Knight gear

Firstly it should be pointed out that the higher your knight level the better, it makes a big difference... But now so does knight gear.  As i write this the highest knight you can get is 250.

In the past the only way to get a high level knight was to win train with arthurs from merlin (or buy them of course). Nowadays kabam seem to give them out like candy in tournamemts.  Even as a low level non gemming player, you have a much better chance of getting a high level knight by winning grail trainings in alliance tournaments.

Note that Grail trainings give you instant increase to that level (so use it on a low level knight), mystic trainings are a one level at a time increase.  So for instance use a mystic 220 on a knight that is probably a 215 knight.

It should go without saying now that you should be attempting to upgrade one knight as high as possible in your troop city.

Now onto knight gear, kabams newest creation.  The gear you get for free is obtained by attacking wilds.  There are two types of chests won this way:

Common - gets you yeoman
Uncommon - gets you a chance to win squires gear.

In addition to gear there is also ability to forge your gear, for this you need hammers and dust.  The better the hammer, the better your chance of a successful forge. These are also won from wilds. The lower levels wilds is best for early levels of forging.
Forging increases the % levels

Types of gear:

Helms
Shields
Armour
Pants
Weapons

After the basic gear from wilds, other gear you get from chests and tournaments.
Other basic gear you win are called militiaman gear, battering ram gear, belvedere gear.

All of this basic gear affects specific troops types and levels.  Look at the specific stats for each and try to match them up.

Next focus on % boosts more than the base level increases, it's worth more.

Some gear has multiple attributes.  Access them by strengthening your gear. You will need to sacrifice other gear to access them.

Types of attributes:

Boost attack (crossed swords). Usually only seen on weapons
Boost life (heart)
Boost speed (wings)
Increase load (sack)
Troop limit (2 men). Send more troops

Finally there is advanced gear, that boosts all troops (unlike basic gear). These are shadow gear, crusade gear and lionheart gear.