
Community feedback indicates that whales dominate PvP and endgame content, with success heavily reliant on champion quality and gear, which are accelerated through spending.
Veterans note that the best champions and progression items, like Skill Tomes and Chickens, are often paywalled, making them inaccessible to free players.
How aggressively the game pushes players to spend money to progress
Players frequently hit frustrating progression walls, especially in late-game content, where resource packs are often necessary to continue advancing.
The ability to buy resources directly, such as Energy and Shards, allows players to skip significant portions of the game, especially in endgame scenarios.
Limited-time events and offers create a fear of missing out, as players feel pressured to spend to participate and earn exclusive rewards.
Fairness and transparency of the monetization practices
The gacha mechanics, particularly the Summoning Portal, operate like slot machines, with low odds for high-value champions, encouraging players to spend more.
While some prices are clear, the dynamic pricing based on player behavior can create confusion around the actual value of packs and offers.
To remain competitive, players often need to spend hundreds monthly, especially to acquire necessary resources and champions.
RAID: Shadow Legends is built on a monetization model that aggressively sells power. Youโll spend gemsโbest bought through a $10 monthly subscriptionโon loot boxes with a 0.5% chance for a top champion or drop โฌ30 on a single skill book. This creates a definitive paywall, especially in PvP where your free roster hits a brick wall against paid teams. The community isn't just complaining; the game's Metacritic user score is a dismal 2.3/10, rated "Generally Unfavorable". Players call it a "slot machine" and an "antisocial game mechanic". Expect to grind for years as a free player or spend heavily just to keep pace, because every competitive leaderboard and endgame event is designed to make your wallet the real champion.
Our assessment of RAID: Shadow Legends is based on the following publicly available sources:
Disclaimer: The P2W analysis for RAID: Shadow Legends represents our editorial opinion based on publicly available information and community feedback as of January 2026. Game monetization systems may change over time. We encourage players to research current in-game purchases before making decisions. This analysis is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered definitive or exhaustive.
If you believe any information is inaccurate or outdated, please contact us with corrections.