispatches are disabled. Exact start and end times should be checked in the event interface.

Without Aena’s extra-dispatch skill, four caravans across six escort days give 24 possible escorts. At Trading Ace Level 10, five per day increase that total to 30 possible escorts, provided all six daily allowances are used.

The two-caravan simultaneous limit makes timing important. A standard player can send two caravans, collect them, and send another two. With five daily dispatches, plan for an additional departure once a slot is available. Shortcuts reduces each journey’s duration, making that schedule easier.

Unused daily dispatches should not be treated as extra chances that carry into a later reset. Complete the available escorts before the displayed cutoff.

Caravan Rarity and Rewards

The standard caravan refresh system has four rarity grades:

Cargo may include Forgehammers, gems, hero shards, Governor Gear materials, Governor Charm materials, pet items, resources, Quick March items, and hero skill materials. When Alliance Brawl overlaps, caravan activity can also affect event points.

SSR Caravans vs Aena’s Legendary Caravans

SSR is the top grade in the normal four-rarity refresh system. Aena’s Trading Ace adds a separate guaranteed Legendary-quality caravan mechanic. Legendary caravans offer stronger overall cargo, including especially valuable rewards in three cargo slots.

At Trading Ace Level 9 or 10, completing four escorts guarantees the next caravan will be Legendary. Lower skill levels require more completed escorts. The guaranteed caravan’s quality will not decrease when refreshed. Do not confuse this Master benefit with the ordinary six-refresh SSR guarantee.

Caravan Refreshes: Free Attempts, Vouchers and Gems

A caravan normally receives one free refresh. Further refreshes use Caravan Vouchers or gems, and the sixth refresh guarantees SSR if it has not appeared earlier. The commonly listed gem schedule, when a voucher is unavailable, is:

Shortcuts grants additional free refreshes on top of the standard one: one extra at Level 1, two at Level 6, and three at Level 10. Therefore, a maxed Shortcuts skill provides up to four free attempts per caravan. Check the on-screen refresh and guarantee counters before spending.

Caravan Vouchers are earned through Alliance Brawl and do not expire, so they can be saved for later Merchant Empire cycles. Examine both rarity and cargo after each refresh instead of using vouchers automatically.

How Master Aena Changes Your Strategy

Aena’s benefits are tied to different skills and unlock milestones, so owning her does not automatically grant every bonus.

Which Aena Skills Should You Prioritize?

For regular escorting, Shortcuts offers immediately useful refreshes and shorter travel times. Level 6 grants two additional free refreshes. Delivery Drive Level 6 is another practical milestone because it introduces an unraidable Elite Strongbox.

Finder’s Keepers becomes more useful if you consistently complete successful raids. Trading Ace Levels 9–10 offer a much bigger long-term benefit, but require substantial investment. Choose these upgrades based on how often you play Merchant Empire, not simply because Aena is available.

How to Dispatch and Protect Caravans

1. Open Merchant Empire and select a free dispatch slot.
2. Review the starting rarity and cargo; refresh only when the expected improvement is worth it.
3. Choose an escort squad or request an available alliance assisting squad.
4. Check the displayed power, journey time, and dispatch allowance.
5. Send the caravan early enough to collect it and reuse the slot before the cutoff.

A standard journey takes roughly 3.5 hours, but Shortcuts can reduce travel time by as much as 20%. Caravans remain exposed to raids while traveling, even if you are offline. Dispatch timing helps with completing your daily quota, but it cannot guarantee safety.

For important cargo, prioritize strong escort assistance. With Delivery Drive unlocked, you may also recover an item following a raid; its Elite Strongboxes, available from Skill Level 6, cannot be raided.

Caravan Assistance and Escort Power

Open Assisting Squads during caravan preparation and select a squad already posted by an alliance member. If a player is missing from the list, ask them to register an assisting formation.

• You can request an assisting squad for one caravan per day.
• You can collect up to three assistance rewards per day.
• An assisting squad may contain up to three heroes.
• Each hero can escort only one caravan at a time.

Use your protection request on the cargo you would least want to lose, rather than automatically assigning it to your first caravan. Squad power can change during a journey as relevant account statistics are upgraded.

What Determines Caravan Power?

Escort performance reflects heroes, Hero Gear, pets, Governor Gear, Governor Charms, and applicable buffs. Aena’s Beneficent Mogul specifically increases Squad Attack and Defense when participating in caravan raids; its maximum 30% effect is not a general combat bonus for unrelated battles.

How Caravan Raiding and Enemy Tracking Work

You can find eligible targets on the map, in Other’s Caravan, or through the newer Enemy Caravan page for previous attackers. Targets must be within the event’s eligible range and cannot belong to your alliance.

Daily Raiding Rules

• Four successful raids are available per day; unsuccessful attempts do not use that successful-raid allowance.
• An individual caravan can suffer two successful raids.
• Combined raid losses can reach up to 50% of its cargo and applicable event points.
• Raid battles resolve when you confirm the attack; inspect the target first.

Caravan Fire and Crossed-Swords Icons

• One fire icon: The caravan has already been successfully raided once.
• Two fire icons: It has reached the two-raid limit.
• Crossed swords: The governor previously raided one of your caravans.
• Opposing alliance tag: The owner belongs to your current Alliance Brawl opponent when applicable.

Best Raid Target Priorities

1. Check the remaining cargo before judging a target by SSR color.
2. Compare its defending power against your current raid formation and Aena bonuses, if unlocked.
3. Consider untouched caravans before targets that have already lost valuable items.
4. Prioritize opposing Alliance Brawl caravans when their event-point impact matters.
5. Use Enemy Caravan to locate earlier attackers, but raid them only when their cargo and power make sense.

Finder’s Keepers adds a chance for another cargo item after a successful raid; at Level 10 that chance reaches 100%. Finish unused successful raids before the event closes, including during the final raid-only phase.

Best F2P Merchant Empire Strategy

1. Complete daily escorts. The standard target is four caravans; send five only if Trading Ace Level 10 is unlocked.
2. Use free refreshes first. Count any extra free attempts from Shortcuts before spending Vouchers or gems.
3. Keep useful SR cargo. An immediately needed upgrade item can be more valuable than a costly attempt at SSR.
4. Save Vouchers thoughtfully. They do not expire and can support a later event.
5. Protect your strongest shipment. Request assistance for the caravan with the greatest potential loss.
6. Contribute alliance assistance. Post a suitable squad and collect available assistance rewards.
7. Make raids count. Compare cargo, power, fire icons, and Alliance Brawl implications before attacking.

When Is Spending Gems for SSR Worth It?

Spending is easier to justify when the next refresh is inexpensive, an SSR guarantee is close, or you need specific high-value cargo. Stop if a good SR caravan already meets your needs or if repeated refreshes would consume gems reserved for more important account progression.

Players with Trading Ace should also consider upcoming guaranteed Legendary caravans before aggressively paying to force every ordinary caravan to SSR.

Merchant Empire and Alliance Brawl

Merchant Empire often coincides with Alliance Brawl in eligible kingdoms. Escorting higher-value caravans and raiding the opposing alliance can affect the competition, while Alliance Brawl also supplies Caravan Vouchers.

Alliance leaders can improve results by encouraging early assisting-squad registration, coordinating protection for valuable cargo, and sharing viable opposing-alliance targets. Where Alliance Brawl is not active, focus on escort rewards, protection, and efficient raids instead.

Common Merchant Empire Mistakes

• Assuming everyone has exactly four escorts: Trading Ace Level 10 changes the daily limit to five.
• Treating SSR and Legendary as the same guarantee: The refresh pity and Aena’s completed-escort mechanic are distinct.
• Refreshing without checking cargo: Rarity alone does not tell you whether an item helps your account.
• Overlooking the Enemy Caravan page: It makes previous attackers easier to find, without changing your raid cap.
• Ignoring Elite Strongboxes: Aena’s protected cargo can reduce the consequences of being raided.
• Dispatching too late: Waiting until the final hours can leave too little time to use all your available slots before dispatches close.

Merchant Empire vs Other Kingshot Merchants

Merchant Empire is the caravan escort-and-raid event. Dragon’s Caravan is a separate Flamedragon-related exchange, while Nomadic Merchant is a rotating shop. Their currencies and purchase rules should not be confused with Merchant Empire’s caravans, refreshes, or raids.

Kingshot Accounts and Caravan Progression

Established kingdoms may have access to later Masters such as Aena, but access does not guarantee her skills are upgraded. If comparing Kingshot accounts for sale, check the kingdom’s event access, settled Masters, relevant skill levels, and overall hero progression rather than judging an account only by its displayed caravan power.

FAQs

How many caravans can I escort each day?

The base limit is four per day. Aena’s Trading Ace Level 10 adds one more, giving five. Two caravans can normally travel at once.

How many caravans can I send during one event?

With six escort days, the usual total is 24. A player with Trading Ace Level 10 can reach 30 by using all five daily departures on every escort day.

Does Aena give more free caravan refreshes?

Yes. Shortcuts grants additional free refreshes. At Level 10, the three extra attempts bring the total to four free refreshes per caravan.

How do I get a Legendary caravan?

Unlock Aena’s Trading Ace. After the required completed escorts, the next caravan is guaranteed Legendary quality. At Trading Ace Levels 9–10, the requirement is four completed escorts.

How do I guarantee an SSR caravan?

In the standard refresh system, the sixth refresh guarantees SSR if you have not already received it. Check the in-game counter, particularly when Aena adds free attempts.

What is the Enemy Caravan page?

It displays caravan activity from governors who previously raided you, making their eligible shipments easier to find. It does not increase your daily raid limit.

Do Caravan Vouchers expire?

No. You can keep unused Caravan Vouchers for a later Merchant Empire event.

How many successful caravan raids can I do?

The standard limit is four per day. Failed attempts do not consume this limit, and each target caravan can be successfully raided up to twice.

Is Aena necessary for F2P players?

No. You can complete escorts, use the normal free refresh, request assistance, and raid without Aena. Her bonuses are optional improvements that should be weighed against other Master upgrade priorities.

Conclusion

Kingshot Merchant Empire is best approached as a combination of daily escort planning, selective refreshes, strong assistance, and careful raid targeting. Use the four daily caravans available by default, or five with Trading Ace Level 10, and plan around the event’s escort cutoff.

Aena can improve returns through faster journeys, free refreshes, protected cargo, and Legendary caravans, but her strongest benefits require skill investment. Spend vouchers and gems according to your actual cargo needs, and use the Enemy Caravan page as another way to find worthwhile targets.

For related event walkthroughs and progression advice, explore more Kingshot guides on Heaven Guardian.