A Deceptive Early-Game Difficulty Curve
The First Descendant feels straightforward early on — combat and movement feel great, and the numerous currencies and menus are clear with a bit of guidance. But difficulty ramps up significantly around the halfway point, and understanding that this slowdown is by design (not a sign you're doing something wrong) helps set realistic expectations for the mid-game grind.
Mastery Rank as Account-Wide Progression
Beyond individual Descendant and weapon levels, Mastery Rank tracks your overall account progression and unlocks additional systems and rewards. Prioritizing activities that contribute to Mastery Rank alongside your immediate leveling goals provides longer-term account value beyond just the character you're currently focused on.
Using Dedicated XP Farms to Level Descendants Quickly
Since maxing modules and leveling Descendants both take significant time investment, using known XP farm routes specifically for leveling (separate from pure Kuiper Shard farms) speeds up getting new Descendants combat-ready faster than relying purely on story and side content.
Module Leveling Costs Scale With Rank
Higher module ranks are more effective but also cost progressively more Kuiper Shards to reach, and increasing module level also increases the module's capacity cost (except for Transcendent mods, which lower their capacity cost as they level). Planning which modules to prioritize maxing first, rather than spreading Kuiper thin across many modules, gets you to a functional endgame build faster.
Choosing Descendants for Farming Efficiency
Certain Descendants, like Bunny and Valby, are specifically favored for farming efficiency thanks to their AoE clearing abilities, making them worth prioritizing early if efficient Kuiper and XP farming is your goal, even if they're not your preferred combat playstyle long-term.
Paid Leveling and Currency Services
Power-leveling and Kuiper Shard services exist for The First Descendant as with most live-service looter shooters. Weigh the time saved against the account-action risk covered in our safety guide before deciding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does The First Descendant suddenly feel harder partway through?
The difficulty ramps up significantly around the halfway point by design — the early game is intentionally straightforward, but the mid-game grind requires more deliberate module and gear investment to keep pace.
What is Mastery Rank?
An account-wide progression track separate from individual Descendant and weapon levels, which unlocks additional systems and rewards — worth prioritizing alongside your immediate character leveling goals.
Which Descendants are best for efficient farming?
Bunny and Valby are commonly favored for farming efficiency thanks to their strong AoE clearing abilities, making them useful picks for Kuiper Shard and XP farming even outside your preferred long-term playstyle.