Dragon Traveler Merge Dupe Guide, How to Get Your SSR to Red Star!

Upgrading heroes in Dragon Traveler is not just about luck from summons. Once you start aiming for red stars, the merge system becomes the real challenge. Many players get stuck because the game barely explains how duplicates and fodder work, especially when pushing an SSR hero to one red star.

This guide breaks everything down step by step so you know exactly what to prepare and what mistakes to avoid. Also check out our Dragon Traveler Codes & Tier List for more rewards!

What Is Merging in Dragon Traveler?

Merging is the main upgrade system used to increase a hero’s star level. Every SSR hero starts at 5 gold stars when you unlock them. From there, progression depends on two things:

• Duplicate copies of the same hero
• Fodder heroes (usually Rare or SR units upgraded to 6 stars)

Once you move past gold stars, the game shifts into purple stars, and finally into red stars, which require a massive amount of resources.

SSR Star Progression Explained

Here is the basic flow for upgrading an SSR hero:

From 5 Gold Stars to 6 Gold Stars

• Requires 1 duplicate copy of the same SSR
• Total needed: 2 copies of the hero

This upgrades your SSR to 6 gold stars.

How to Create 6-Star Fodder Heroes

Fodder is essential for purple and red star upgrades. The most efficient method is using Rare (blue) heroes.

3-star Rare hero

• Needs 2 additional 3-star copies
• Total: 3 copies → becomes 4 stars

4-star Rare hero

• Combine two 4-star units
• Becomes a 5-star hero

5-star Rare hero

• Upgrade once more
• Becomes a 6-star fodder

This 6-star unit can now be used in SSR merges.

Gold Stars to Purple Stars Requirements

Once your SSR is at 6 gold stars, purple stars begin.

6 Gold → 1 Purple

• Requires 1 six-star fodder

1 Purple → 2 Purple

Requires:

• 1 six-star duplicate of the same SSR
• 1 six-star fodder

2 Purple → 3 Purple

• Requires 2 six-star fodders

3 Purple → 4 Purple

Requires:

• 1 six-star duplicate SSR
• 2 six-star fodders

4 Purple → 5 Purple

• Requires 3 six-star fodders

5 Purple → 6 Purple

Requires:

• 1 six-star duplicate SSR
• 3 six-star fodders

Purple to Red Star Upgrade

6 Purple → 1 Red Star

• Requires 4 six-star fodders

At this point, most players hit a wall due to fodder shortage.

Total Resources Needed for 1 Red Star SSR

To reach 1 red star, you will need:

• 8 copies of the same SSR hero (used to create 6-star duplicates)
• 16 six-star fodder heroes

This does not include additional resources if you plan to go beyond one red star.

Should You Use SR or Epic Heroes as Fodder?

• Spenders: Using SR or Epic units as fodder is less risky
• Free-to-play players: Strongly advised to avoid this

Some SR heroes become very strong with star upgrades and can carry early to mid-game content.

Never Use SSRs as Fodder (With One Exception)

Using random SSR heroes as fodder is almost always a bad idea.

The only exception:

• Heroes with multiple rarity versions (Rare, SR, SSR, SSR+)
• Once you have the SSR+ version, lower rarity versions can safely be burned

This commonly applies to starter or Dragon Slayer-type heroes that appear frequently.

Universal Fodder and Slimes Explained

Dragon Traveler includes special fodder units:

• Yellow Slimes: Universal fodder usable across classes
• Purple Slimes: Used for higher star upgrades

The game will warn you if you try to use these on low-rarity heroes, so use them wisely.

Star Reset System and Extra Resources

You can reset heroes above 6 stars using the Star Reset feature:

• Returns merge materials and special resources
• Limited to around 5 uses per week
• Useful when switching to a new main hero

Keep in mind:

• Fodder and duplicates must match the same class
• Slimes bypass class restrictions

Getting an SSR hero to one red star in Dragon Traveler is a long-term grind, not a quick upgrade. With proper planning, smart fodder management, and patience, even free-to-play players can reach this milestone. Understanding the merge system early will save you from wasting rare resources and help you build a stronger team for late-game content.