advice needed

i haven’t played coc in over a year and a bit now and came back for this new update.

i remember back then the strategy was to buy resource potions and sell them for gems and then spend them on the apprentice builder ect. is this still the best method?

and does pushing the ranked system gain me anything or looting casually also fine.

and maybe the best equipment i currently still use electro boot with invisibility spells

thanks