Let me tell you something – when I first jumped into Super Fantasy Kingdom, I was completely overwhelmed by the hero selection screen. Like, seriously, how are you supposed to know which hero to invest your hard-earned shards into when you’re just starting out? I wasted so many resources on heroes that looked cool but ended up being total duds for my playstyle.
But after countless hours of gameplay, testing every single hero, and learning from my mistakes (and trust me, there were plenty), I’ve figured out exactly which heroes you should be targeting first. Whether you’re rocking the Human Kingdom or diving into the Undead faction, I’ve got you covered with my personal recommendations and the reasoning behind each pick.
Why Your First Hero Choice Matters So Much?
Look, I get it. You want to experiment and try different heroes. But here’s the thing – your first hero unlock sets the tone for your entire early game experience. Pick the wrong one, and you’ll struggle through those crucial first few runs. Pick the right one, and you’ll be steamrolling through content while building up resources for even better heroes later.
I learned this the hard way when I wasted my first 25 shards on a hero that looked amazing in theory but was practically useless in actual gameplay. Don’t be like me – let my experience guide you to make the smart choice right from the start.
My Top Recommendations for First Hero Unlock
Based on my extensive testing and research across multiple sources, here are my absolute top picks for your first hero unlock:
1. Alaric – The Beginner’s Best Friend
Why I recommend him: Alaric is, without a doubt, the most beginner-friendly hero you can unlock early on. When I first tried him, I was shocked at how well he performed right out of the box.
What makes him special:
- Excellent damage output that scales well into mid-game
- Great range that keeps you safe while dishing out pain
- Bleed-based abilities that melt through tougher enemies
- Surprisingly good healing potential once you invest in his upgrades
- Simple, straightforward kit that’s easy to understand
The downside: His defense is pretty much nonexistent, which can be problematic in later stages. But honestly? For your first unlock, this isn’t a deal-breaker. You can easily compensate with proper unit placement and support units.
My personal experience: I took Alaric through my first successful curse clear, and let me tell you – watching those bleed stacks pile up while enemies just melted away was incredibly satisfying. He’s the hero I recommend most often to new players in my gaming circle.
2. Cole – The Fire Mage Extraordinaire
Why I recommend him: If you love playing mages but want something different from Alaric, Cole is your guy. I was honestly surprised by how much I ended up loving this hero after initially overlooking him.
What makes him special:
- Fire-based AoE damage that clears waves of enemies
- Excellent splash damage from his fireballs
- Can one-shot weaker minions, making early days a breeze
- Great range that keeps you at a safe distance
- Surprisingly strong even in later game phases
The downside: His synergy with other units is somewhat limited, and he’s not quite as versatile as some other options. But honestly? When you’re just starting, having a hero that can stand on his own two feet is actually a huge plus.
My personal experience: I’ve seen Cole carry entire teams, doing 65%+ of the total damage even in the latter days of a run. There’s something incredibly satisfying about watching those fireballs explode and take out entire groups of enemies at once.
3. Gideon – The Undead Kingdom’s Swiss Army Knife
Why I recommend him: Gideon is my top pick specifically for Undead Kingdom players. When I unlocked him during my Undead playthrough, he immediately became my go-to hero for practically every situation.
What makes him special:
- Perfect balance of damage, defense, and utility
- Splash damage abilities that also debuff enemies
- Excellent range that keeps you safe while dealing damage
- Fits well with almost any team composition
- Great against bosses thanks to his well-rounded kit
The downside: He’s not exceptional in any single area – he’s more of a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. But for your first unlock? That’s actually perfect because you’re still learning the game mechanics.
My personal experience: Gideon saved my Undead Kingdom runs more times than I can count. His versatility means you’re never in a situation where he’s completely useless, which is invaluable when you’re still getting the hang of the game.
The S-Tier Heroes (If You Can Get Them Early)
Now, I’ll be honest with you – getting these heroes as your first unlock is pretty rare. They typically require more resources or specific conditions. But if you manage to unlock one of these early, consider yourself incredibly lucky:
Qhe’la – The Summoning Queen
Why she’s amazing: Qhe’la is arguably the best hero in the game right now, and I’m not even exaggerating. When I finally unlocked her, my entire approach to the game changed.
What makes her special:
- Spawns spider minions that deal massive damage
- Minions apply poison, creating devastating DoT effects
- Can raise an army that handles crowd control automatically
- Surprisingly good damage despite being classified as a tank
- Scales incredibly well into late game
The catch: She’s technically a tank, but you should ignore that and use her as a support/damage dealer. Also, she can struggle against certain bosses due to the random nature of her minions.
Selene – The Late Game Monster
Why she’s amazing: Selene is interesting because she starts weak but becomes an absolute monster late game. I was honestly disappointed with her at first, but after investing in her upgrades? Wow.
What makes her special:
- Insane critical damage scaling with shard upgrades
- Excellent damage output in late game
- Great range that keeps you safe
- Fantastic against bosses when properly built
The catch: Her early game is rough – like, really rough. You’ll need to baby her through the first few days, and her defense is practically nonexistent early on. But if you can survive long enough to upgrade her, she becomes one of the best heroes in the game.
Heroes to Avoid for Your First Unlock
Just as important as knowing which heroes to get is knowing which ones to avoid early on. Based on my painful experiences, here are the heroes you should probably skip for your first unlock:
Rickard – The Starter Trap
Why to avoid him: I know what you’re thinking – “But he’s the starter hero for Human Kingdom, he must be good!” Trust me, I fell for this too. Rickard seems great early on but falls off hard in late game.
The problems:
- Terrible late game performance
- Complex upgrade paths that are hard to navigate
- Lack of shields makes him vulnerable
- Gets outclassed by almost every other hero once you start facing tougher enemies
Cadus – The Glass Cannon
Why to avoid him: As the Undead Kingdom starter, Cadus might seem appealing, but I learned the hard way that his lack of defense makes him incredibly frustrating to play.
The problems:
- Practically no defense
- Relies too heavily on minions for survival
- Inconsistent performance
- Gets destroyed by focused enemy attacks
Mort (Grim Reaper) – The Range Problem
Why to avoid him: I was excited to unlock Mort because he looks so cool, but his limited range makes him incredibly frustrating to play effectively.
The problems:
- Terrible range that gets worse with splash damage
- Falls off against bosses
- Requires specific team compositions to work well
- Not worth the headache for a first unlock
Complete Hero Tier List for Quick Reference
Based on my extensive testing and research across multiple sources, here’s my comprehensive tier list to help you make informed decisions:
| Tier | Heroes | Description |
|---|---|---|
| S-Tier | Qhe’la, Selene | Game-changing heroes that dominate in the right hands |
| A-Tier | Alaric, Cole, Gideon, Sheva | Strong, reliable choices that work well for most players |
| B-Tier | Rickard, Cadus, Grumdil | Niche picks that require specific playstyles or builds |
| C-Tier | Mort | Limited usefulness, generally outclassed by other options |
My Personal Unlock Strategy
Here’s exactly how I approach hero unlocking when I’m starting fresh in Super Fantasy Kingdom:
Step 1: Assess Your Resources
Before spending any shards, I always check how many I have and what heroes are available. If I have 25+ shards, I might take a chance on an S-tier hero. If I’m running low (10-15 shards), I’ll go for a reliable A-tier option like Alaric or Cole.
Step 2: Consider Your Kingdom
- Human Kingdom: I usually go for Alaric first, then Cole
- Undead Kingdom: Gideon is my top pick, with Qhe’la as the dream target if I can afford her
Step 3: Plan for the Long Term
I always think about how my first unlock will set me up for future unlocks. For example, if I pick Alaric first, I know I’ll want to focus on bleed-based units and upgrades to maximize his effectiveness.
Pro Tips for Hero Unlocking Success
After countless hours of gameplay, I’ve picked up some tricks that make the hero unlocking process much smoother:
1. Check the X Spots Daily
Heroes spawn randomly at the X locations on your map. I make it a habit to check these spots every single day without fail. You never know when that perfect hero will show up!
2. Save Before Spending
Here’s a little trick I learned: if you see a hero you want at an X spot, get them, finish the day, then immediately exit and start a “New Cycle.” This will restart you on the same map with the same RNG, meaning the hero will respawn in the same spot. Rinse and repeat until you have all the heroes you want!
3. Don’t Sleep on Unit Upgrades
I used to focus all my resources on heroes, but I’ve learned that upgrading your regular units is just as important, if not more so. A well-upgraded army can carry even a mediocre hero to victory.
4. Experiment in Safe Environments
Before committing to a hero in a serious run, I always test them out in lower-difficulty settings or when I have plenty of resources to spare. This way, I can get a feel for their playstyle without risking my progress.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I actually unlock heroes in Super Fantasy Kingdom?
Great question! I was confused about this too when I first started. Heroes appear randomly at the X locations on your map. You need to check these spots daily, and when a hero appears, you can unlock them by spending shards (usually 10-25 shards depending on the hero). It’s completely random, so patience is key!
What’s the fastest way to earn shards for hero unlocks?
From my experience, the best way to farm shards is to focus on completing daily challenges and achieving high scores in your runs. I also prioritize unlocking permanent upgrades that increase shard gain – it might seem slow at first, but it really pays off in the long run.
Should I save my shards for S-tier heroes or spend them on A-tier options?
This is a tough one, and I’ve gone back and forth on this myself. My current philosophy is: if you have 25+ shards and see an S-tier hero, go for it. But if you’re running low on shards (under 15), don’t be afraid to invest in a solid A-tier hero like Alaric or Cole. They’ll carry you through early game content while you build up more shards.
Can I change my mind and unlock a different hero later?
Absolutely! One of the things I love about Super Fantasy Kingdom is that you’re not locked into your choices. You can unlock multiple heroes and switch between them as needed. I usually have 3-4 heroes unlocked at any given time so I can adapt to different situations.
How important is hero synergy with my units?
It’s more important than you might think! I learned this the hard way when I tried to force a hero that didn’t work well with my preferred unit composition. These days, I always consider how a hero will work with the units I already have or plan to build. For example, if I’m running a bleed-focused team, Alaric is obviously a better choice than Cole.
Final Thoughts
Choosing your first hero unlock in Super Fantasy Kingdom is a big decision, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Based on my extensive experience, I recommend starting with Alaric or Cole for most players, with Gideon being the top choice for Undead Kingdom players.
Remember, the “best” hero is ultimately the one that fits your playstyle and makes the game enjoyable for you. I’ve seen players make supposedly “weaker” heroes work amazingly well just because they understood and enjoyed that hero’s unique mechanics.
The most important thing is to have fun and learn from each run. Every failure teaches you something new about the game, and every success, no matter how small, brings you one step closer to mastering Super Fantasy Kingdom.
Now go out there and start unlocking! And hey, if you found this guide helpful, make sure to bookmark it for future reference. I’ll be updating it regularly as the game evolves and new heroes are added.
Happy gaming, and may your kingdom prosper!
P.S. If you’re looking for more gaming guides and tips, be sure to check out our other articles on WebComicsWeekend.com. We’ve got everything from beginner guides to advanced strategies for all your favorite games!