In classic 2048, every game starts from scratch: only the best score remains. 2048 Deluxe adds two progression systems that are kept from one game to the next: a level that rises with experience (XP), from Scout to Titan, and a collection of 8 badges that reward big tiles. Here is how they work, with every threshold.
How to earn XP
XP is permanent: it builds up game after game, even when you lose. It comes from three sources:
- merges: the points scored by merging tiles also raise your XP;
- missions: each of the game's three missions earns 120 XP (chain 3 merges, make 12 merges, create a 128 tile);
- score milestones: +50 XP at 500 points, +100 XP at 1,500 points and +150 XP at 3,000 points, once each per game.
A game in which you complete all three missions and all three milestones therefore earns at least 660 bonus XP, on top of the XP from merges.
The 10 levels and their thresholds
The thresholds follow a simple formula: level N is reached at 64 × (N − 1)² XP. Each level therefore takes a little more effort than the previous one.
| Level | Rank | In-game name | Cumulative XP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scout | Éclaireur | 0 |
| 2 | Initiate | Initié | 64 |
| 3 | Artisan | Artisan | 256 |
| 4 | Guardian | Gardien | 576 |
| 5 | Knight | Chevalier | 1,024 |
| 6 | Alchemist | Alchimiste | 1,600 |
| 7 | Master | Maître | 2,304 |
| 8 | Champion | Champion | 3,136 |
| 9 | Legend | Légende | 4,096 |
| 10 | Titan | Titan | 5,184 |
Beyond level 10, the displayed rank becomes "Ascendant".
Levelling up faster
- Go for the missions in order. The first one (3 merges in a row) takes just a few moves: keep it in mind from the start.
- Pass the score milestones. 3,000 points earns 300 bonus XP in total over the game. One solid game beats three rushed ones.
- Play long games. The longer a game lasts, the bigger the tiles you merge, and the more XP you earn from merges. Power-ups, especially the Second Chance, let you extend a game that's going badly.
The 8 badges
A badge unlocks the first time a merge creates exactly the tile shown. Having that value on the board without having created it by merging doesn't count. Badges are kept between games.
| Badge | In-game name | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner · 4 | Débutant · 4 | Create a 4 tile by merging |
| Merge · 32 | Fusion · 32 | Create a 32 tile by merging |
| Fast · 64 | Rapide · 64 | Create a 64 tile by merging |
| Strategist · 128 | Stratège · 128 | Create a 128 tile by merging |
| 256 | 256 | Create a 256 tile by merging |
| 512 | 512 | Create a 512 tile by merging |
| 1024 | 1024 | Create a 1,024 tile by merging |
| 2048 · Legend | 2048 · Légende | Create a 2,048 tile by merging |
Why "creating" a 4 tile isn't automatic
The game sometimes spawns 4 tiles directly (about one time in ten). Those don't count: the Beginner badge requires merging two 2s. The same rule applies to every badge: only a merge counts.
The badge hunt, step by step
- Beginner, Merge and Fast come in your first few games.
- Strategist · 128 coincides with the game's third mission: a double goal.
- 256 and 512 require applying the corner strategy. The 512 tile also unlocks the Mega Bar.
- 1024 also unlocks the Second Chance: use it to push all the way.
- 2048 · Legend is the summit: count on about a thousand moves. Our guide How to win at 2048 will get you there.
Ready to start your collection? Launch 2048 Deluxe.
Sources
- Rules taken from the 2048 Deluxe Godot project (desktop version), ULTIM8 Games