Technology

The Hearth

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

The doctrine choice is exclusive

The moment you know one doctrine node, another branch's doctrine can no longer be taken. If you research ocak, 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 taken — 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.