I have Super Ascended once (Insane TW, Leg AV, +25% AP), and am working my way back through. I’m midway through Phase 2 advancements after deciding to do a 10x Skip Levels and hit Europe Huge. So, for the first time ever, I’ve gotten to see the next map after that, which is Regio Coquus (I may have misspelled that).

I started it with my frequent step of use a Supercharge Army camp power followed by a 10x Free Cache to get some good army currency to start and… hmm, I can still only grab about 8 territories. Ok, but one is a Merc Camp so maybe I can use that - oh wait, I would need 750M to buy them all and I have 200k. Fine, I’ll use an IM power to get to the Hospital, maybe that will help … ok, it did some, and now I have a second bonkers expensive Merc Camp, but still seems like it would take days of income to even grab another territory or two. And all this for 150 AP?!

I’ve read others talking about how the new levels pretty much suck (except for Hex Earth, apparently), so is my experience what everyone has been talking about? Do I need to Ascend multiple times again and get to Phase 4 advancements before even considering doing any more of these levels, or what’s the recommendation? Because it seems like this first one will take forever to clear at my current strength, even if I keep pumping powers into it.

Legendary/Insane Triple Strike and Inspire Mercenary artifacts are recommended for the later maps

I don’t think there’s a conceivable setup where it would make sense to play these levels from an AP per hour point of view. Doesn’t matter what advancements or artifacts you have, there will be always be something more efficient for this purpose.

It’s really up to you if there’s a different reason to play these (interest, achievements, satisfaction, morbid curiosity, you name it!). But it’s not AP.

I definitely have interest - after 2+ years of Idle, some new maps would be nice! But if it’s going to take 5-10 days to clear the first small level (which is what I estimate from my current situation, *after* using IM powers on both camps), then I clearly shouldn’t be playing these levels yet. Guess I’ll be back in a couple more years after multiple Super Ascensions or something.

The new levels have lots of powers but mostly later on. Use legendary ts Look at the google docs for the army and money cache locations. Don’t attempt them until you max up cache armies etc. I recommend getting skip level up to 10 max and then you can just do rise of Rome and then hex earth or just burn a super skip level.

Hex earth is quite good ap and can be done quickly with just two inspire powers

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you. I had my first SA, and am working toward the new levels. For me, it's mostly about the achievements and getting to play some different levels (I used to use https://imgur.com/a/OTDDS1L a lot, but now I've basically memorized where all the hospitals and markets are on all the levels). I've been heeding the warnings of others, so I've been hoarding powers (I have 33 TW, 45 SAC, 62 SM, 53 FC, 13 MR, 41 FB, 22 IM, 5 SL, and 9 ML). I'm hoping that will help me navigate through them without feeling stuck. I think the 10x IM is going to be my savior. But I'm still completing the levels (including the hardened) sequentially so that I have the AP to get there (plus it helps my OCD personality). We'll see...