Mastering Upgrades: A Comprehensive Guide to Using Upgrade Cards in Asphalt 8
In Asphalt 8: Airborne, upgrading your cars is crucial to achieving victory on the track. Upgrade cards are a vital component of this process, allowing you to boost your vehicle’s performance beyond its base capabilities. Unlike the more direct upgrade system in some other racing games, Asphalt 8 uses a card-based system, which adds a layer of strategy and collection to the process. Let’s dive deep into how to effectively use these cards to max out your rides.
Understanding Upgrade Cards in Asphalt 8
At its core, the upgrade system in Asphalt 8 revolves around collecting different types of cards, each serving a unique purpose. There are generally two types of cards: regular car blueprint cards which are used to purchase the car in the first place and star it up, and PRO Kit Cards which are used to upgrade your vehicles to new performance levels. This card system introduces an element of both chance and patience, as you’ll need to accumulate the right cards to unlock the full potential of your cars.
PRO Kit Cards: The Key to Peak Performance
PRO Kit Cards are the specific type of card we’re focused on for upgrading purposes. These cards aren’t used to unlock or star-up a car. They are used to improve four core aspects of your vehicle’s performance: Top Speed, Acceleration, Handling, and Nitro. Think of them as the specialized tools that help you enhance your car’s raw capabilities. Each car has a limited number of slots for Pro Kit upgrades. You will need to get to a particular rank of car before more PRO kits are available to apply to that car.
Acquiring PRO Kit Cards
Before using the cards you have to find them! PRO Kit cards are acquired through various means within the game. These include:
- Time-Limited Events (TLEs): Participating in and completing TLEs is one of the most common and effective ways to obtain PRO Kit cards. These events often feature specific challenges and rewards, including a variety of upgrade cards.
- Festivals: Similar to TLEs, festivals often provide PRO Kit Cards as rewards for participating in the events. Each festival has its own set of cards available to obtain.
- Season Pass: Investing in the Season Pass grants access to additional rewards, frequently including upgrade cards at varying rarities.
- In-game Shop: While often requiring in-game currency or real money, the shop is an option for purchasing specific PRO Kit cards you may be missing.
- Card Packs: Card packs, which can be earned through gameplay or bought, are loot crates that can yield a random assortment of upgrade cards.
How to Apply PRO Kit Cards
Now that you have a collection of PRO Kit cards, let’s discuss how to use them effectively:
- Navigate to your Garage: First, launch Asphalt 8 and navigate to the Garage screen. This is where you’ll find all of your owned cars.
- Select your Car: Choose the car you wish to upgrade. Select the “Upgrade” option that’s visible on the screen.
- View PRO Kit Upgrades: From here, you will see an array of categories on your vehicle with upgrade available. This screen will display the car’s stats, as well as available Pro Kit upgrades.
- Select the desired upgrade: You will see four core categories Top Speed, Acceleration, Handling, and Nitro. Each category will have a certain number of Pro Kit levels available. Click on the desired category to see what upgrades are available.
- Upgrade the Car: Finally, Click on the button to buy the PRO upgrade using the PRO Kit Cards.
Understanding Card Rarity
It’s also important to be aware of card rarity. Like other card-based systems, Asphalt 8 employs a rarity system. Optimal, Prime, and Superb are the three main categories, with Superb being the most powerful and hardest to come by. Higher rarity cards generally provide more significant boosts to your car’s performance. You will need PRO kit cards of a certain rarity to be able to apply the PRO kit. So, you can’t use Optimal cards to max out a PRO upgrade. You will need Superb cards to get your car to its PRO levels.
Strategic Upgrading
Upgrading in Asphalt 8 isn’t just about randomly applying cards. It’s about making strategic decisions. It is most beneficial to focus on tires first, then suspension, followed by the drivetrain and then the exhaust system. This strategy aims for a balanced upgrade, boosting both Top Speed and Handling early, and then adding Nitro and Acceleration improvements.
- Prioritize Key Stats: Depending on your driving style, you may want to focus on specific aspects of your car. For example, if you prefer drifting and handling, prioritize Handling and Nitro boosts. If you’re more about speed, Top Speed and Acceleration will be your focus.
- Don’t Neglect Lower-Tier Cars: Even if you’ve got a top-tier car, keep an eye on your lower class cars. You might need to use them in specific events, and their upgrades could help you earn rewards to further improve your main rides.
- Manage Your Resources: Pay attention to which cards you are acquiring. Save your high rarity cards for when you need them. Don’t waste superb cards on an upgrade that can be achieved with a prime card.
Maximizing Your Upgrade Potential
Ultimately, the key to mastering upgrades in Asphalt 8 is a combination of careful planning, patience, and active engagement with the game’s events. Don’t just blindly spend your cards. Think about how each upgrade fits into your overall strategy. By using your PRO Kit cards wisely, you’ll see a noticeable increase in your race times.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions players have about using upgrade cards in Asphalt 8:
What are PRO Kit Cards used for in Asphalt 8?
PRO Kit Cards in Asphalt 8 are used to upgrade the performance of your cars beyond their initial capabilities. They enhance stats like Top Speed, Acceleration, Handling, and Nitro. Unlike blueprint cards, they are used once a car has been purchased and starred-up.
Where can I get PRO Kit Cards?
PRO Kit Cards can be acquired from Time-Limited Events (TLEs), Festivals, Season Pass rewards, the in-game Shop, and Card Packs. Participating in game events is often the easiest and most consistent way to earn them.
How do I know which PRO Kit cards to use?
First understand what type of car you want to build. Do you want a top-speed racer, or a more balanced car for curves? Then you should select upgrades based on your playstyle. Additionally, it’s recommended to focus on Tires, Suspension, Drivetrain and Exhaust in that order, as a general rule.
What does PRO status mean for a car in Asphalt 8?
When a vehicle reaches PRO status, it means that your vehicle is upgraded to the highest possible performance level. All the upgrades will be exhausted, and you cannot further improve its abilities.
What is the difference between Optimal, Prime, and Superb PRO Kit Cards?
These terms refer to the rarity of the cards. Optimal cards are the most common and least effective, Prime cards are of medium rarity and effectiveness, and Superb cards are the rarest and most potent, providing the largest performance boosts.
How do I unlock the “PRO” level for a car?
PRO Level is unlocked by applying enough PRO Kit Cards in the correct order, and once all four categories are maxed out.
Can I trade PRO Kit Cards with other players?
No, Asphalt 8 does not support trading PRO Kit Cards with other players. You need to obtain them through gameplay or purchases.
How do I know if I have enough PRO Kit cards to apply an upgrade?
When you select your car to upgrade, the buttons to apply upgrades will be grayed out until you have enough cards to apply that upgrade.
Can I use PRO Kit Cards from one car to upgrade another?
No, PRO Kit Cards are car-specific. The cards obtained for one car cannot be used to upgrade a different car.
Is it possible to max out all the PRO upgrades for every car?
Yes, it is possible to max out all PRO upgrades, but it requires a lot of gameplay, patience and a good strategy to earn enough PRO Kit cards.
How do I efficiently manage my PRO Kit Cards?
- Prioritize cars you use the most.
- Save rare cards for the last few upgrades.
- Use lesser rarity cards when possible.
Does car performance scale proportionally to PRO Kit upgrade level?
Yes, generally the performance boost is proportional to the level of the upgrade applied. Superb cards will have the most substantial performance change.
Are there any specific cars that benefit more from certain PRO Kit upgrades?
Yes, certain cars might benefit more from a particular type of upgrade. For example, cars with high base top speeds will benefit from additional upgrades there. Experimentation and research will be your best guide for selecting upgrades.
What happens if I upgrade too much in one area, can I go back?
No, the upgrades that are applied cannot be reversed.
Is there a limit to how many PRO Kit Cards I can collect?
There is no limit to the number of PRO Kit Cards you can collect. You can continue to acquire and save as many cards as you need.
By understanding how to obtain, apply, and manage your PRO Kit Cards, you can optimize your car’s performance and become a more formidable racer in the world of Asphalt 8! This card-based upgrade system might seem complex at first, but with strategic planning and a bit of patience, you can easily master it to your advantage.