Aethers

**Aethers** are special materials introduced with version 39 in June 2021 to "**Limit Break**" Heroes, which allows leveling them beyond their default maximum. Aethers are obtainable through the monthly Mirages of Omega quest, they can also appear as loot from War and Tournament rewards.

## Aether Crystals

Functioning similarly to Tokens, **Aether Crystals**  can be accumulated through Path of Giants or offers and used in the Aether Summon to get various rarities of Aethers, including Alpha Aethers, accompanied by Trainer Heroes of corresponding rarity to use in the subsequent leveling. Unlike other portals, Aether Summon cannot be bought for Gems and requires 10 Crystals, or 90 for a 10-pull.

The portal appears every other week(twice monthly), they also provide 20 Crystals free each summon through the offers(split between two days).

## Type of Aethers

### Elemental Aethers

Aethers are available for all five elements separately and have 3 levels of rarity, designed simply in Roman numerals (III being the strongest; in the star notation for inventory, they are 3 to 5 stars, corresponding to the rarity of the Heroes who need them).

### Alpha Aether

With version 56 in March 2023, **Alpha Aethers** were introduced for the second Limit Break; these are element-independent. **Alpha Aethers** are a further addition to the Limit Break mechanics. In combination with ordinary Aethers of the appropriate element, they Limit Break a Hero the second time, whereupon they can be leveled 5 more levels – see tables for amounts needed.

## Aether Reset Token

**Aether Reset Token**  has a function similar to Talent Reset Emblems . The token reverts all limit break levels and talent grid of the Hero and gives back all consumed items and 50% of estimated Food and Iron, at a maximum of 100 million, and some Trainer Heroes. The token isn't available normally during the game but three were given out to players as a compensation for the big rebalance in Update 58 (May 2023).

## Limit Breaking

### For Heroes

The tables list the needed amounts of each Aether in order to limit break a Hero. The simple mnemonic is "5 Aethers of the corresponding rarity, and where relevant 20 of the lower one and 35 of the lowest".

First limit break

Second limit break

### For Costumes

The cost of limit-breaking a Costume is, like with Leveling, rather lower. However it is necessary also to Limit Break the base Hero first ("The costume's limit break can't be higher than the hero's limit break!")

First limit break
 4  | 70 → 75
 5  | 80 → 85

Second limit break

## Aether Power

After they are fully leveled to the final maximum level, Heroes gain a new **Aether Power**, an immediate, six-turn buff at the start of battle and upon every new wave. There are 21 types of Powers, distributed to individual Heroes with various frequencies, possibly associated with their Class but also the type of their Special Skill and use in battle. The Aether Power is shown at the Hero Card right bottom, or the Limit Break screen before that.

## Forum and help links

* https://smallgiantgames.helpshift.com/hc/en/4-empires-puzzles/faq/1053-what-are-alpha-aethers/
* https://forum.smallgiantgames.com/tag/aether-summon
* https://forum.smallgiantgames.com/tag/alpha-aethers
* https://forum.smallgiantgames.com/t/master-discussion-second-limit-breaking-with-alpha-aethers-and-aether-gifts-guide-sharing-discussion/314539
* https://forum.smallgiantgames.com/tag/aether-reset-token