Tower of Fantasy
Tower of Fantasy

Currency Guide

Manage Aida's economy by learning Tower of Fantasy's currencies, including Dark Crystals and Gold Nuclei, for optimal progression.

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Currency Guide

Navigating the economy of Aida can be daunting for new and veteran Wanderers alike. Understanding the various currencies and their optimal uses is crucial for character progression, weapon enhancement, and acquiring those coveted Simulacra. This comprehensive guide will break down every essential currency in Tower of Fantasy, detailing where to find them and how to spend them wisely.

Standard Currencies

These are your everyday transactional items, essential for basic upgrades and purchases.

  • Gold (💰)
    • Purpose: The most fundamental currency. Used for almost all basic transactions, including weapon upgrades, matrices upgrades, equipment enhancements, and purchasing items from various vendors.
    • Acquisition:
      • Daily Bounties: Complete your daily bounties accessible from the "Adventure" menu.
      • Joint Operations: Participate in Joint Operations. Higher difficulty yields more Gold.
      • Dimensional Trials: Clear Dimensional Trials for significant Gold rewards.
      • Story Quests & Side Quests: Progressing through the main story and completing side quests often grants substantial Gold.
      • World Exploration: Opening Supply Pods (especially Type II and III) and interacting with various world objects.
      • Bygone Phantasm: Reaching higher floors in Bygone Phantasm provides weekly Gold rewards.
      • Selling Items: Unused or low-tier equipment and materials can be sold to vendors for Gold.
    • Strategy: Gold is abundant but consumed rapidly. Prioritize upgrading your main weapons and matrices. Avoid spending large amounts on low-level equipment you'll soon replace.
  • Dark Crystals (💎)
    • Purpose: The premium, non-gacha currency. Primarily used to purchase Red Nuclei, Gold Nuclei, Special Vouchers, and other valuable items from the Hot Shop. Can also be used to replenish Vitality.
    • Acquisition:
      • Exploration Progress: Achieving exploration milestones in each region (e.g., Astra, Banges, Crown, Vera, etc.) grants large sums of Dark Crystals.
      • Achievements: Completing various in-game achievements.
      • Story Quests: Many main story quests reward Dark Crystals.
      • Weekly Activities: Completing weekly challenges and reaching activity point thresholds.
      • Events: Participate in limited-time events; they often offer Dark Crystals as rewards.
      • Maintenance Compensation: Game maintenance often comes with Dark Crystal compensation.
    • Strategy: Save your Dark Crystals for Red Nuclei, especially when a desired limited Simulacrum is on banner. Avoid using them to replenish Vitality unless absolutely necessary for a critical progression bottleneck.

Gacha Currencies (Nuclei & Vouchers)

These are the lifeblood of acquiring new Simulacra and Matrices.

  • Gold Nucleus (🟡)
    • Purpose: Used for pulls on the Standard Banner, which features a permanent pool of SSR and SR Simulacra and Matrices.
    • Acquisition:
      • Exploration: Opening Supply Pods (especially Type II and III) and interacting with various world objects like Spacerifts, Omnium Towers, and scenic spots. Use the in-game map or community-made interactive maps to pinpoint locations.
      • Daily & Weekly Activities: Rewards from daily bounties, weekly activity chests, and certain event missions.
      • Hot Shop: Can be purchased with Dark Crystals (150 Dark Crystals per Gold Nucleus).
      • Black Market: Occasionally available from the Black Market vendor in Banges.
      • Story Quests: Some story progression rewards Gold Nuclei.
    • Strategy: While Gold Nuclei are more common, it's generally recommended to save Dark Crystals for Red Nuclei. Use Gold Nuclei as you acquire them on the Standard Banner to build up your initial roster.
  • Red Nucleus (🔴)
    • Purpose: Used for pulls on the Limited Banner, featuring new and time-limited SSR Simulacra and their Matrices. This is where you'll get the most powerful characters.
    • Acquisition:
      • Hot Shop: The primary source. Purchase with Dark Crystals (150 Dark Crystals per Red Nucleus).
      • Limited Events: Some special events offer Red Nuclei as rewards.
      • Battle Pass: Both the free and paid tiers of the Battle Pass often include Red Nuclei.
      • Special Packs: Occasionally available in bundles for real money.
    • Strategy: This is your most valuable gacha currency. Always save your Red Nuclei for Simulacra you truly desire or those that significantly enhance your team composition. Avoid impulsive pulls.
  • Special Voucher (🎫)
    • Purpose: Used for pulls on the Limited Matrix Banner, featuring new and time-limited SSR Matrices.
    • Acquisition:
      • Hot Shop: Purchase with Dark Crystals (150 Dark Crystals per Special Voucher).
      • Limited Events: Similar to Red Nuclei, some events offer these.
      • Battle Pass: Found in both free and paid tiers.
    • Strategy: Matrices are crucial for optimizing your Simulacra. Prioritize pulling for matrices that complement your main DPS or support units. It's often recommended to secure the Simulacrum first before investing heavily in their matrices.

Shop & Exchange Currencies

These currencies are earned through specific activities and spent in dedicated shops.

  • Black Gold (⚫)
    • Purpose: Earned from pulling on the Standard Banner. Used in the Black Gold Shop to purchase specific SSR weapon advancements (duplicates), SR weapon advancements, or Gold Nuclei.
    • Acquisition:
      • Standard Banner Pulls: You receive 1 Black Gold for every Gold Nucleus spent on the Standard Banner.
    • Strategy: Save your Black Gold to purchase advancements for your most used SSR weapons, especially if you're close to a key star rating (e.g., A1, A3, A6). You can also use it to buy Gold Nuclei if you're desperate for more standard pulls, but weapon advancements are generally more efficient.
  • Flame Gold (🔥)
    • Purpose: Earned from pulling on the Limited Banner. Used in the Flame Gold Shop to purchase specific limited SSR weapon advancements (duplicates) or Red Nuclei. This shop resets with each new limited banner.
    • Acquisition:
      • Limited Banner Pulls: You receive 1 Flame Gold for every Red Nucleus spent on the Limited Banner.
    • Strategy: This is your pity currency for limited banners. If you don't get the featured Simulacrum within your pulls, you can use Flame Gold to buy them directly if you accumulate 120 Flame Gold. Alternatively, you can buy advancements for the featured weapon. Any leftover Flame Gold converts to Black Gold when the banner ends, so spend it wisely before it converts.
  • Base Chip (♦️)
    • Purpose: Earned from pulling on the Limited Matrix Banner. Used in the Base Chip Shop to purchase specific limited SSR matrix advancements (duplicates) or Special Vouchers. This shop resets with each new limited matrix banner.
    • Acquisition:
      • Limited Matrix Banner Pulls: You receive 1 Base Chip for every Special Voucher spent on the Limited Matrix Banner.
    • Strategy: Similar to Flame Gold, Base Chips allow you to guarantee specific matrices. Save them to purchase desired matrices or their advancements. Leftover Base Chips convert to Matrix Data Packs when the banner ends.
  • Merit (🎖️)
    • Purpose: Earned from completing activities in the Frontier Clash and Bygone Phantasm. Used in the Merit Store to purchase various upgrade materials, matrices, and occasionally Gold Nuclei.
    • Acquisition:
      • Frontier Clash: Successfully clearing stages.
      • Bygone Phantasm: Reaching higher floors weekly.
    • Strategy: Prioritize purchasing upgrade materials you are consistently short on, such as Weapon Batteries or Matrix Data Packs. The matrices available in this shop can be useful for early game or for completing sets.
  • Energy Crystal Dust (✨)
    • Purpose: Earned from dismantling Matrices. Used in the Matrix Store to purchase specific SR matrices or Matrix Data Packs.
    • Acquisition:
      • Dismantling Matrices: Go to your inventory, select a matrix, and choose "Dismantle."
    • Strategy: Only dismantle duplicate or unwanted R-tier matrices. Use the Energy Crystal Dust to acquire SR matrices that can fill gaps in your sets or to purchase Matrix Data Packs for upgrading.
  • Support Points (🤝)
    • Purpose: Earned by helping lower-level players in Joint Operations, Dimensional Trials, and other co-op activities. Used in the Support Store to purchase various upgrade materials, Gold Nuclei, and Matrix Data Packs.
    • Acquisition:
      • Assisting Lower-Level Players: Join co-op activities where at least one member is significantly lower level than you.
    • Strategy: This is a great way to earn rewards while being a good Samaritan. Prioritize purchasing Gold Nuclei and any upgrade materials you frequently need.

Event & Limited Currencies

These currencies are temporary and tied to specific in-game events.

  • Event-Specific Currencies (e.g., Vera Coins, Aesperia Exploration Points, etc.)
    • Purpose: Used in dedicated event shops to purchase limited-time rewards, including Red Nuclei, Special Vouchers, unique cosmetics, and rare upgrade materials.
    • Acquisition:
      • Event Missions: Completing specific tasks or challenges within the active event.
      • Event Dungeons/Activities: Participating in event-exclusive game modes.
    • Strategy: Always check the event shop's offerings and prioritize the most valuable items first, typically Red Nuclei and Special Vouchers, followed by exclusive cosmetics or rare materials. Ensure you spend all event currency before the event ends, as it usually expires or converts to a less valuable currency.

By understanding and strategically managing these currencies, you'll be well-equipped to thrive in the vast world of Aida, enhancing your Simulacra and conquering any challenge that comes your way!