NecroMerger: What to Spend Astro Coins and Energy Cubes on First

# Why do players prioritize the Surgeon first?

Community Knowledge The primary argument for clearing the Surgeon first is that Surgeon legendaries gate progression in a way other alien shops do not^[1][2]. Players describe the Surgeon as the purchase that actually blocks timely progress, while Hacker and similar shops are treated as convenience or quality-of-life once the legendaries are secured^[2][3].

Community Knowledge Across community discussions, most players who answered explicitly recommend focusing currency on Surgeon legendaries ahead of the Hacker shop or general expansions^[1][2][3]. Players describe these legendaries as investments that pay major long-term dividends throughout prestige cycles^[1].

Recommendation A steady pace: Players suggest aiming to unlock one Surgeon legendary per prestige run^[1][2]. Trying to rush multiple legendaries in a single early cycle requires excessive protector grinding, whereas steadily securing one per run keeps progression smooth and predictable^[2].

# Where does the Hacker shop fit in?

Community Knowledge Unlocking the Hacker alien itself is considered fine once you meet the prerequisites, but spending your scarce currencies inside the Hacker shop is a secondary objective^[3]. Players repeatedly emphasize that the Surgeon takes priority over Hacker upgrades until the Surgeon's inventory is fully cleared^[1][3].

Community Knowledge Once the Surgeon inventory is cleared, players open up to Hacker shop upgrades and other alien purchases^[1][3][2]. Until then, the common advice is to keep Astro Coins and Energy Cubes reserved for the Surgeon rather than treating the Hacker shop as the main sink^[1][2].

# What should you buy after the Surgeon is done?

Community Knowledge Once all Surgeon legendaries are unlocked, the spending priority broadens. At that stage, crate and cage expansions become premier recommendations^[4][5]. For example, players discuss saving 500 Astro Coins specifically for a high-tier crate expansion, alongside Safe upgrades^[4].

Community Knowledge Players distinguish storage expansions from earlier Surgeon purchases by noting that crate upgrades are not progress blockers^[4]. Extra lair slots make board management easier, but they do not unlock hard tier requirements^[4]. When weighing storage slots against newly introduced post-100 options such as starting runes, experienced players note that crate and cage slots tend to provide clearer immediate utility for regular gameplay^[5].

# Early spending pitfalls to avoid

Community Knowledge Early in alien progression, Astro Coins and Energy Cubes feel scarce, and Surgeon costs appear steep^[2]. Earning rates increase noticeably on deeper runs as you defeat more protectors, but early stockpiles require careful preservation^[2].

Recommendation Avoid impulse spending: Players caution against spending currency on minor side items early on^[2][5]. Diverting early Astro Coins into side features like the relic dig site is cited as an expensive mistake that delayed core Surgeon milestones^[5]. Treating every coin and cube as dedicated Surgeon savings prevents painful roadblocks later^[2].

# Scope and limits of this guide

Version-sensitive This guide synthesizes five community discussions from May to September 2026. The findings reflect community recommendations rather than officially published balance sheets.

• Surgeon legendary roster: Community discussions specifically name The Cursed, but otherwise refer collectively to all four surgeon legendaries and buying out the Surgeon's inventory without providing a complete, agreed roster of all four names on these threads^[1][5].
• Price tables: Players cite specific saving targets, such as accumulating 500 Astro Coins for a crate upgrade or saving Energy Cubes for major thresholds, but do not provide a comprehensive price chart for every item^[4][5].
• Playtesting: These observations come from archived player advice on r/NecroMerger and have not been independently playtested.

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