How do I stack Initiative to strike first in Dragonfire?

Striking before the enemy means taking troops off them before they answer — and over 10 rounds that compounds enormously. Here's how to raise your Initiative, in order of value:

1. The "all breeds: Initiative" research (First Flame): +16% here, permanent, and it applies to all your armies. It's lever number one because it's global and definitive.
2. A Champion or Warrior Center: a team Initiative aura (Champion *Wind's Favor*, Warrior *Battle Rush* +25%).
3. Your dragons' level / stars (base Initiative).

Initiative plays a double role through the triangle: it decides turn order and it reduces incoming fire damage. So stacking it makes you both faster and more resistant to enemy fire.

The best investment stays the permanent research: one level helps all 5 army slots, in every fight, forever.