Idle Heroes · Progression guide

Idle Heroes First E5 Guide: Which Hero Copies and Fodder to Keep

A carry can have enough duplicates for E5 and still be several promotions away. The missing pieces may be 9-star food, an unfinished 10-star feeder or a same-faction material used earlier in the chain. Track those separately before you lock in a hero.

Quick answer · Our advice

Reserve nine total copies of an eligible carry over the full route. From a completed 10-star carry, you still need four copies, two separate 9-star fodder heroes and three separate 10-star fodder heroes. Check each promotion preview before committing materials.[1][2]

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By GachaLootGuide reviewed November 9, 2026

Standard five-step Enable chain. Community recipe tables from 2019–2021 cross-checked against later player guidance; use the current promotion panel for your specific hero.

How many copies and fodder heroes does E5 take?

In the standard recipe, five copies are already accounted for in the 10-star carry. Four more are used during Enabling. The E3 step takes a 10-star fodder hero and does not ask for another carry copy.[1][2]

The two 9-star fodder units used at E1 and E2 are separate from the 9-star units already built into any 10-star feeder. Earlier star upgrades may ask for same-faction materials even though the 9-star and 10-star Enable fodder is listed as any faction in the documented recipe.[1]

Swipe across the table to see all columns.

How many copies and fodder heroes does E5 take? comparison
Upgrade from the preceding tier	Extra copy of the carry	Separate fodder consumed
E1	1	One 9-star
E2	1	One 9-star
E3	0	One 10-star
E4	1	One 10-star
E5	1	One 10-star

References[1][2]

Worked example: count the full build without counting feeders twice

Worked example · GachaLoot calculation

Build a standard E5 from scratch

Assumptions

Use the standard community-recorded recipes. Measure investment in 5-star equivalents, counting all ingredients already embedded in a feeder.
A complete 9-star represents 28 five-stars. A complete 10-star represents 64, including the 9-star feeder that goes into it.

Build the carry to 10-star1 × 64 = 64 five-star equivalents
Feed E1 and E22 × 28 = 56 more equivalents
Feed E3 through E53 × 64 = 192 more equivalents
Add loose carry copies needed after 10-star64 + 56 + 192 + 4 = 316 equivalents in total

Result: Use the total to understand scale. For an actual build, reserve the specific hero copies and track completed food by tier. A bag with the right total number of random heroes can still lack a required copy or faction.

Limits of this example: This is a recipe accounting unit, not a number of summons to make. Ready-made units, special replacement items and different eligible hero recipes can change what you must actually obtain.

Mechanic references[1][2]

Worked example: a 10-star carry with unfinished feeders

Worked example · GachaLoot calculation

Four loose copies, two 9-stars and one 10-star

Assumptions

Your carry is 10-star and you already have four extra copies. You have two expendable 9-stars and one expendable 10-star. No other fodder is committed.
Both 9-stars are reserved for E1/E2 and the ready 10-star is for E3.

Copies after E1 and E24 − 1 − 1 = Two copies, for E4 and E5
Ready 9-star food after E22 − 2 = Zero free 9-stars
Ready 10-star food after E31 − 1 = Zero free 10-stars
What still blocks E53 required 10-stars − 1 ready = Two more 10-star feeders

Result: You can reach E3 now. If you build the next feeders through the standard route, plan a fresh 9-star ingredient for each 10-star feeder. The original two 9-stars are already spent.

Limits of this example: This assumes all food units are eligible and safe to consume. Read the live recipe if a special puppet replaces a step, and check available Gold, Spirit and promotion resources separately.

Mechanic references[1][2]

Which heroes should you lock before building fodder?

Our advice: Lock the carry and its loose copies. Then mark supports you actively use, scarce duplicates with an intended role, and heroes whose removal would leave a hole in the team or faction lineup. Start with a small protected list you can explain.
Our advice: Name each feeder’s destination before building it. One 9-star can fill E1 or become an ingredient inside a 10-star. Assign it to one route and check where the other route will get its own unit.
Our advice: Review same-faction inputs before raising a feeder. If the only way forward consumes one of the carry copies or a protected support, switch the feeder project or wait for another eligible input.[1]
Our advice: If a selection chest can supply the last carry copy, check its actual pool. Open it once the target and reachable promotion are clear. Use the current panel for special heroes, substitutes and any action involving regression.

Idle Heroes first E5 questions

Does E3 use a duplicate of the carry?

The documented standard E3 recipe uses one 10-star fodder hero without another carry copy. Check that your hero’s preview shows the same inputs.[1][2]

Can two separate 9-stars substitute for a 10-star?

The standard E3–E5 slots take an eligible 10-star each. Use the actual promotion screen to see accepted items. Five-star equivalents are for accounting only.[1][2]

Should I pick my first E5 only by number of copies?

Our advice: Choose a usable carry for your next objective and compare how far away its next milestone is. More copies can shorten the route, but they cannot replace the role you need or the separate fodder.[3][1]

Sources and review scope

The detailed player-recorded Enable table and independent five-star-equivalent breakdown agree on the post-10-star material plan. The 2026 player guide is used only to cross-check that a first E5 remains a relevant progression goal. Historical carry rankings, event prices and timing estimates are excluded.

Review dates describe this article and its references, not hands-on testing of a game account. Passages marked “Our advice” are GachaLoot’s recommendations. Check the current kit, challenge rules and upgrade preview for your own account.

[1] Early Game E5 V0.3 — promotion requirements
r/IdleHeroes — player-recorded recipes, December 2019 · Checked November 9, 2026
Standard star and Enable requirements. Named carry recommendations, obsolete events and that post’s rough full-build estimate are excluded.
[2] I was curious about how many it takes — promotion arithmetic
r/IdleHeroes — independent player calculation, May 2021 · Checked November 9, 2026
Corroborates nine copies, the 28/64 material equivalents and the E5 total under the standard recipes.
[3] Updated New Player Guide (2026)
r/IdleHeroes — player guide · Checked November 9, 2026
Modern player context for building a first carry to E5. Its named hero priorities are not used as a ranking.

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