How to AFK Ascensions & Farm Unit EXP in ASTD X (March 2026)

Updated by Ankit Babal
July 8, 2025
RobloxGaming

AFK farming ascensions in All Star Tower Defense X allows players to gain 500+ kills and multiple EXP units every 10 minutes without active gameplay. This method uses the Story Mode Act One re-entry technique combined with auto mode to automatically clear waves while you’re away. The process involves selecting powerful units like Sukuna or The Strongest One, strategically placing them on the map, enabling auto mode, and collecting rewards after 10-30 minute sessions – but there are crucial setup steps and hidden optimizations that separate successful farmers from those who waste their time.

Quick AFK Ascension & EXP Farming Overview:

Method	EXP Gain	Time Required	Difficulty
Story Mode AFK	~500 kills/10 min	10-30 minutes	Easy
Infinite Mode Farm	2-4 EXP units/run	20-40 minutes	Medium
AFK Building	Passive gems	Unlimited	Passive
Challenge Mode	Skill orbs + EXP	15-30 minutes	Hard

Why AFK Farming is Essential in All Star Tower Defense X?

Unlike the original All Star Tower Defense, ASTD X requires significantly more experience to max out units. In All Star Tower Defense X, there are multiple ways to enhance the power of your units. First and foremost, your units become more powerful by earning XP and leveling up. With the current level cap and skill tree system, efficient farming isn’t just helpful—it’s mandatory for competitive play.

The benefits of AFK farming include:

Passive progression while you’re away from the game
Consistent EXP gains without active grinding
Resource efficiency by optimizing unit placement
Multi-tasking ability to level multiple units simultaneously

Complete ASTD X AFK Ascension Method (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Preparation and Unit Selection

Before starting your AFK farm, you need the right setup. Start by picking a strong unit that you’ve invested in. For this method, Sukuna is a great choice because of his power, even though he can be expensive to place.

Best Units for AFK Farming:

Sukuna – High damage, excellent for Story Mode
The Strongest One – Burn damage accumulates over time
Slayer Mage – Meta unit to clear Infinite High DPS and range
Dark Wing – Power snowballs in longer runs
Air Units – Can target all enemy types

Step 2: Access Story Mode Act One

Here’s a secret many players miss: Many players think once they finish Act One, they can’t go back. But you can simply re-enter the old dialogue and start the stage again. This is important because Act One is best for grinding experience and kills.

To re-enter Act One:

Go to Story Mode selection
Click on Act One (even if completed)
Skip through dialogue or watch it again
Start the stage normally

Step 3: Strategic Unit Placement

Proper placement maximizes your AFK efficiency:

Let waves skip – Let the waves skip a few rounds to build money, then place your units strategically on the map.
Place power units first – For Sukuna, you’ll need about 3 placements
Cover all paths – Ensure no enemies can slip through
Use elevation – Hill units get bonus range and coverage

Step 4: Enable Auto Mode

This is the crucial step that enables true AFK farming:

After placing all your units, open the unit manager and turn on auto mode for each unit. This allows your units to fight on their own.
Click on each unit individually
Toggle the “Auto” button to ON
Verify all units show the auto indicator

Step 5: AFK and Collect Rewards

Once everything is set up:

Your units will progress through the waves automatically, typically reaching wave 30 in about 10 minutes.
After the run, you’ll have gained around 500 kills and a good amount of EXP from void bags and other rewards.

Advanced EXP Farming Strategies (2026)

Infinite Mode Optimization

For players seeking maximum EXP gains, Infinite Mode offers superior rewards:

Play Infinite Mode (Extreme) and try to auto skip all the way to wave 70. It is suggested to play with duo for this strategy to maximize waves cleared. It takes around 40mins to finish 1 run with meta units. You get a guaranteed 1 EXP IV and some leftovers upon evolving all EXPs.

Infinite Mode Tips:

Requires level 50+ to bring 6 units
Use meta units for consistency
Food Island / Wegular 2 map is recommended for these strategies.
Team up with friends for better results

Quick Loss Strategy

For rapid EXP unit farming:

Play Infinite Mode and sell your units at wave 20 to purposefully lose. You earn 2 EXP units doing this strategy.
Place units in the back so that you can lose more quickly upon selling your units as the enemies are closer to base.

EXP Unit Evolution System

Understanding the EXP evolution chain maximizes your farming efficiency:

Every 10 waves, you get an EXP. You should also note that there’s a 90% chance to get an EXP I, and a 10% chance to get EXP II.

Auto-Evolution Trick: You can use /e evolve to auto-evolve all EXP I and EXP II to EXP III which then evolves all EXP III to EXP IV.

AFK Building Strategy for Passive Gains

Inside this building you can AFK for gems. While not directly for EXP, the AFK building provides gems for summoning better units:

Location: Behind the summon area
Requirements: None – accessible immediately
Rewards: Passive gem generation
Strategy: Leave game running while AFK

Important Note: Infinite mode and the AFK chamber give very minimal gems (1 gem per wave or worse), which feels unrewarding. Focus on EXP farming primarily.

Best Units for AFK Farming (Detailed Analysis)

S-Tier AFK Units

1. The Strongest One

His burn damage scales incredibly well, making him more valuable the longer enemies stay in his range.
Ideal for long AFK sessions
Works on all enemy types

2. Slayer Mage

Consistent high DPS
Excellent range coverage
Minimal management needed

3. Dark Wing

In Infinite Mode, place Dark Wing early and protect him at all costs. His power snowballs – by wave 50+, he’ll be carrying your entire defense.

Budget AFK Options

For newer players without premium units:

Ikki (Early) – Decent starter unit
Borul – Good range and damage
Kosuke (TS) – Great range and DPS

Skill Tree Optimization for AFK Farming

The skill tree system in ASTD X adds another layer to unit optimization:

The skill tree is a new system in ASTD X that lets you upgrade your units in specific ways. Each unit has its own skill tree, and you can choose between paths like damage, range, or SPA (seconds per attack).

AFK Farming Tree Priorities:

Damage Path – Faster wave clearing
Range Path – Better coverage for AFK
Employment Node – Employment (20% double money chance) for resource generation

Common AFK Farming Mistakes to Avoid

1. Wrong Unit Placement

Don’t cluster units in one area
Layered Defense: Don’t cluster all units – spread them to cover enemy escape routes

2. Ignoring Auto Mode

Always enable auto mode for each unit
Check periodically that it’s still active

3. Choosing Wrong Maps

Stick to Act One for story mode
Use Food Island for Infinite Mode

4. Not Using Team Synergies

Combine burn units with slow units
Use support units to boost damage dealers

Maximizing EXP Gains Per Session

To calculate your optimal farming route:

Story Mode Act One:

Time: 10 minutes
Rewards: ~500 kills, EXP from bags
Best for: Quick sessions, new players

Infinite Mode to Wave 70:

Time: 40 minutes
Rewards: 1 guaranteed EXP IV + extras
Best for: Dedicated farming sessions

Quick Loss Strategy:

Time: 5-10 minutes
Rewards: 2 EXP units
Best for: Rapid EXP unit accumulation

Integration with Other Game Systems

Daily Quests

Your best baseline for steady gem income is doing daily quests every day. These give varying amounts of gems: Daily quest rewards can range from 100 to 600 gems per day.

Gem Farming

While AFK farming for EXP, you’re also progressing toward:

Daily quest completion
Achievement unlocks
Collection rewards

Trait System

Good traits amplify AFK farming efficiency:

All Star – Damage boost
Bloodlust – +10% damage, +15% range
Prodigy – 50% more experience from stages

Platform-Specific Tips

PC Players

Use auto-clickers for extended AFK sessions
Multiple Roblox instances for parallel farming
Better performance for longer runs

Mobile Players

Enable battery saver mode
Keep device plugged in
Use stable WiFi to prevent disconnections

Troubleshooting Common Issues

“Can’t Re-enter Act One”

Complete any pending dialogues
Check for story mode updates
Try different acts if one is bugged

“Units Not Using Abilities”

Verify auto mode is enabled
Check unit placement for range issues
Some abilities require manual activation

“Low EXP Gains”

Ensure you’re reaching higher waves
Use units with AOE damage
Consider difficulty settings

Future Updates and Meta Changes

Stay informed about updates:

Join the official Discord
Follow developer Twitter accounts
Check ASTD X codes regularly

Advanced Tips from Top Players

Wave Management

Let early waves build economy
Save abilities for dense waves
Position units for maximum uptime

Resource Optimization

You need exactly 21 EXP IV, 1 EXP III, 2 EXP II and 1 EXP I to max out a unit from level 0.
Plan your farming sessions accordingly
Use double EXP events when available

FAQ’s

How long does it take to max a unit from level 0?

With optimal farming, expect 5-10 hours of total gameplay depending on your units and strategy. Using the AFK method significantly reduces active play time.

Can I AFK farm in multiplayer?

Yes! It is suggested to play with duo for this strategy to maximize waves cleared. Team up with friends for better efficiency.

What’s the best time to use the /e evolve command?

Use it after accumulating at least 20-30 EXP units to make the evolution process worthwhile. The command saves significant time versus manual evolution.

Do I need premium units for AFK farming?

No, budget units like Borul and Kosuke (TS) work well for beginners. Premium units simply make the process faster and more efficient.

How often should I check my AFK farm?

Every 10-15 minutes is ideal to ensure units haven’t been stunned or the game hasn’t encountered issues.

Can I farm multiple units simultaneously?

Yes! Place multiple units you want to level and they’ll all gain experience from the waves cleared.

What’s the level cap in ASTD X?

The current max level that a unit can achieve is 175.

Is AFK farming allowed by the developers?

Yes, it’s a legitimate strategy. The auto mode feature was specifically designed for this purpose.

How do skill trees affect AFK farming?

Choosing the right path can significantly improve farming efficiency. Damage paths clear waves faster, while range paths provide better coverage.

Should I use the AFK building or focus on wave farming?

Focus on wave farming for EXP. The AFK building is better for passive gem generation when you’re completely away from the game.

Conclusion

AFK farming in ASTD X isn’t just a convenience—it’s an essential strategy for progression. By following this guide, you’ll level units efficiently while maximizing your time investment. Remember to check back for updates as the meta evolves, and don’t forget to redeem the latest ASTD X codes for extra resources!

Start with Act One story mode, progress to Infinite Mode farming, and watch your units transform from rookies to legends. The path to max level doesn’t have to be a grind when you can AFK your way to success!

For more ASTD X guides, check out our complete skill tree guide and best units tier list.