The All-Star Cup in Archero 2 has returned, and just like last time, it is very clearly not designed for free-to-play players. Gear, heroes, skins, runes, and resonance all carry over into the mode, which instantly turns it into a spender-dominated event.
That said, completely ignoring it is also a mistake. Even as a free-to-play player, there are small but real rewards you can still get if you approach it correctly and accept your limits.
This guide explains exactly how.
Archero 2 All-Star Cup Guide – Best Gear Setup, Heroes
Do not spend gems. Do not chase wins. Do not expect deep progress.
Play it only for:
- Daily quest points
- Guessing rewards
- Passive progression items
If your goal is leaderboard placement or full clears, this mode is not for you unless you spend heavily.
All-Star Cup Mode
You begin by selecting an elimination round time based on your local schedule. Pick a time when you can play without interruptions.
You then enter the Qualifier Round, which consists of:
- A 10-minute run
- 10 floors
- Pre-assigned Circle + Sword Strike build
- Fixed base health
However, everything else carries over from your account:
- Hero & hero resonance
- Skins & skin resonance
- Gear
- Runes
This is the main reason the mode is pay-to-win.
Boss Mechanics
All bosses in the All-Star Cup are:
- Immune to stun
- Immune to freeze
This immediately invalidates:
- Roller
- Frost Touch
- Any control-based hero or rune
Do not waste ability slots on crowd control. They do nothing here.
Also, revives are infinite, so survival tools are far less valuable than raw damage.
Best Heroes for Free-to-Play Players
Your realistic hero choices are limited, but these work best:
Best F2P-Viable Heroes
- Thor – Strong raw damage, reliable
- Nyanja – Decent survivability and output
- OT – Best option if you own his Epic Skin
If you have OT with Epic Skin, it becomes your top choice because:
- Invincibility potion creates brief damage windows
- Synergizes well with revive abuse
Avoid heroes that rely on control, positioning tricks, or sustained survival.
Best Gear Setup (F2P Friendly)
Recommended Sets
- Griffin Set (Best Choice)
- Dragon Set (acceptable alternative)
Griffin is superior because:
- You will stay close to bosses
- The entire strategy revolves around face-tanking damage windows
Do not use Oracle. It provides no real benefit here.
Rune Setup – What Actually Works
Your rune setup matters more than usual.
Mandatory Runes
- All Circle Runes
- Pulsing Orb (Essential)
Pulsing Orb is the backbone of your damage. Your entire run depends on stacking damage during brief invincibility or spawn shield windows.
Optional but Helpful
- Second Circle Rune
- Potion Spring (only if you use OT with Epic Skin)
Defensive Support
- Plant Runes (shield generation)
Plant skills occasionally provide shields, which helps absorb random hits while you brute-force bosses.
Elemental Runes
- Use only on the left side
- Right-side elemental effects are wasted here
Boss Selection
The real difficulty spike starts at Floor 5, where you must choose between:
- Alex
- Helix
- Sarif
Best Choice: Alex
Alex is the only correct option for F2P players.
Why?
- Predictable movement
- Runs directly into you
- Can be damaged consistently during spawn shield windows
Acceptable but Slower: Helix
Helix moves around too much, making damage slower and riskier.
Never Pick: Sarif
Sarif can become invincible, which hard-counters your revive-based damage strategy. If you pick Sarif, your run is over.
F2P Strategy
This mode is not about skill. It’s about abusing revive mechanics.
What you do:
- Stand still
- Let the boss kill you
- Respawn with spawn shield
- Deal damage during invincibility
- Die again
- Repeat until time runs out
This is why survivability tools are pointless. You are expected to die.
With optimal execution, most free-to-play players will:
- Reach Floor 6 or 7
- Time out shortly after
This is normal. Don’t force it.
