Tower of Fantasy: Beginner-to-Endgame Guide

A practical guide to Tower of Fantasy in 2026: combat and weapon resonance, elements, matrices and gear, what to do every day, how the gacha currencies work and what to spend them on, plus what's new in version 6.3.

Researched September 2026 — current as of Ver. 6.3 "Between Twilight and Dawn" (released September 15, 2026). Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.

Quick Start

• You fight with weapons, not characters. Each "Simulacrum" is a cosmetic appearance tied to a weapon. You equip three weapons and swap between them mid-combo.
• Weapon swapping is the combat system. Swapping at the right time (when the swap indicator lights up, or at the end of a charge) triggers discharge skills that deal big damage and keep your rotation flowing.
• Resonance comes from your weapon mix. Running two or more weapons of the same role (DPS, Tank, Support) activates a resonance bonus. Most players build around a DPS or Support resonance.
• Pick one element and commit early. Flame, Frost, Volt, Physical and Altered each have their own buffs, matrices and team comps. Splitting your resources across elements is the most common F2P mistake.
• Do your dailies. Vitality-gated content, daily bounties and weekly modes are where most of your upgrade materials come from.
• Dark Crystals are the premium currency you can earn. Spend them on limited Red Nucleus draws for the element you're building, not on scattered standard pulls.
• Each update adds weapons to the permanent "Choice" pools. As of 6.3, The Witch's Key joined the permanent Choice Weapons order and Gray Fox Matrices joined the permanent Choice Matrices order.
• Grab maintenance compensation. Each major update gives Dark Crystals to players level 6+ (500 for 6.3).
• Explore. Supply pods, black nuclei and exploration points in each region give early resources and progression.

Combat Basics

Your loadout

• Three weapons equipped at once.
• Relics – active gadgets on their own cooldowns (mobility, shields, damage). The Jetpack and Magnetic Storm are classic early picks.
• Matrices – slotted into each weapon for stat and set bonuses.
• Gear – armor and accessories with random stats you upgrade over time.

Rotation fundamentals

• Build weapon charge by attacking. When a weapon is charged, swapping triggers its discharge.
• Most weapons have a normal attack chain, a skill on cooldown, dodge-based attacks, and a discharge.
• Perfect dodges trigger Phantasia, which slows time around you — the key survival and damage window. Learn enemy tells.
• Many DPS rotations are "open with buffs, swap to the main damage weapon, swap back when buffs refresh." Look up your specific weapons' rotations once you pull them.

Roles and resonance

Resonance | How to get it (summary) | Use

Attack (DPS) | Two or more DPS weapons | Standard damage build

Fortitude (Tank) | Two or more tank weapons | Tanking in group content

Benediction (Support) | Two or more support weapons | Healing and buffing in groups

Balance | One of each role | Flexible solo play

Most endgame players run a DPS resonance for damage or Benediction for support duty.

Elements

Element | Notes

Flame | Damage over time and burn

Frost | Freezing and control

Volt | Paralysis and shield-break effects

Physical | Straightforward damage

Altered | A later-added element with its own weapons and effects

Some weapons are fusion types (for example, Flame-Physical or Volt-Frost) that count as both elements for certain team bonuses. Check each weapon's element tag before pulling.

Progression Systems

Weapons

• Rarity: SSR is the top tier for combat weapons; SR and R weapons are useful early but get replaced.
• Advancement: duplicate copies of a weapon raise its star level (A1 up to A6), adding strong effects at key thresholds. Some weapons "spike" at particular advancement levels; check before investing.
• Leveling: weapons use EXP materials and a separate breakthrough material. Level your main DPS weapon first.

Matrices

• Four-piece sets of chips that go into weapon slots.
• Each Simulacrum has a matching matrix set that often boosts that weapon specifically.
• The limited matrix banner uses Special Vouchers, and each pull there gives an Overclocking Chip (80 exchange for the featured matrix).

Gear

• Armor and accessories with random substats (attack, crit, elemental attack, HP, resistances).
• Enhance gear, then reforge/advance to push substats toward your element.
• Titan and higher-tier gear unlock later; don't sink everything into early gear.

Supercomputing Evolution

• A long-term account-wide stat system. As of Ver. 6.2 (August 2026) its level cap is 20. Level it steadily as you get materials.

Daily and Weekly Loop

Task | Why

Daily bounties/quests | Steady Dark Crystals and materials

Vitality-gated content (dungeons, world bosses, rifts) | Gear, matrices, upgrade materials

Joint Operations | Gear and materials in group dungeons

Weekly modes (such as Bygone Phantasm, Frontier Clash, Void Abyss and season content) | High-value rewards, often crystals

Events | Limited-time events each version; many pay out free draws or crystals

Crew (guild) activities | Crew currency and weekly rewards

As of 6.3, new content includes the new Simulacrum Zoey (plus a Multiverse Hunt instance for her), a new main story chapter, new seasons for Sequential Phantasm and Evolution Frontier, a Level 100 Habaka boss in Evolution Vanguard, Stage 40 of Boundless Realm, new Bygone Phantasm levels, the Chrono Curse raid added to the weekly pool, new Weekly Activity Missions, and a solo mode for Fantasy Rhythm Party.

Currencies and What to Spend Them On

Currency | Source | Spend on

Dark Crystals | Earned everywhere (dailies, events, compensation) | Red Nucleus or Special Vouchers for your main element

Tanium | Paid | Monthly pass, battle pass, converting to Dark Crystals

Red Nucleus | Bought with Dark Crystals or rewards | Limited weapon banners

Gold Nucleus | Free rewards | Standard weapon banner

Special Vouchers | Bought or rewards | Limited matrix banners

Flame Gold | 1 per limited weapon draw | 120 exchange for the featured limited weapon

Overclocking Chips | 1 per limited matrix draw | 80 exchange for the featured limited matrix

F2P spending rules

• Save for the weapon you want. With the Flame Gold exchange at 120, you can plan exactly how many draws you need to guarantee it.
• Pull weapons before matrices. A new weapon changes your team; matrices are icing.
• Stick to one element. Resonance and elemental buffs reward focus.
• Use Gold Nuclei freely — they're for the standard banner and aren't worth hoarding.
• If you spend at all, the monthly pass is the best value.
• Watch the Choice orders. Older limited weapons move to the permanent Choice pool, so you can target them later.

2026 Version Highlights (selected updates)

Version | Name | Date | Headliners

5.65 | Dedicated Hunter | Feb 3, 2026 | Salidy (Bloodfin)

5.7 | Witch of Time | Mar 10, 2026 | Agleia (Chrono Heart), Ore Contest

5.8 | Wings of Icarus | Apr 14, 2026 | Calm Waters to Choice Weapons, Roslyn Matrices to Choice Matrices

6.2 | Dreamland Beyond the Void | Aug 4, 2026 | Lockhart - Everland region, Hellfire to Choice Weapons, Asurada Matrices to Choice Matrices, Supercomputing Evolution cap 20

6.3 | Between Twilight and Dawn | Sep 15, 2026 | New Simulacrum Zoey, new story chapter, The Witch's Key to Choice Weapons, Gray Fox Matrices to Choice Matrices

Banner details change every version; always check the in-game announcements panel.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Spreading resources across elements. Pick one DPS element and build it fully.
• Pulling on every banner. Skip banners that don't fit your team.
• Neglecting dodging. Phantasia from perfect dodges is both defense and damage.
• Over-investing in early gear. You'll replace it; save materials for higher-tier gear.
• Ignoring resonance. Two random weapons with no shared role lose a big bonus.
• Skipping compensation mail and events. Easy free crystals.
• Letting Vitality cap out. Spend it daily.

Advanced Tips

• Learn your weapons' discharge windows. Swap timing is where most damage comes from.
• Relic synergy. Pair a mobility relic with a damage or defensive relic for tough fights.
• Theorycraft before pulling. Read the weapon's advancement effects; some are strong at A0 while others need A3 or A6.
• Gear substats matter more than set pieces early. Chase crit and your element's attack.
• Group content. For Joint Operations, bring at least one Benediction support; clears get much smoother.
• Use the permanent Choice orders. When an older limited weapon you want enters the Choice pool, it's a safer target than a brand-new limited banner.

FAQ

Is Tower of Fantasy still active in 2026? Yes. Version 6.3 "Between Twilight and Dawn" launched September 15, 2026, and Hotta/Perfect World continue regular updates on PC, PlayStation and mobile.

What's the new permanent Choice weapon? As of 6.3, The Witch's Key (weapons) and Gray Fox Matrices (matrices).

How many draws to guarantee a limited weapon? With the Flame Gold exchange, 120 limited draws always lets you exchange for the featured weapon; you may get it sooner from random pulls.

What is Supercomputing Evolution? An account-wide progression system; its level cap rose to 20 in Ver. 6.2.

How do I update on PC? After the server goes down for maintenance, exit and restart the client to begin the resource update. If you see a login error after updating, restart, log out, and log back in.

Which element should I pick? Whichever has the strongest weapon you've already pulled. Committing matters more than the "best" element.

Sources

• Tower of Fantasy on Steam
• Tower of Fantasy Steam news (Ver. 6.3, 6.2, 5.8, 5.7, 5.65 announcements)
• Steam News API feed for Tower of Fantasy