Begin by upgrading your storage, then focus on your resource producing units. At first, your storage cannot hold too much resources. Upgrade it a few levels to be able to keep all the resources that are looted from from the single player missions. You will have a few days of protection when first starting, unless you attack another player's base. Use this period of immunity to build your base and complete the single player missions to earn resources. Only attack other bases after the protection period ends. Consider targeting players that decided to end their protection time too early and are left prone. After building a decent base and upgrading your storage for resources, concentrate on upgrading your offense and defense. Upgrade your towers and traps. Also unlock as many troops as possible. Consider reaching the Thug quickly, because it targets defensive towers. Also upgrade your Bars to increase the size of your army.