- Builder Apprentice eventually surpasses Goblin Builder, but timing depends on monthly gem income.
- Low gem earners in Clash of Clans benefit more from Goblin Builder in the short term.
- Higher gem income speeds up Builder Apprentice's break-even, making it the stronger long-term choice.
When it comes to speeding up progress in Clash of Clans, players often debate whether it’s smarter to invest gems into the Builder Apprentice or focus on hiring the Goblin Builder. Both options save upgrade time, but the real question is which one pays off more in the long run.
A detailed breakdown originally shared by Reddit user u/EmphasisConfident478 sheds some light on this dilemma and helps clear up the confusion. Let us get into this in detail.
Comparing the Builder Apprentice and Goblin Builder in Clash of Clans
The Builder Apprentice, available from Town Hall 10, works alongside your builders to cut down upgrade times. As you level him up, he becomes more efficient, providing consistent long-term value. The work rates go from 1x to 8x while the upgrade cost ranges from 500 to 1000.
On the other hand, the Goblin Builder is part of special “Work for Hire” events, available from Town Hall 7 and higher if you have built allfive Builder Huts. For40 gems a day, he can take on extra upgrades when all your builders are busy, giving an immediate boost.
How rewarding are the Builder Apprentice and Goblin Builder for gems you spend in Clash of Clans
At first glance, the Goblin Builder seems more rewarding, since his effect is instant and directly saves you days of upgrade time. However, the math tells a different story. With a gem income of around 500 to 1,500 per month, the Builder Apprentice eventually surpasses the Goblin Builder in overall efficiency.
The comparison between Builder Apprentice and Goblin Builder becomes clearer when you look at the gem income graphs. For players who earn 500 gems per month, the Goblin Builder provides more value at first, but the Builder Apprentice eventually overtakes it after about 480 days.

At 1,000 gems per month, the break-even point comes faster, around 301 days, while at 1,500 gems per month, the Builder Apprentice pulls ahead in just 182 days. This means that the more gems you consistently earn, the faster the Builder Apprentice becomes the superior choice.
According to the calculations, it takes time before this advantage becomes clear, but once it does, the Builder Apprentice continues to provide greater long-term savings for you.
If you only collect a few hundred gems a month, the Goblin Builder will give you quicker progress in the short term. But if you’re a regular grinder, investing early in the Builder Apprentice pays off much sooner and keeps saving you time for the rest of your upgrades.
Check our other Clash of Clans articles below:
- Clash of Clans: How to earn over 10,000 Free Gems per year
- Clash of Clans: Guide to unlock the 6th Builder in Home Village
- Clash of Clans: How to get Free Gems via the official Supercell Store
- Clash of Clans Gems Guide: Top 10 ways to get free Gems
- Clash of Clans Crafted Defenses Guide: Complete list, how they work, and more details
For more Mobile Gaming news and updates, join our WhatsApp Channel, Telegram Group, or Discord server. Also, follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Google News for quick updates.