Mechanicus 2 Early Upgrades: Resources, Lords & Dominion

Early upgrades in Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II are not one shared system. The Adeptus Mechanicus campaign asks you to manage Requisition, Forge-Temples, Archotech Fragments, and Shrine of Knowledge unlocks. The Necron campaign asks you to manage Lord availability, retinue recovery, side tasks, and Dominion scaling.

That is why the safest early rule is simple:

• AdMech: keep a Requisition buffer and unlock broader deployment options first.
• Necrons: keep your best combat Lord available and build upgrades around the retinue you actually use.
• Both: do not buy a narrow upgrade before you know which mission problem is killing your run.

The campaign-layer resource screen is where early upgrade mistakes begin: check your current economy, mission route, and long-term unlock path before spending.

Quick Start: What to Upgrade First

If you are playing…	First priority	Safe early rule
Adeptus Mechanicus	Shrine technologies that improve unit access or recruitment quality	Keep roughly 20-30% of available Requisition unspent unless the mission is clearly dangerous.
Necrons	One primary Lord + that Lord’s retinue path	Do not send your main combat Lord on a side task before checking the next mission.
AdMech on higher difficulty	More bodies and safer deployment depth	Treat every extra Vigilance increase as a real cost, not a free reward.
Necrons on higher difficulty	Recovery and survivability before luxury damage	Reanimation helps later, but a dead unit still loses tempo now.

This guide uses confirmed early numbers where the available material supports them. For values that can change with campaign state, difficulty, or later unlocks, use the rules as practical thresholds rather than fixed database values.

---

Adeptus Mechanicus: Early Resource Rules

The AdMech economy begins with Requisition. Requisition is generated by your forge holdings and spent when you recruit units for a mission. The early trap is spending like the current deployment is the whole campaign.

Use this screen to read your available Requisition before deployment. The number matters because every unit card you recruit pulls from the same campaign pool.

Requisition Buffer Rule

Because unit cards and mission pressure vary, there is no single universal “always keep exactly X Requisition” number. Use this practical rule instead:

Situation	Requisition rule
Easy or standard mission	Keep roughly 20-30% unspent if possible.
Mission with retreat, defense, or multi-wave pressure	You can break the 20-30% buffer rule if the extra unit prevents failure or major losses.
You only have weak / cheap cards	Spend less and preserve the buffer. Do not force a bad roster.
You roll one expensive card that solves the mission	Buy it only if you still have enough bodies to protect the Leader.

The goal is not to hoard forever. The goal is to avoid reaching the next deployment screen with no meaningful choice.

Unit Cards: The Two-Layer AdMech System

AdMech does not work like a normal fixed army list. You are managing two layers at once:

1. Campaign layer: unlock better units and higher-rank options through the Shrine of Knowledge and forge progress.
2. Mission layer: choose from the unit cards generated for that mission and pay their Requisition cost.

This means Shrine and Forge progression usually matter more than individual unit card luck. A stronger campaign layer improves the quality of future deployment choices, while a weak campaign layer makes even good card rolls harder to use efficiently.

Read unit cards from top to bottom: role and stats first, then capacity pressure, then Requisition cost. A strong card is only good if the roster still has enough bodies around it.

Unit Card Decision Table

Card situation	What to do
Cheap body, low damage	Take it if you need someone to screen for the Leader or hold space.
Expensive high-rank card	Take it only if it directly answers the mission objective.
Too many fragile ranged cards	Add a cheap screen or defensive body before buying more damage.
Good card but too much Requisition cost	Skip it if buying it would break your 20-30% buffer on a standard mission.
Bad card selection overall	Spend conservatively and win with positioning rather than forcing a perfect army.

Shrine of Knowledge: What to Unlock First

The Shrine of Knowledge turns Archotech Fragments into campaign progress. Early Shrine choices should make future deployments more consistent.

The Shrine screen shows technology nodes rather than single-mission purchases. Prioritize nodes that add unit access, improve recruitment quality, or unlock broader deployment options.

Shrine Priority Order

Priority	Unlock type	Why it comes first
1	Unit access technologies	More unit types reduce bad card rolls and give more tactical answers.
2	Higher-rank troop access	Higher-rank cards make normal deployments stronger without relying only on Leaders.
3	Requisition efficiency or recruitment flexibility	These upgrades improve every future mission.
4	Broad defensive or support upgrades	Good if you are losing units before objectives are complete.
5	Narrow damage upgrades	Delay until you can reliably field the unit or Leader that uses them.

If you cannot explain how an upgrade helps the next three missions, delay it.

Forge-Temples and Shrine Unlocks: How to Think About the Link

Forge-Temples and Shrine technologies should not be treated as separate goals. The practical relationship is:

Forge progress expands the campaign layer; Shrine technologies turn that expansion into better units and deployment quality.

The assignment panel shows whether a Forge-Temple is worth the tempo cost: look for technology access, Requisition income, or a clear campaign-layer reward.

Forge-Temple to Shrine Decision Table

The exact node names and unlock order can vary by campaign state, so use the reward panel rather than guessing from the map. The important thing is to read what the Forge-Temple changes before committing resources.

Reward panel shows…	What it usually means for Shrine planning	Priority
New technology access or a higher technology limit	This can open a new Shrine path or let you buy stronger technologies.	Very high
Additional Requisition generation	This makes future deployments safer and supports more expensive unit cards.	High
Better unit availability or recruitment quality	This improves future card pools and reduces bad deployment rolls.	High
Only a local map or route benefit	Useful, but it may not improve the Shrine immediately.	Medium
No clear economy or technology payoff	Delay unless the mission route itself is necessary.	Low

A common failure pattern is rushing a Forge-Temple while the army is still too thin. If the next mission forces you into a bad deployment because you spent too much to expand, the expansion did not actually speed you up.

Archotech Fragments: Spend Them on Repeatable Value

Archotech Fragments should be treated as technology progress, not bonus loot.

Fragment use	Good early?	Why
Unlocks a new reliable unit type	Yes	Gives you more answers on future deployment screens.
Raises the quality of common troop cards	Yes	Improves ordinary missions.
Supports Requisition efficiency	Yes	Helps the whole campaign layer.
Boosts a rare or narrow unit	Later	Weak until that unit appears often enough to matter.
Enables a specialized build you have not tested	Later	Easy to overinvest before knowing the mission pressure.

AdMech Failure Scenario: How Overspending Punishes You

Here is the real reason the buffer matters.

You enter an early mission with enough Requisition to build a comfortable roster. You buy the expensive card because it looks strong, then add extra bodies because the deployment screen allows it. The mission goes fine.

Then the next mission gives you awkward unit cards. You still need bodies, but your Requisition pool is low. Now your Leader has to stand forward, your Rangers cannot keep safe spacing, and your Cognition economy collapses because you are spending turns fixing bad positioning instead of executing a plan.

That is the AdMech resource spiral:

Overspend → weaker next deployment → exposed Leader → bad Cognition usage → more emergency spending

Break the loop by keeping a buffer and upgrading broad deployment reliability first.

---

AdMech Leader Upgrades: Early Route Examples

Leader upgrades should reinforce the job that Leader already performs. Do not spread early upgrades across every branch just because the tree is available.

The Tech-Acquisitor screen shows multiple weapon and skill branches. Do not chase every branch early; pick the line that your Cognition economy can actually support.

In the screenshot, the center panel is the current Tech-Priest, while the left and right panels show separate augmentation branches. For SEO and usability, the important reading is not the character portrait; it is the fact that each branch competes for early upgrade attention.

Scaevola / Tech-Acquisitor Early Route

Upgrade stage	What to prioritize	Why
First 1-2 upgrades	A reliable weapon or offensive branch you can actually fuel	Scaevola is weak if you cannot generate enough Cognition to spend.
Next 2-3 upgrades	Cognition payoff tools: damage, control, or skill enhancement	Her value rises when stored Cognition turns into stronger actions.
Later upgrades	More specialized Forbidden Knowledge / high-output tools	Better once the army can support riskier offensive play.

Scaevola’s Forbidden Knowledge style is strongest when you can build and store Cognition safely. If your Rangers are not staying at safe range or your Servitors are dying too fast, delay aggressive Scaevola investment.

Videx / Lector-Dogmatis Early Route

The Lector-Dogmatis screen is branch-based like other Tech-Priests. Use it to reinforce the job you need most: survival, control, support, or damage.

Upgrade stage	What to prioritize	Why
First 1-2 upgrades	Survival, support, or stability tools	Helps on extraction, defense, and awkward objective missions.
Next 2-3 upgrades	Tools that protect unit positioning or improve mission control	Keeps Rangers and fragile units from being forced into bad trades.
Later upgrades	More specialized damage or branch commitment	Better after you know which mission types are causing trouble.

Difficulty Differences: How Resource Rules Change

On lower difficulty, you can recover from waste. On higher difficulty, waste turns into mission pressure.

Difficulty situation	How to adjust
Normal / first run	Use the 20-30% Requisition buffer rule and learn which unit cards actually solve objectives.
Harder tactical settings	Spend more on bodies and survival before damage. A narrow damage upgrade is worse than a stable roster.
High Vigilance starts or extra pressure	Take fewer Stratagems unless the reward directly solves the mission.
Custom settings with easier resource gain	You can test more leader branches earlier, but still avoid splitting upgrades across too many plans.
Custom settings with harsher recovery / economy	Prioritize broad deployment reliability and avoid expensive experiments.

---

Necron Resource Management: Lords Before Currency

Necron resource management is about availability. A Lord on a side task is a Lord who cannot carry your next mission. A unit recovering is a unit that cannot support the retinue right now.

The Necron retinue screen combines several decisions at once: Lord stats on the left, unlock paths in the center, skill tree on the right, and available or recovering units along the bottom.

This is why Necron upgrades should be read as a roster problem. The same screen tells you whether the Lord is ready, what their retinue can unlock, and whether key units are available or still recovering.

Dominion Thresholds: The Numbers That Matter

Dominion is the Necron snowball system. The confirmed early rule is:

1 damage dealt = 1 Dominion point.

The early thresholds are:

Dominion level	Points needed from previous level	Total damage needed from zero	What changes
Level 1	5	5	First Dominion level gained; level-gated tools start mattering.
Level 2	5 more	10 total	Early scaling tools become more reliable.
Level 3	10 more	20 total	Mid-fight snowball begins to matter.
Level 7+	Later-game scaling	Not an early target	Some unit abilities become much stronger at high Dominion.

Dominion normally resets after a fight early on, but later upgrades can let you lock in Dominion levels between fights. This is why early Dominion investment can feel slow at first and powerful later.

The Dominion UI shows progress toward the next level. Since damage feeds the gauge, high-damage turns also accelerate skill and weapon scaling.

When to Invest in Dominion Upgrades

Invest if…	Delay if…
Your Lord and retinue reliably deal damage every fight.	Your fights end before reaching Level 2 or Level 3.
You are playing longer attrition missions.	You need immediate recovery or defensive stability.
You are building around Ominekh-style Dominion support.	Your key units are often recovering.
You have unlocked tools that preserve or exploit Dominion levels.	Dominion keeps resetting before you can use the payoff.

Necron Lord Routing: Who Stays, Who Leaves

Your first Necron resource mistake is usually not a bad upgrade. It is sending away the wrong Lord.

Lord	Early role to consider	Side task rule
Nefershah	Campaign anchor and early story presence	Keep available if the next mission depends on her retinue or leadership tools.
Ominekh	Dominion and sustain-centered plan	Keep available when you are trying to build around Dominion momentum.
Obasis	Defensive “Shield” style role	Keep available for holdout, attrition, or survival-heavy missions.
Amukah	Retinue-dependent specialist	Send only if your next mission does not need that retinue path.
Backup Lord	Lowest current mission value	Best candidate for side tasks and recovery support.

Necron Side Task Rule

Before assigning any Lord, answer this:

If this Lord is gone, can I still win the next mission with a coherent retinue?

If the answer is no, do not send them.

Necron Early Route Example

Stage	Decision	Why
First mission block	Choose one primary combat Lord	Your upgrades should support the army you actually field.
First retinue upgrades	Improve the units that appear in that Lord’s real roster	Avoid spending on units that are not carrying fights.
First side tasks	Use backup Lords, not your main Lord	Side task rewards are not worth losing your battle plan.
First Dominion investment	Invest after you can reach Level 2 or Level 3 consistently	Dominion payoffs need damage and fight duration.
First recovery decision	Recover key retinue units before hard missions	A powerful unit in recovery is not part of your next army.

Necron Failure Scenario: The Side Task Trap

You finish a mission, check the map, and assume the next fight will be simple. A side task appears with a useful reward, so you send your strongest Lord away because you think the backup Lord can handle one routine mission.

Then the next mission turns out to be a longer or more awkward objective than expected. Your best retinue is unavailable, your backup Lord has weaker synergy, and your Dominion plan starts too slowly. You still have Necron durability, but the fight takes longer, more units enter recovery, and the next side task decision becomes even worse.

That is the Necron resource spiral:

Send main Lord away → weaker next roster → slower Dominion → more recovery pressure → fewer safe side task choices

Break the loop by keeping one primary combat Lord active and using backup Lords for side tasks.

AdMech vs Necron: Which Resource System Is Harder?

Question	AdMech answer	Necron answer
Which is harder early?	AdMech, because bad Requisition spending can weaken the next deployment.	Necrons are more forgiving, but Lord scheduling mistakes can snowball.
Which has clearer upgrade direction?	Shrine and Forge progress are visible, but card randomness adds uncertainty.	Lord-retinue paths are clearer once you know your main Lord.
Which punishes experiments more?	AdMech punishes expensive deployments and narrow Shrine choices.	Necrons punish sending away the wrong Lord or investing before Dominion is reliable.
Which is easier for a first campaign?	Harder if you dislike resource budgeting.	Easier if you pick one Lord plan and stick to it.

Note on Leagues of Votann Events

If a Leagues of Votann-related event appears early, treat it as mission context first, not as a reason to rewrite your whole upgrade plan. Spend for the objective on the screen. If the event adds enemy pressure, favor safer deployment, recovery, and Requisition buffer decisions. If it is only story context, continue your main AdMech or Necron resource plan.

Common Early Resource Mistakes and Fixes

Mistake	What it looks like in play	Fix
Spending too much Requisition	Next deployment has bad cards and you cannot afford enough bodies	Keep 20-30% unspent on standard missions.
Buying a strong card without enough support	Your expensive unit performs well, but the Leader gets exposed	Buy at least one screen or support body before luxury damage.
Rushing Forge expansion too early	You gain a node but lose tempo because the army is still thin	Take Forge-Temples when they unlock tech, income, or safer mission access.
Unlocking narrow Shrine tech first	You cannot field the unit often enough to benefit	Start with unit access, higher-rank troops, and broad deployment upgrades.
Upgrading Scaevola before Cognition is stable	You have powerful options but cannot fuel them	Build Rangers / Servitor Cognition habits before aggressive Scaevola investment.
Sending away the main Necron Lord	The next mission loses your best retinue plan	Use backup Lords for side tasks unless the reward is essential.
Investing in Dominion too early	You rarely reach Level 2 or Level 3 before the fight ends	Wait until your retinue reliably deals enough damage to build Dominion.
Treating Reanimation as free immortality	Units return later, but the current fight loses tempo	Protect key units and recover them before difficult missions.

Focused FAQ

How much Requisition should I save early?

On standard missions, try to keep roughly 20-30% of your available Requisition unspent. Break that rule only for dangerous objectives like retreat, defense, or heavy multi-wave pressure.

Dominion resets after every fight — should I still invest early?

Yes, but only if your current Lord and retinue can reliably reach Dominion Level 2 during ordinary missions.

If your fights usually end before Dominion Level 2, early Dominion upgrades are often weaker than recovery, survivability, or retinue stability upgrades.

Dominion investment becomes much stronger once your army can:

• build Dominion consistently;
• keep units alive long enough to benefit from scaling;
• preserve or carry Dominion between fights through later upgrades.

Should I upgrade Scaevola early?

Yes if your army can generate Cognition reliably. If your Rangers cannot keep safe range or your Servitors are dying too fast, upgrade deployment reliability before committing to aggressive Scaevola tools.

Should I send Ominekh on side tasks?

Not if Ominekh is your current Dominion or sustain engine. Send a backup Lord instead unless the reward is important enough to weaken the next mission.

Should I rush Forge-Temples?

Rush only the Forge-Temples that unlock technology access, improve income, or create safer campaign routes. Do not spend your army into weakness just to grab a node.