On September 4th, Netmarble launched its latest title, 'The King of Fighters AFK' (hereinafter KOF AFK). As you might expect from the name, it is an idle game featuring the roster from the iconic 'The King of Fighters' series. In this genre, keeping the momentum of character growth is vital to avoid hitting a wall, making it essential to scout for resources and leveling data. Since KOF AFK scatters these growth-accelerating elements throughout, figuring it all out from the start is quite the task. KookminTree has stepped up to compile some essential tips for newcomers.

※ Images within this article were captured from the OBT version.

Reaching Summon Level 3 with Fighter Tokens

Let us start with the basics of character acquisition: 'Fighter Summon'. Think of it as your standard gacha mechanic. Fighters are tiered from 'LE - UQ - EP - R - N', and the core of the game is collecting as many high-grade LE and UQ fighters as possible.

Before you start burning resources, pay attention to the 'Summon Level'. KOF AFK accumulates experience based on your number of pulls, increasing your Summon Level. As this level rises, the probability of drawing higher-grade fighters improves slightly. Notably, the 'Pickup Summon'—which guarantees an LE-grade fighter after a set number of attempts—is only available to players who have reached Summon Level 3. To secure the best combatants, leveling up your summons is your primary objective.

You will need Rubies and Fighter Tokens for summoning. Both are obtainable via guide quests, daily missions, and event rewards. While both provide the same summon experience, do keep in mind that Fighter Tokens cannot be used in the Pickup Summon.

Save your Rubies for the Pickup Summon, which unlocks at Summon Level 3. While it might be tempting to spend them on standard summons, hoarding them is the smarter choice. If you spend your Rubies on general pulls, you will lose your window of opportunity when the Pickup Summon arrives. Since you can reach level 3 using Fighter Tokens from early guide quests and various rewards, keep your wallet closed until the Pickup Summon goes live.

Shops and Dungeons: Your Daily Rituals

Let us look at the shops and the dungeons, where you can farm growth materials. If you see a notification badge on the shop icon at the bottom right of the screen, do not ignore it. It is a subtle but consistent way to gather free resources.

Specifically, make sure to visit the Shop, Daily Shop, and Special Shop. The main shop provides 1,000 free Rubies, 2 hours of offline EXP (x2), 2 hours of offline Star Badges (x2), 2 hours of offline Gold (x2), 20 Fuel, and 10 Photo Card Coins daily. The Daily Shop offers 10 Fighter Tokens in the 'Advanced Shop', while the Special Shop grants 1,000 free Rubies weekly.

Dungeons are split into two: Basic Dungeons for Gold, Fighter EXP, and Fuel; and Elite Dungeons for materials used to upgrade Nest Lab, Supporters Center, and Rune Museum. Basic Dungeons are essential for raw growth, while Elite Dungeons provide those extra stat boosts. Ensure you clear these daily and push your progress as far as possible. Pro tip: each dungeon applies bonuses for specific attributes, so check the entry menu to optimize your team composition. Also, don't forget that you can watch an ad to enter each dungeon one extra time.

Furthermore, clearing dungeon stages rewards you with Rubies: 3,000 per stage clear and 1,500 via achievements. With 13,500 Rubies available across six different types, you can net 81,000 Rubies daily. It is a fantastic way to fuel both your growth and your gacha addiction, so make sure you participate.

The Ultimate Goal: Unlocking League Battle for Orochi Iori

Finally, let us discuss high-performance fighters. KOF AFK features a wide roster, and some stand above the rest. Certain elite fighters like Orochi Iori and Orochi Leona can only be obtained through specific conditions. Much like the hidden characters of the original series, they are highly sought after.

Orochi Iori can be obtained from the League Battle shop, which unlocks after clearing stage 581. You can snag one for 1,400 'Glory Tokens', which are earned through League Battle matches or season tier rewards. Unlike the RNG-heavy gacha, this is a guaranteed acquisition.

While Glory Tokens are relatively easy to accumulate, the time it takes depends on your tier. At the lowest rank, Iron 3, you secure 300 tokens every three days; it will take five seasons to earn enough for Orochi Iori. Participate in the league actively to speed up the process.

Orochi Iori is essential because of the special synergy 'Berserk'. This effect increases damage dealt to enemies by 75%, boosts the entire team's Attack and HP, and reduces cooldowns—it is an overwhelming buff. Plus, the acquisition bonus provides a passive 100% HP increase for all team members. We will dive deeper into synergy effects in the next installment. For now, get into the League Battle and start working toward Orochi Iori.