Overview: The Hideout in Ikariam
The Hideout is the building where spies are trained and which protects the city against enemy espionage. It protects exclusively the city in which it was built – anyone wishing to secure multiple cities must construct a separate Hideout in each city.
One spy can be trained for each level of the Hideout. The higher the building level, the shorter the training time. Spies do not incur maintenance costs – unlike troops and ships.
Spy Training
Multiple spies can be commissioned simultaneously in the Hideout. However, the spies only become available once the entire order has been completed – not individually upon completion. Up to 3 orders can be placed at a time.
- Training costs per spy: 150 Gold and 80 Crystal
- No ongoing maintenance
- Maximum number of spies = current level of the Hideout
Espionage Missions
Each espionage mission begins with the infiltration of an enemy city. For this, at least one spy is deployed. Success and discovery risk can be influenced by the number of spies deployed as well as by decoys.
If infiltration is successful, the spies remain in the target city. From there, missions such as scouting the garrison, storage level or research progress can be carried out.
Hideout Expansion Values
The following overview shows selected levels with construction time and spy numbers. Higher levels reduce the training time and increase the maximum number of simultaneously available spies.
| Level | Max. Spies | Construction Time (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 24m |
| 5 | 5 | 1h 15m |
| 10 | 10 | 2h 36m |
| 15 | 15 | 4h 19m |
| 20 | 20 | 6h 30m |
| 25 | 25 | 9h 18m |
| 30 | 30 | 12h 51m |
| 32 | 32 | 14h 33m |
Protection Tips
To protect yourself against most players, the Hideout should be upgraded to at least the same expansion level as the city. It is even recommended to bring it to city expansion level +5 or higher.
Additionally, security increases if you have stationed your own spies in the city. The higher the level of the Hideout, the more spies can be trained – and the better the city is protected.
FAQ
Does a Hideout protect multiple cities at once?
No. A Hideout only protects the city in which it was built. Each city that is to be protected requires its own Hideout.
How many spies can you train at a maximum?
One spy can be trained for each level of the Hideout. A level 10 therefore allows up to 10 spies.
Do spies incur ongoing maintenance costs?
No. Unlike troops and ships, spies do not incur maintenance costs – only the one-time training costs of 150 Gold and 80 Crystal.