Complete guide to resources in Clash of Clans

Resources are the life of the Clash of Clans party. Without them, your village wouldn't upgrade, your troops would remain imperceptible weaklings, and everyone would get bored and go home.

Thankfully we get Gold, Elixir, and Gems to liven things up.

Ah, the shiny shiny. Gold is one of the main currencies in CoC. As you may have guessed, it's dug up from Gold Mines and stored in Gold Storages.

Used to purchase / upgrade: Defensive buildings, Elixir Collectors, Elixir Storages, Walls, assorted Decorations.

Love the Purple Power. Alongside Gold, Elixir forms the central resource for CoC - it is extracted by Elixir Collectors and kept in, yes, Elixir Storages.

Used to purchase / upgrade: Army buildings, Gold Mines, Gold Storages, Dark Elixir Drills, Dark Elixir Storages, Troops, assorted Decorations.

Dark Elixir

The latest addition to the Resource family, Dark Elixir comes straight from the spine of the Earth. Probably. Its application may be currently the most limited, but it is crucial.

Used to purchase / upgrade: Archer Queen, Barbarian King, Seeking Air Mines.

Gems

Gems are the key to speeding up your progress in CoC. You can use them to quicken or cut short upgrade / training times, acquire Gold / Elixir bulk, and construct Builder's Huts.

The main way of obtaining Gems is through in-app purchases, although you will also earn a few by completing Achievements, reaching 1250 Trophies (which earns you a massive 450 Gems), or by clearing your land of obstacles (trees, shrubs, rocks, etc) - the latter is random-based and you only earn 1-3 Gems but every little helps.