How prestige is calculated
Your prestige level is based on every cookie you have ever baked, across all ascensions. The game takes that all-time total, divides it by one trillion, and takes the cube root, rounded down: prestige = floor(∛(cookies baked ÷ 10¹²)). When you ascend you gain the difference between that number and the prestige you already have, and you receive the same number of heavenly chips to spend.
The cube root is why each ascension feels slower than the last. Reaching 1,000 prestige takes 10²¹ cookies (one sextillion), but 2,000 prestige takes eight times that, not twice. The planner shows this directly: enter your all-time cookies and current prestige, and it tells you the new prestige level, the heavenly chips you would gain right now, and how far you are from each milestone.
What the CpS boost means
Each prestige level can add 1% to your cookies per second, but only once you own the heavenly upgrades that unlock it: Heavenly chip secret, Heavenly cookie stand, Heavenly bakery, Heavenly confectionery and Heavenly key together unlock the full 100%. The CpS boost card assumes all five are owned. Early in the game the real boost is smaller, which is one reason the first ascension is mainly about which heavenly upgrades you can afford, not the raw percentage.
Reading the buy order
When an ascension would give you new chips, the planner lists the heavenly upgrades you can afford in a sensible order, then shows the next few targets you cannot reach yet. Upgrades that make every future run faster, like the permanent upgrade slots, the starter kits and the kitten and cookie unlocks, come first. Cosmetic and situational upgrades come later.
A common first target is 365 heavenly chips, which buys the core early upgrades in one go. Our first ascension guide explains why that number is popular and what to buy with it.
When should you ascend?
A simple rule that works for most players: ascend when the next run would at least double your prestige, or when progress has stalled and you can no longer buy a new building or upgrade within a few hours. Ascending more often with small gains is weaker than it looks, because each run starts from zero buildings. For the Endless Cycle achievement (1,000 ascensions), the planner flags when your prestige is high enough that a quick one-level run becomes practical.
Frequently asked questions
How many cookies do I need for my first prestige level?
One trillion cookies baked all time gives prestige level 1. Because of the cube root, 365 prestige needs about 48.6 quintillion cookies.
Do cookies I spend count toward prestige?
Yes. Prestige uses cookies baked all time, so spending cookies on buildings and upgrades does not lower it.
Can I fill this in from my save?
Yes. Paste your save into the Save Analyzer and use its Ascension Planner link, which fills in your cookies baked and current prestige.