Axom Prestige Guide: How to Master New Game+

What is the Prestige System in Axom?

The Prestige system in Axom is a New Game+ mechanic that allows you to reset your entire colony progress in exchange for powerful, permanent upgrades. After completing the main campaign or reaching a certain threshold, you can choose to Prestige, which wipes your current build, resources, and map progress. In return, you earn Prestige Tokens that unlock unique bonuses, new starting buildings, and increased difficulty modifiers. This system is core to Axom's Roguelite identity, encouraging repeated playthroughs with escalating challenges.

Unlike standard tower defense games where you simply replay levels, Axom's Prestige fundamentally changes your starting conditions. Each Prestige tier introduces more aggressive enemy waves, corrupted terrain that spreads faster, and new environmental hazards. Your goal is to build a more efficient fortress each time, leveraging the permanent upgrades you've earned.

For more on the core gameplay loop, see our Gameplay Overview.

How to Unlock and Activate Prestige

To access the Prestige system, you must first complete the final wave of the main campaign on any difficulty. Once the credits roll, the Prestige Altar becomes available in your colony's central hub. Interact with it to view your current Prestige level, available tokens, and the list of permanent upgrades you can purchase.

Activating a Prestige run is simple:

1. Open the Prestige Altar menu.
2. Select your desired Prestige tier (starting at Tier 1).
3. Spend any accumulated Prestige Tokens on permanent upgrades.
4. Confirm the reset. Your current save will be archived, and a new game will begin.

You cannot reverse a Prestige reset. All map-specific progress, including unlocked buildings from that run, will be lost. However, any permanent upgrades purchased with tokens remain active forever.

If you are new to the game, check out our Beginner Guide first to understand the basics.

Permanent Upgrades You Can Unlock

Prestige Tokens are the currency of the system. You earn them based on the highest wave you survived and the difficulty modifier active during that run. Tokens are spent in the Permanent Tech Tree, a separate upgrade grid that persists across all Prestiges.

Key permanent upgrades include:

• Starting Resources: Begin each new run with extra stone, wood, and food.
• Building Discounts: Reduce the cost of specific towers or walls permanently.
• Unit Bonuses: Increase starting health or damage for your defenders.
• Unique Buildings: Unlock special structures like the Reinforced Core or Acid Turret that are not available in a standard run.
• Corruption Resistance: Slows the spread of corrupted terrain at the start of each wave.

Prestige Tiers and Difficulty Modifiers

Each Prestige tier adds a new global modifier to your game. These stack, making subsequent runs progressively harder but rewarding more tokens.

Prestige Tier	Modifier	Token Bonus
1	Enemies have +10% health.	+20%
2	Corrupted terrain spreads 15% faster.	+40%
3	Two elite enemies spawn per wave.	+60%
4	All building costs increased by 20%.	+80%
5	Final boss gains a new attack pattern.	+100%

After Tier 5, you unlock Ascension Mode, which allows you to customize your own modifier set for maximum challenge. Higher tiers are not required for completionists, but they offer the only way to max out the Permanent Tech Tree.

For more on enemy types you'll face, see our Enemy Types guide.

Strategies for Your First Prestige Run

Your first Prestige run is the most critical. Here are proven strategies to ensure success:

• Build a Compact Base: Focus on a small, highly defended core. Sprawling bases are harder to defend when terrain corrupts faster. Use walls to create chokepoints.
• Prioritize Resource Generation: Invest in resource buildings early. Without the permanent resource boost, you will struggle to afford upgrades.
• Use the Environment: Programmed maps have natural bottlenecks. Identify them during the first few waves and build your defenses there.
• Save Tokens for Key Upgrades: Do not spend tokens on minor stat boosts. Save for the "Reinforced Core" building, which doubles your base health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Prestige more than once? Yes, you can Prestige multiple times. Each time, you keep your permanent upgrades and earn tokens for the next tier.

Do I lose my cosmetic unlocks? No. Cosmetic items, such as building skins and player icons, are account-bound and persist through all Prestiges.

What happens if I fail a Prestige run? You keep all permanent upgrades you have purchased. You simply return to the main menu and can start a new standard or Prestige run. You do not lose tokens.

Is there a maximum Prestige level? Technically, no. However, the difficulty increases significantly after Tier 5. Most players consider the "soft cap" to be Tier 10, after which the game becomes extremely challenging without maxed-out upgrades.

For more advanced tactics, read our Tips and Tricks guide.