In the ever-evolving world of AFK Journey, the approach to hero progression has been given a clean slate. The old-school grind of gathering fodder heroes has been kicked to the curb entirely. Instead, the Ascension system now runs on two streamlined resources: copies of the same hero and faction-tailored Acorns. It’s a breath of fresh air for players who prefer their gacha progression without a mountain of throwaway units.
The Acorns themselves aren’t some mysterious drop—they trickle in from regular summons and can be snagged from various in-game shops, making them a manageable commodity. The real grind comes from pulling duplicates, and the number of copies required swings wildly depending on the hero’s base rarity. Let’s break it down.
Ascension Tiers and Requirements
When a player wants to push a hero all the way to Supreme+, the peak of raw potential, the math tells a straightforward story. For an 
A-Level hero, they’ll need the original pull plus a staggering 63 duplicates—64 copies in total—alongside 200 Faction Acorns. It’s a long-haul job, but A-Level heroes are meant to be more accessible, so the Acorn cost is kept relatively low.
For an 
S-Level hero, the copy count drops dramatically. To hit Supreme+, a player needs the base copy and only 7 duplicates (8 total). However, the resource gate tightens considerably, demanding 350 Faction Acorns. It’s a classic higher-stakes, higher-reward setup—fewer copies but a much heftier Acorn investment.
Then come the heavy hitters from the 
Celestial and 
Hypogean factions. These elites skip the Acorn business altogether, but the trade-off is a brutal copy grind. Reaching Supreme+ requires the original hero plus 13 duplicates (14 copies in total). No safety net, no shortcuts—just the raw pull of luck or a deep wallet. In the trenches of AFK Journey, landing 14 copies of a Celestial can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack with a blindfold on, but the payoff in battle is undeniable.
Here’s a quick-reference table to keep everything straight:
| Rarity | Copies Needed (Total) | Faction Acorns |
|---|---|---|
| A-Level | 64 | 200 |
| S-Level | 8 | 350 |
| Celestial/Hypogean | 14 | 0 |
Milestones That Change the Game
Ascending a hero isn’t just about bigger numbers—certain tiers unlock game-changing abilities that can flip the meta on its head. The first big moment comes at Legendary+, where a hero gains access to Hero Focus. This feature grants bonus stats or even a completely new effect, turning a solid unit into a true ace in the hole.
Next, at Mythic+, the coveted Exclusive Weapon is unlocked. This isn’t just a shiny add-on; it bestows a passive skill that can be further upgraded as the EX Weapon itself gains levels. Smart players often plan their Acorn spending around hitting this milestone because a well-leveled Exclusive Weapon can be a total game-changer.
The ultimate reward sits at Supreme+, where Skill Enhancement comes into play. One of the hero’s existing skills receives an additional effect, often elevating it from good to borderline broken. In many competitive and PvE lineups, a Supreme+ hero is the glue that holds everything together.
Breaking into the Paragon Ranks
Once a roster starts filling out with Supreme+ heroes, a new door swings open: the Paragon system. This endgame layer demands horizontal investment rather than vertical grinding. To push a hero into Paragon 1, a player must have 25 heroes at Supreme+ in their collection.
From there, the climb continues:
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Paragon 2 requires 20 heroes already at Paragon 1.
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Paragon 3 requires 15 heroes at Paragon 2.
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Paragon 4 requires 15 heroes at Paragon 3.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint. The Paragon tiers reward players who have built deep, wide rosters over time. Nobody stumbles into Paragon 4 by accident—it’s the badge of a seasoned veteran who has poured countless hours into the game.
The Big Picture
AFK Journey’s Ascension overhaul strips away the filler and puts the focus squarely on duplicate management and resource planning. For free-to-play players, targeting S-Level heroes might be the smarter play early on, since the copy count is lower even if Acorns sting. Whales, on the other hand, can chase those Celestials with a bit more swagger. Either way, knowing exactly when to push for Legendary+, Mythic+, or Supreme+ can save a ton of time and heartache.
In 2026, the Ascension system remains a finely tuned balancing act. It rewards patience and punishes impulse spending, but when that Supreme+ hero finally lands and the Skill Enhancement clicks, it’s pure magic. So stockpile those Acorns, pray to the RNG gods for dupes, and start climbing the tiers—your heroes deserve that legendary glow.