> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.asphodel.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.asphodel.io/prologue/how-to-play/progression.md).

# Progression

### Duels and Leveling

Duels are one-on-one matches against other players. They are free to enter, and win or lose your Taruchi will earn XP. The amount of XP your Taruchi earns depends on a few factors.

<figure><img src="/files/f2ANiZjBAzKGlsN9vrRf" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

The base XP earned for a victory is 100, and for a loss is 75. This then gets modified based on the level of your opponent's Taruchi compared to your own:

* For every level higher, the XP earned is increased by 10%
* For every level lower, the XP earned is decreased by 5%

Each level has a bar to fill, and the bar gets bigger in higher leagues:

| League       | Levels | XP per level |
| ------------ | ------ | ------------ |
| **Rookie**   | 1-10   | 100          |
| **Veteran**  | 12-21  | 125          |
| **Champion** | 23-32  | 150          |

Every level up earns your Taruchi a TP. Don't forget to spend it in the Gym!

Please note: AI practice battles are simulations with no rewards, so they award no XP. Only real Duels and Festivals move the bar.

### Festivals

<figure><img src="/files/pCV5IEsZ0d9CiTnqTG8n" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Three times in its life, at levels 11, 22, and 33, your Taruchi must enter a Festival: an eight-Taruchi elimination tournament where survival is the only way forward. There is no opting out. A Taruchi at a Festival level fights, or cannot proceed.

Festivals are where you need to face down risk. Duels never kill your Taruchi, but Festivals do, and it's permanent.

| Level | Festival              | Enter | Survive | The survivors get                              |
| ----- | --------------------- | ----- | ------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| 11    | Festival of Buds      | 8     | 4       | Advance to Veteran, Taruchi develops a bud     |
| 22    | Festival of Flowers   | 8     | 2       | Advance to Champion, Taruchi flower bud blooms |
| 33    | Festival of Ascension | 8     | 1       | Ascends, becomes a permanent NFT               |

Half die at the Festival of Buds. Three quarters of survivors die at the Festival of Flowers. Seven of eight die at the Festival of Ascension. This means only **1 in 64** Taruchi will survive to Ascend.&#x20;

### How a Festival runs

<figure><img src="/files/v4Bg0Dv84R4Gm4jsVitF" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* Eight Taruchi at the gate level enter a single-elimination bracket. Once full, the Festival begins.
* All battles resolve on-chain, same combat rules as always.
* The fallen are **dead**. Permanently. Their record, traits, and name stay on-chain forever, but they cannot be saved, revived, or rerolled back.
* Survivors advance to the next league, evolve their flower, and carry their banked XP forward.
* You earn XP from winning a Festival and may level up several times as you enter the next league.&#x20;

### Entry fees and prizes

Duels are free; Festivals are the only fights that cost ONYX. As with mints, 90% or more of the ONYX goes back into reward pools. Every entry pool is topped up by the Stage Payout budget (funded by every mint), so **festivals pay out more than they take in**:

| Festival        | Entry   | 1st                      | 2nd  | 3rd  | 4th  |
| --------------- | ------- | ------------------------ | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| Buds (L11)      | 5 ONYX  | 32                       | 16   | 8    | 8    |
| Flowers (L22)   | 10 ONYX | 80                       | 32   | dead | dead |
| Ascension (L33) | 15 ONYX | 160 + 10% of the Jackpot | dead | dead | dead |

If you survive a Festival, you will receive some kind of payout, with the largest jackpot being for the sole victor of the Festival of Ascension. For more details on how ONYX flows through the game, see the economics page.&#x20;

### Ascension

The Festival of Ascension is the end of the road and the reason everything before it exists. One Taruchi out of eight walks out, and it walks out transformed: an Ascended Taruchi is claimable as a standalone NFT, yours permanently, with a future beyond the arena. The ascender also takes the biggest prize in the game: the 160 ONYX payout plus 10% of the public Jackpot pool.

### Permadeath

Dead Taruchi remain Dead forever. That's how this works.&#x20;

All Taruchi will either eventually Ascend, Die, or be abandoned midway through the tournament progression forever. That's up to you.&#x20;

If you're worried about the risk and don't want to enter the next Festival stage, you have the option to Reroll your Taruchi.&#x20;