Summoning

Introduction

Summoning is how you obtain new units in All Star Tower Defense. The Summon Gate in the lobby offers two main systems: the Hero Summon, which refreshes every hour with new featured units, and the Special Summon / Dual Starhunt, which costs stardust and features limited units. Hero Summons cost Gems or Gold, while Special Summons are premium stardust pulls with longer-lasting banners. The 5-star pity system guarantees a legendary result after enough pulls — saving around 3,600 gems gives consistent results. In Special Summons, every three paid 10-summons makes the fourth 10-summon free. Knowing which banner to pull, when to save and how the pity counter works is the difference between a stacked roster and wasted gems. This guide explains the mechanics, the rates and the best summoning strategy for free-to-play and paying players alike.

Summoning Systems Quick Reference

Banner Deep Dive

Core Mechanics

The Summon Gate is the heart of ASTD's unit economy. The Hero Summon costs Gems or Gold and rotates its featured units every hour, giving you frequent chances to pull whatever is currently boosted. Special Summon and Dual Starhunt banners cost Stardust, stay active for longer periods, and feature limited units that are not available through the Hero Summon. The 5-star pity is the key safety net: after a certain number of pulls without a 5-star, the game guarantees one. Players commonly save around 3,600 gems to cross the pity threshold and secure a legendary result. Special Summons add another perk — every three paid 10-summons make the fourth 10-summon free. Banner strategy is about patience: watching the hourly rotation and only spending on banners featuring units you need is far more efficient than pulling every refresh.

Advantages

A generous summoning system keeps the game exciting and gives free-to-play players a real path to a strong roster. The hourly Hero Summon rotation means there is always something new to chase, and the 5-star pity prevents the worst luck from going unrewarded. The free-10-summon perk in Special Summons rewards dedicated saving and makes stardust pulls better value over time. Stardust banners featuring limited units give collectors a defined goal, and the fact that limited units become tradeable after their banner ends adds a market dimension to pulling. For a gacha game, ASTD's pity system is player-friendly and rewards patient resource management.

Challenges

Summoning is a gacha system, so luck plays a huge role and bad streaks can be frustrating. The hourly rotation tempts impulsive pulls, and spending gems on the wrong banner wastes resources that take time to rebuild. Stardust is scarce for free-to-play players, making Special Summons a slow grind unless you earn premium currency from events or codes. The 5-star pity, while generous, still requires roughly 3,600 gems of saving, which takes time to accumulate. Limited units create FOMO — the fear of missing a banner-exclusive unit can push players into spending gems they had planned to save. Discipline and a clear saving plan are essential to getting the most out of the summoning system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick Tips