Currencies

Introduction

All Star Tower Defense uses six in-game currencies, each with its own earning method and purpose. Gems are the main summoning currency for the Hero Summon, earned through story clears, codes and events. Gold is a secondary Hero Summon currency that comes from gameplay. Stardust is the premium currency for Special Summon and Dual Starhunt banners, refreshed regularly with new stardust banners. Cash is earned from kills during battle and used to upgrade units mid-fight. Tokens and Candy are event and shop currencies used for purchases in the lobby and the Emote Shop. Knowing which currency to farm and how to spend each one efficiently is central to ASTD progression. This guide breaks down every currency, the fastest ways to earn them and the smartest ways to spend them.

Currency Earning & Spending

Currency Profiles

Core Mechanics

The ASTD economy is layered. Gems and Gold both fuel the Hero Summon, but Gems are the premium version — you earn them from story clears, codes and events, while Gold comes more freely from normal gameplay. Stardust is separate: it is the currency for Special Summon and Dual Starhunt banners and is far scarcer, dropping from codes and premium events. Cash is the in-battle currency earned from kills; you spend it during a wave to upgrade units, and it resets each battle. Tokens and Candy are lobby currencies for shops and the Emote Shop, earned from events and gameplay. Managing these currencies means knowing when to spend Gems on summoning versus saving for stardust banners, and when to invest battle cash in upgrades versus saving for a high-cost unit. The best farmers combine Story repeats for gems with events and codes for stardust and tokens.

Advantages

A six-currency economy gives the game depth and gives players multiple progression levers. Free-to-play players can earn every currency through play — Gems from story and codes, Stardust from events, and Tokens and Candy from gameplay. The separation between Gems and Stardust means you can plan separate savings goals instead of a single bottleneck. Cash rewards skillful in-battle management, so good players are rewarded with better upgrades during fights. Event currencies like Tokens and Candy add seasonal goals that keep the game fresh. Overall, the economy is generous enough to support a strong roster without spending real money. With a clear plan for each currency, even free-to-play players can maintain a steady flow of pulls, upgrades and shop purchases.

Challenges

The six-currency system can be confusing for new players, who may spend Gems on the wrong banner or misunderstand what Stardust is for. Stardust is the main bottleneck — it is scarce and gates access to the best limited-unit banners. Event currencies like Tokens and Candy expire or rotate with events, so unused stock can lose value when a shop closes. Cash resets every battle, so it cannot be stockpiled for later. The currency cap can also limit hoarding for some currencies. Understanding the economy takes time, and mistakes — like wasting Gems on a filler banner — set progression back significantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick Tips