Hero progression: stars, skills, awakening and Ascension
What each upgrade unlocks and the order that gets the most power from scarce hero items.
Updated 2026-10-15 for game version 1.2.60.
Getting heroes
You call heroes in the Miracle Hut with Regular and Special Calls, paid with Starglitter, and you collect Hero Mementoes (shards) to unlock and star them.
- Use the free calls every day.
- Save Special Callings for a Call to Arms Upgrade Hero theme, where each one is worth 1,500 points.
- Blackforged Showdown, Call to Arms medal chests and tribe events also pay hero shards and Insignias.
Stars unlock skills
| Stars | Unlocks |
|---|---|
| 1 | Burst only |
| 2 | Skill 2 |
| 3 | Skill 3 |
| 4 | Skill 4 |
| All skills maxed | Awakening: skill 5 (S-rank heroes) |
This is why stars beat levels. A 1-star Joan is a weak area hitter, but at 4 stars she is the best lieutenant in the game.
Skill levels
Each skill has 5 levels, and level 5 is usually far above level 4:
- Kalthas's Burst: factor 6,300 at level 4, 9,000 at level 5.
- Joan's Saint's Resolve: 24.5% at level 4, 35% at level 5.
Finish one skill before starting the next on the same hero.
Order inside a hero:
- The skill that powers the pair: a synergy skill (Petra's Blood Resonance), a troop-wide stat (Aska's Graceful Blade Dance, Wukong's Cloud Somersault) or a DEF cut (Odysseus's Armor Piercer).
- The Burst.
- Situational passives.
Each hero page lists a recommended skill order.
Awakening, Hero Stele and Ascension
Maxing every skill awakens a hero, which usually upgrades their Burst. For example, Odysseus goes to factor 18,000 and burns 20%. At Chieftain Hall 25 the Hero Stele and Codex of Legends unlock: awakened heroes can be inscribed and Ascended, up to 6 times at Chieftain Hall 30. The Hero Stele also holds Warband skills, percentage bonuses such as Blackscale (damage to debuffed enemies) and Wind Sojourners (bonuses after Burst). Update 1.2.30 added Block Value and Strike Power Warband skills.
Talents
Each hero has three talent trees: their troop type (or Balanced), a playstyle tree (Hunter, Versatile, Garrison, Sieging, Field Combat or Gathering) and a focus tree (Attack, Defense, Skill or Support). Talent nodes such as King of Combat scale with stars (+1.6% troop ATK per star). Put talents into the tree that matches how the hero is used: Garrison for wall heroes, Hunter for Blackforged hunters.
Investment order for a new account
- Star your four commanders to 4 stars.
- Level the skill that powers each pair.
- Star the lieutenants.
- Awaken commanders.
- Ascend once you reach Chieftain Hall 25.
Questions players ask
When do hero skills unlock in Fate War?
A 1-star hero only has their Burst. Skills 2, 3 and 4 unlock at 2, 3 and 4 stars. Maxing every skill awakens the hero and unlocks skill 5.
What is Ascension?
From Chieftain Hall 25, awakened heroes can be inscribed on the Hero Stele and Ascended. At Chieftain Hall 30 a hero can be Ascended 6 times.
Should I level or star heroes first?
Stars first. Each star can unlock a new skill and raises star-based talents such as King of Combat (+1.6% troop ATK per star).