This guide provides easy & strong build for Frostrain newcomer, how to use that build, and achievements guide using that build.
Overview
This guide goes along with the provided recommendated build.
This is not the only answer and you can achieve most of the achievements with the other builds.
Build Recommendation
This build is an academy (blue) + Central Supply bureau (white gray) build.
This build can be used regardless of who the conductor is, but the key is to quickly pull out the cards you need at the beginning, so I recommend using [Ms. Joe] who provides four options when distributing cards. The penalty of needing additional happiness is that the build pumps happiness rapidly, so there is no problem at all. If the conductor has not yet been unlocked, it is possible to hire [Mr. Lim], but in the case of [Mrs. Choi], it is difficult for the build to succeed much unless you are lucky because you are only given two options to draw a card (although it is possible to survive and win to the final destination with this build with a bit more luck than the other conductors). Nevertheless, even though the ability to mount two additional vehicles on the train seems to be of great help to the build, the game does not last long enough to benefit from the effect of the additional two until the game is over.
The academy faction has the ability(effect) of there are more than two Academy cars, one academy card is given every four cycles, and when there are four(the maximum), one academy card is given every cycle. If a total of four academy vehicles are fully upgraded (fifth floor), unlimited “Ivory Tower” cards will be given after that, and “Ivory Tower” is the end-game card of the Academy Faction, which is a vehicle that fills 180 happiness per cycle when fully upgraded, so it is actually the core of the build.
We will add to this, the step 1 effect of the Central Supply Bureau Faction. The Central Supply Bureau Faction reduces the cycle time, reducing the cycle by 2 seconds in level 1 effect(3 cars) and reducing the cycle by 7 seconds in level 2 effect(6 cars). Especially, using “Dept of Engine control” card may have synergy with “Train Design Room”, the TrainPower facility of Academy faction brings higher speed of the train. However, the build is mainly about Academy Faction, so only level 1 effect of the Central Supply Bureau Faction are used. If you get a card with a higher rating in the future, you can replace it, but in the latter half of the game, the Central Supply Bureau Faction card is usually replaced by a different card, so it is rare for that to be replaced.
Route Recommendation
This route may not be the best route and can be improved further on.
Build up: Early Phase
The heart of the build lies in invoking the Academy Faction as quickly as possible. However, since the “Train Design Room” cards of the Academy Faction are gold-rated and dropped from the middle of the game, two of the “Printing House”, “Cryptography Lab” and “Library” should be loaded onto the train as quickly as possible to activate the level 1 effect. Despite taking a rather long four cycles, the periodic butterfly effect of the Academy card is surprisingly robust, especially when lucky with the level 1 effect, the “Train Design Room” is rarely given in the beginning, in which case some difficulties, as well as game victories, can be a great case for achieving high-level achievements. If this is the case, maintain the level 2 effect of the Academy Faction and add a Central Supply Bureau Faction cards each time the train levels up and eventually activate the first effect (3 cards).
when the level 1 effect of the Academy Faction has been activated, the next thing to do is to activate the level 1 effect of the Central Supply Bureau Faction. There are a total of six types of vehicle cards in the Central Supply Bureau Faction, any of which can be used, but the “Dept of Engine Control” should be used as much as possible. Although this vehicle card is of silver grade, it is possible to appear as soon as the game starts, but it creates a synergy effect with the “Train Design Room” card, which is the same TrainPower facility and part of the Academy Faction, to gradually increase the speed of the train. This vehicle card better be remain even when the other Central Supply Bureau Faction cards are removed, especially if you are aiming for a [light-speed train] career.
Even if you have acquired three types of vehicle cards from the Academy Faction while building up the level 1 effect of the Central Supply Bureau Faction, you should focus on installing only two types of Academy faction vehicle cards on the train and three types of vehicle cards from the Central Supply Bureau Faction. However, if all four types of vehicle cards from the Academy Faction were gathered early before the level 1 effect of the Central Supply Bureau Faction was activated, immediately remove some or all of the vehicles from the Central Supply Bureau Faction from the train and install all of the vehicle cards from the Academy Facts to activate the level 2 effect.
If you get your hands on the Academy Faction, you can upgrade and organize all the Academy faction cards as soon as they come out. The top priority for the cards from the card draw is the one from the Academy Faction, and the second priority for the types of Central Supply Bureau Faction cards you already have, especially the “Dept of Engine Control” cards (not applicable to those you don’t have), and if you don’t have that, you can pick the highest-rated card and discard it immediately for further resupply.
Build up: Mid Phase
If each of the level 1 effects of the Academy Faction and the Central Supply Bureau Faction were activated, the game would be in the middle of the game and the “Train Design Room”, the rare car card of the Academy Faction, would be spawned. As soon as the card is spawned, you’ll get the top pick, remove some/all of the Central Supply Bureau Faction cars from the train if necessary, and mount the Academy Faction vehicle cards on the train to activate the Academy Faction’s level 2 effect.
The effect is then triggered and the size and happiness of the train begin to skyrocket. Although the priority of drawing cards remains, the “Executive Branch” card comes second only to the “Academy Faction cards. The Executive Branch card will not be used immediately, but rather reduces the cycle time after removing the cars from the Central Supply Bureau Faction cars in the latter part of the game.
Build up: End Phase
Once the Academy Faction cars have been strengthened to the maximum and the “Ivory Tower” cards have been supplied, the “Printing House” must be replaced with a two-story “Ivory Tower” car as soon as it is received. While the two-story Ivory Tower offers more happiness than the five-story Printing House, the Ivory Tower is also a type of Academy Faction and maintains the level 2 effect of the Academy Faction when the “Ivory Tower” along with the “Cryptography Room,” “Library” and “Train Design Room” are installed on the train. Replacing other Academy Faction vehicle cards, of course, will work, but there is no reason to leave Printing House, giving the lowest happiness among Academy Facts.
However, the remaining three types of Academy Faction vehicles must remain intact. If additional replacements are made, even if two ivory tower vehicles are installed, there will be three types, which will eventually release the level 2 effect of Academy Faction.
Also, even if you remove a “Printing House” from the train, it should never be discarded. That way, the cards from the Academy Faction effect will no longer be fixed with the Ivory Tower, and the Printing House will start to be given again. In this case, you should be absolutely aware that the Ivory Tower will not be given out until you upgrade the Printing House to a full five-story level, so keep it in your hand without discarding it.
If the first ivory tower car has reached the fifth floor, we will continue to add ivory tower cars to the train. If there is not enough space, the game will be in the final phase, so remove all three of the cars from the Central Supply Bureau Faction. If you have a “Executive Branch” card, attach a “Executive Branch” and a “Ivory Tower” (no matter how many floors it is), and if you don’t have one, you will remove Central Supply Bureau Faction vehicles, except the “Dept of Engine Control”, and add an Ivory Tower car to the train. If there is any space left after the removal, you can add a series of Ivory Tower cars at the discretion of the player, which are still under upgrade, such as adding a series of three-story & two-story Ivory Tower cars, for example, but the benefit is that you upgrade unconditionally, such as one four-story one gives you more happiness than two three-story cars, so keep that in mind.
If you’ve come all the way to this point, you’ve already finished or are on the verge of finishing the game. Usually, the game ends before the second ivory tower reaches the fifth floor, so you can’t be careless at the end and decide the line for the train to nowhere, so you just have to go to the wrong place and watch out for the game breaks down.
Build variants for some achievements will be discussed separately in the achievements section each.
Summary of how to run this build
1. Collect two of the Academy Faction cards and attach to the train to activate the Level 1 effect
2. Collect three of the Central Supply Bureau Faction cards including “Dept of Engine Control” and attach to the train to activate the Level 1 effect
3. Collect four types of Academy Faction cards to activate the Level 2 effect (remove the Central Supply Bureau Faction Card if necessary)
4. Fully upgrade of all Academy Faction cards
5. Replace the “Printing Room” vehicle with the two-story or more “Ivory Tower” card
6. Continuing to build the Ivory Tower, reaching its final destination
Introduction of the Achievements Guide Part
The achievement guide is based on the recommended build presented.
I achieved it with that build, but if you feel difficult to achieve it
I recommend you try the new build.
In this case, I recommend the Children of the Engine Fact or the Red Frost Templars Fact Build.
Basic Achievements
The Last Conductor
Start the game.
Just start the game.
Train Collector
Collect 10 Cards.
Just draw 10 cards.
Not Happy at All
Run out of happiness points and lose.
Just lose the game.
Chores are on Me!
Pop task bubbles 100 times.
Click the white popup which spawns under the train cars 100 times.
The Engine is Invincible
Improve the Engine to +9.
Follow the recommended build and visit the nods.
Whether you win or not, once you hit the level 10, the achievement unlocks.
Conductor Achievements
Our Twisted Hero
Win as Mr. Lim.
Trivia: in korean version, his name is “Lim Seok-Dae”, which is quite similar with the character “Um Seok-Dae” from the famous korean novel, “우리들의 일그러진 영웅(Our twisted hero)”. He was also a person who captivated his classmates with strong and ice-cold charisma. But eventually he was fallen from his throne…?
Granny Knows Best
Win as Mrs. Choi.
Yes indeed, our grannies always know the best for us. (How about another piece of cookie, sweetie?)
Show & Prove
Win as Ms.Joe.
Sweet look, but turns out that she’s the ruler of the frozen world
Visitation Achievements
You Mainacs! You Froze It All!
Visit the Fallen Goddess Landmark.
At the mid phase of the game, when you decide the route of north or south, choose north route and keep going that way. You’ll be able to find the Fallen Goddess landmark on the way north. Visit that landmark.
Not Rapture!
Visit the Underwater City Landmark.
At the mid phase of the game, when you decide the route of north or south, choose south route and keep going that way. You’ll be able to find the Underwater City landmark on the way south. Visit that landmark.
Trivia: Rapture is the main background underwater city of the game “Bioshock”.
Where It All Started
Visit the Contaminated Lab Landmark.
At the end phase of the game, it locates at the far southeast(lower right). Visit that landmark.
Factions&Facilities Achievements
Lamb of God
Earn 100 Zeal in one game.
You need to get zeal by activating the effect of the Children of the Engine. It’s the norm to keep up with the factual build, but if you’re used to the recommended build and don’t feel difficult to clear the game with it, you can also get zeal by installing the Children of Engine Faction Card instead of the Central supply Bureau Faction Card. However, if the level 2 effect is not activated, the amount of enthusiasm gathering can be somewhat unstable, so it is better to maintain the level 1 effect in the first half and then take the “Propaganda Station” card from the second half of the game to activate the level 2 effect.
Old Foe
Win with communication synergy activated.
While using that build, you can easily achieve it by holding a “Communication Station” card and a “First Room” card, mounting it on the train just before you reach your final destination and winning the game.
Trivia) Since this game has the motive from the movie “Snow Piercer”, this is the homage of the communication between “Tail car” and “Head car”. The korean name of this achievement is “오랜 친구”, which actually means “Old Friend”.
You Make Your Own Luck
Win with level 2 entertainment synergy activated.
While using that build, you can easily achieve it by holding an Entertainment Facility cards and placing it on the train just before you reach your final destination and winning the game. However, because of you need five cards, you may have to abandon the Central supply Bureau Faction cards that were originally fitted to the train and proceed with some Entertainment facility cards in place through the game.
The Great Explorer
Activate the Explorer’s Guild synergy and visit 36 nodes.
While using this build, you should fill your position with a total of three Explorer’s guild Faction cards as quickly as possible. Only when the Explorer’s Guild effect is activated will the nod visit count be carried out, and if the process is slow and you lack nods to your final destination, you can give up your victory and go to another nod. This achievement is achieved as soon as the base visit count reaches 36.
Tower of Babel
Upgrade the Ivory Tower to 5 stars.
Using this build may unlock this achievement naturally.
Survive&Victory Condition Achievements
Super Rapid Train
Win the game within 36 days.
Use this build, but (Regardless of type) add one more TrainPower Facility card along the [Super Rapid Train] route among the recommended routes. There is no need to upgrade the TrainPower Facility cards and it is not difficult to achieve by maintaining the TrainPower Level 2 effect.
-4444
Reach Day 45.
-6666
Reach Day 49.
These two achievements, especially [-66666], need some luck to be achieved with this build. It’s easier to achieve with the Children of the Engine / Red Frost Templars Faction build, but if you’re used to this build, it’s not an impossible feat.
The level 2 effect of the Academy Facts should be activated early to build up as much happiness as possible.
In this case, you can stay in the red square area just before your final destination to avoid the snowstorm, and when the map is completely encroached by the snowstorm, you can hold on to the ivory tower as much as possible. It can be achieved without winning, and even if the happiness level is zero, it can be achieved by entering day 49 of the defeat grace period for a certain period. (Including when you lose as soon as day 49 begins)
Happy Train
Win the game with more than 20,000 happiness points.
If that build is completed early, it’s easy to achieve by heading straight to your final destination without too much delay.
