Endless Cycle guide

Endless Cycle guide by CursedSliver

======= OVERVIEW =======
Endless Cycle is a shadow achievement that requires one to ascend 1000 times, where a given ascend is only counted if at least 1 prestige is gained upon ascending.

It can be quite a tedious achievement, but it can be shortened a lot by having the right strategy, the right amount of prestige, and the right upgrades in your permanent upgrade slots.

============ STRATEGIES ============

There are two main strategies, the “You strat” and the “Cursor strat” with different advantages and disadvantages. At their best they are roughly equal in speed, with Cursor strat having a very narrow prestige range where it is best compared to You strat.

Screen reader mode + the screen reader setting allows one to rapidly buy buildings at 30 times per second by holding down enter while holding down click. It can greatly reduce the time or effort to perform the following strategies.

======= PERMASLOTS =======
“Permaslot” stands for permanent upgrade slots, or what upgrades to put in them. It is crucially important that the right upgrades are in them. For permaslots, go to the “Miscellaneous” section of this pastebin: https://pastebin.com/qgT3GepD.

======= YOU STRAT =======
The main advantage of You strat is that it often works where Cursor strat doesn’t. However, it is often considered harder than Cursor strat due to requiring scrolling.

This strategy requires at least ~1 trillion prestige and works up until ~10 quadrillion prestige. It is ideal at ~10 trillion prestige.

Here’s how to perform this strategy:
1. Reincarnate (use the enter key to confirm reincarnating without moving the mouse)
2. Buy all upgrades (use the buy all button unlocked from Inspired Checklist; can do before the fade-in)
3. Buy cursors and grandmas until you can’t buy more than 50 at a time
4. Buy all upgrades
5. Scroll down and buy Yous until you can’t buy more than 10 at a time.
6. Buy all upgrades
7. If not 1 prestige, wait until the flavored cookie rush at the 5 seconds threshold and buy all
8. Ascend (use the enter key to confirm ascending, then use the esc key to skip the ascend animation)

======= CURSOR STRAT =======
The main advantage of Cursor strat is that it is similar in speed compared to You strat, but it is easier to perform. However, the range where Cursor strat can compare with You strat is very specific (outlined below)

This strategy requires at least ~1 trillion prestige and works up until ~100 trillion prestige. It is ideal at ~10 trillion prestige.

Here’s how to perform this strategy:
1. Reincarnate (use the enter key to confirm reincarnating without moving the mouse)
2. Buy all upgrades (use the buy all button unlocked from Inspired Checklist; can do before the fade-in)
3. Buy grandmas until you can’t buy more than 50 at a time, then buy cursors until you can’t buy more than 10 at a time
4. Buy all upgrades
5. Buy grandmas until you can’t buy more than 50 at a time, then buy cursors until you can’t buy more than 10 at a time
6. If not 1 prestige, wait until the flavored cookie rush at the 5 seconds threshold and buy all
7. Ascend (use the enter key to confirm ascending, then use the esc key to skip the ascend animation)

======= EXTREME TRYHARD FRACTAL-CURSORS STRAT =======
This is an extremely fast and skill-reliant strategy that can produce sub-5 seconds ascends, but has an extremely tight working prestige range. This strategy requires around 70 trillion prestige, +-20 trillion. You may need to zoom out the game (thus, browser only on some monitors) to perform this strategy, as it requires you have both the Buy all button and Fractal engines building buy button visible simultaneously.

Here's how to perform this strategy:
1. Reincarnate
2. Before the fade-in completes, spam click where the "Buy all upgrades" button would be a few times
3. Screen reader mode buy Cursors, Grandmas, then snap down to the bottom of the screen and buy Fractal engines
4. Buy all upgrades
5. Screen reader mode buy Cursors
6. Buy all upgrades
7. Ascend

Demonstration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDaW7sEo2FM

Permaslots: 5 best kittens

======= MISCELLANEOUS =======
Remember, the strategies aren’t set in stone. Especially with the specific amounts - if it benefits you to change it, do it!