How Long to Max? Calculator
Model your exact progression timeline from TH1 to TH18 using 2026 meta data. The engine tracks Builder, Laboratory, Hero, and Pet House as parallel queues and resolves the true critical path.
Progression Estimator
Adjust your TH range, builder count, Gold Pass status, and weekly potion purchases to see a personalized timeline built on 2026 research data.
Town Hall Range
1
18
Progression Modifiers
6 Builders (B.O.B.)
F2P (No Pass)
0
Timeline Results
Critical Path
—
Calendar time to target
Builder Track
—
(Structures + Heroes / N)
Lab Track
—
Single queue
Pet House
—
Single queue
F2P Baseline
—
5 builders, no GP
Time Saved
—
vs F2P baseline
Parallel Track Comparison
Builder (Struct + Heroes)
—
Laboratory
—
Hero Bottleneck
—
Pet House
—
Gold Pass 2.0 Boost Schedule
2d @ 10%
Days 1-2: 10% reduction
6d @ 15%
Days 3-8: 15% reduction
22d @ 20%
Days 9-30: 20% reduction
Weighted average: 18.33% — Not a flat 20%. The calculator uses this
precise value to avoid 1.67% overestimation.
Per-Town Hall Breakdown
| TH | Bldrs | Builder | Hero Bottle. | Lab | Pets | Critical | Gate |
|---|
Select a TH range to see the breakdown.
Magic Item Optimizer
⚡ Hammer vs Potion Efficiency Engine
⚡ Crossover Threshold (6 builders):
—
Builder Potions (Monthly)
0
hours of raw structural work saved
Research Potions (Monthly)
0
hours of calendar lab time saved
Recommendation
Adjust sliders above
B.O.B. — 6th Builder Unlock
🤖 Battle Bot (B.O.B.) Progression
—
—
—
Gear 3 HV Defenses • BB Def L9 • BB Troop L18 • 45 Hero Lvls
💡 Smart Rush strategy: Halt BB Gold Storages at L6 (or L3/4 with GP), use Season Bank
overflow to fund M-Mortar L8-9. Saves 10-14 days of storage upgrades.
💡 Strategic Context: The calculator uses the Gold Pass 2.0 weighted average of 18.33% (not a flat 20%) to avoid monthly projection errors. At TH18, the lab gap of ~15 months means strategic Book and Hammer usage on the longest upgrades is essential to keep builders active. Use the Rush Base Advantage Calculator to model rushing efficiency.
Time-to-Max — Frequently Asked Questions
Expert answers on 2026 progression modeling, bottlenecks, and acceleration strategies.
Why does the calculator use 18.33% for Gold Pass instead of the
advertised 20%?
Under Gold Pass 2.0, the 20% builder and research boost is only active for 22 out
of 30 days (Days 9-30). Days 1-2 have 10% and Days 3-8 have 15%. The weighted average is (2×10% +
6×15% + 22×20%) / 30 = 18.33%. Using a flat 20% across the entire month introduces a 1.67%
error that compounds over multi-year projections. This calculator applies the precise weighted average for
realistic pacing.
What is the "laboratory gap" and why does it matter?
At TH18, all builders (structures + heroes) finish in approximately 8 months, 29
days, but the Laboratory requires 1 year, 11 months, 26 days. This creates a ~15
month gap where builders sit completely idle. Because the Lab is a single queue, it cannot be parallelized.
The only way to close this gap is through strategic use of Books of Fighting/Spells,
Research Potions, and the Lab Assistant.
How does the 6th Builder (B.O.B.) actually accelerate progression?
Going from 5 to 6 builders is a 20% velocity increase (5/6 multiplier).
For TH15-TH18, where the builder track is already faster than the lab, this matters less for the
critical path (still lab-gated), but it matters enormously for resource
efficiency — fewer idle builder-hours means faster wall grinding and more flexible upgrade
scheduling. Unlocking B.O.B. takes ~2.6-3.4 months of active Builder Base work.
When should I buy a Hammer of Building vs. Builder Potions from the
CWL shop?
Use the 9-day crossover rule: A Hammer costs 120 medals and saves
U×(1-R_B) hours. Four Builder Potions cost 120 medals and save 36×N raw builder hours (9×N per potion × 4).
For 6 builders with GP active, the crossover is ~9 days. If your longest boosted upgrade is ≥9 days,
buy the Hammer. If shorter, buy 4 Builder Potions. This is more efficient than the standard
"always buy hammers" advice.
How accurate are the raw workload numbers behind this calculator?
The raw upgrade durations come from the 2026 progression meta research, reflecting
Supercell's massive cost/time reductions across TH10-TH17. Structure, hero, lab, and pet house times are
sourced from the comprehensive Town Hall Progression Data table. Builder counts per TH (2 for TH1-2, up to 6
for TH15-18) follow the standard progression model. The GP 2.0 segmented boost schedule and capping
mechanics are modeled from the February 2026 season benchmark.
What's the single most impactful thing I can do to reduce my
time-to-max?
Strategic rushing + B.O.B. unlock + Gold Pass. Rushing from TH12 to TH18
while maxing only offense skips ~2 years of low-value upgrades. Unlocking the 6th builder adds 20%
structural velocity. The Gold Pass 18.33% weighted boost compounds over years. Combined, these three
strategies can reduce the full TH1-TH18 journey from ~4.5 years to under 2.5 years. Use the Rush Base Calculator to model the exact savings.