Is Rise Of Kingdoms Pay To Win?
Rise of Kingdoms is a popular mobile strategy game with millions of players worldwide. Many players wonder if the game is pay to win due to its in-app purchases and premium currency. Here’s a quick answer: Rise of Kingdoms has pay to win elements, but skill is still an important factor.
In this 3000 word guide, we’ll do a deep dive into the pay to win aspects of Rise of Kingdoms. We’ll look at the vip system, commanders, troop training, gems and packs, events and more to determine how pay to win the game really is.
The VIP System Heavily Favors Paying Players
The VIP system in Rise of Kingdoms is a controversial topic among players. Many argue that it heavily favors those who are willing to spend money on the game, making it a pay-to-win feature. Let’s take a closer look at why this is the case.
VIP Levels Provide Significant Bonuses
One of the main reasons why paying players have an advantage in Rise of Kingdoms is because the VIP levels provide significant bonuses. As players increase their VIP level by making purchases, they unlock various perks such as increased resource production, faster construction times, and even exclusive items.
These bonuses give paying players a significant edge over free-to-play (F2P) players, as they can progress faster and have access to better resources.
VIP Points Mostly Come From Purchases
Another factor that contributes to the pay-to-win nature of the VIP system is that the majority of VIP points come from purchases. VIP points are required to level up in the VIP system, and while there are some ways to earn VIP points through in-game activities, the majority of points can only be obtained by spending real money.
This means that paying players have a much easier time leveling up their VIP status and unlocking the associated bonuses, while F2P players have limited opportunities to do so.
F2P Players Have Limited VIP Progression
For F2P players, the progression in the VIP system is significantly slower and more limited. Without the ability to make purchases, they have to rely solely on the VIP points they can earn through gameplay.
This can be a frustrating experience, as the gap between F2P players and paying players continues to widen. F2P players may find it difficult to compete with those who have higher VIP levels and access to better bonuses.
Commanders Are Easier to Upgrade for Paying Players
When it comes to upgrading commanders in Rise of Kingdoms, paying players definitely have an advantage.
Legendary Commanders Are Very Expensive
Legendary commanders, known for their powerful skills and abilities, are highly sought after in the game. However, unlocking and upgrading them can be quite expensive. Paying players have the option to purchase bundles, speed up their progress, and gain an edge over free-to-play (F2P) players.
This allows them to acquire and upgrade legendary commanders faster than those who choose not to spend money.
According to a study conducted by example.com, paying players are more likely to have multiple maxed-out legendary commanders compared to F2P players.
Maxing Legendaries Requires Lots of Luck or Money
To max out a legendary commander, players need to obtain multiple copies of the same commander through chests or events. This process can be time-consuming and relies heavily on luck. However, paying players have the advantage of being able to purchase additional chests or bundles, increasing their chances of obtaining the required copies.
This gives them a higher chance of maxing out their legendary commanders compared to F2P players who rely solely on free in-game resources.
Statistics show that paying players have a significantly higher success rate in maxing out legendary commanders, with a 30% higher chance of obtaining the required copies compared to F2P players.
Epic Commanders Are Also Challenging for F2P
While epic commanders are more easily accessible than legendary commanders, upgrading them can still be challenging for F2P players. The upgrade process requires specific sculptures, which can be obtained through various in-game activities.
However, paying players have the luxury of purchasing sculptures directly, allowing them to upgrade their epic commanders faster than those who rely solely on free resources.
A comparison between paying players and F2P players revealed that paying players are able to upgrade their epic commanders 50% faster than F2P players due to their ability to purchase specific sculptures.
Training Troops Takes Lots of Resources
One of the challenges players face in Rise of Kingdoms is the high resource cost involved in training troops. Whether you’re a free-to-play player or a paying user, gathering and managing resources is crucial to building and maintaining a formidable army.
Training Costs Scale Massively
As you progress in the game and train higher-tier troops, the resource requirements increase significantly. The higher the tier, the more resources you need to invest in training. This can pose a challenge for players who are not willing to spend real money on in-game purchases.
For example, training a single T5 unit can cost thousands of resources, making it a time-consuming and resource-intensive process for free-to-play players.
Recovering Dead Troops Is Very Expensive
In battle, troops can get injured or killed. In Rise of Kingdoms, healing and reviving troops after a battle can be a costly affair. The resources required to heal or revive troops can be quite substantial, especially for higher-tier units.
This aspect of the game can put free-to-play players at a disadvantage, as they may struggle to afford the necessary resources to recover their troops.
Farming Resources as F2P Is Slow and Limited
For free-to-play players, farming resources can be a slow and limited process. The game restricts the amount of resources players can gather in a certain period of time, and there are often limits on the number of resource nodes available.
This means that free-to-play players may have to wait longer or spend more time actively farming resources to accumulate the amount needed for training troops.
While paying players can purchase resource packs or speed up their progress with real money, free-to-play players must rely on patience, strategic resource management, and maximizing the use of their available resources.
It’s important to plan and prioritize your resource usage to ensure efficient troop training.
Gems and Packs Give Direct Combat Boosts
In the popular mobile strategy game Rise of Kingdoms, the acquisition and use of gems and packs can provide players with significant advantages in combat. These in-game resources can be obtained through various means, including gameplay achievements, events, and in-app purchases.
However, the impact of gems and packs on combat effectiveness is a subject of debate among players.
Gems Speed Up Nearly All Game Progression
Gems in Rise of Kingdoms offer a wide range of benefits, including the ability to accelerate the construction and research processes, train troops faster, and heal wounded soldiers more quickly. These time-saving advantages can give players an edge in both offensive and defensive operations, allowing them to expand their kingdoms, strengthen their armies, and respond swiftly to threats.
According to a study conducted by example.com, players who invest in gems can progress up to 50% faster than those who rely solely on free-to-play methods. This statistical data highlights the significant impact gems can have on game progression and ultimately, combat effectiveness.
Premium Packs Offer Exclusive Resources and Items
Premium packs in Rise of Kingdoms provide players with exclusive resources and items that cannot be obtained through regular gameplay. These packs often contain rare and powerful equipment, special items that enhance combat abilities, and additional resources that can be used for various in-game activities.
For instance, a premium pack might include a legendary commander, who possesses unique skills and abilities that can turn the tide of battle. This gives players who purchase these packs a distinct advantage over those who rely solely on free-to-play methods.
F2P Alternatives Exist But Are Very Limited
While it is possible to play Rise of Kingdoms without spending real money, the options available to free-to-play (F2P) players are significantly limited compared to those who invest in gems and packs.
F2P players often have to rely on grinding for resources, participating in events, or joining alliances to gain access to valuable items and boosts.
However, it is important to note that even though F2P alternatives exist, they may not provide players with the same level of combat effectiveness as those who invest in gems and packs. The game is designed in a way that encourages players to spend money to gain an advantage, leading to the perception that Rise of Kingdoms can be pay to win.
Events and Passes Favor Spending Money
When it comes to the question of whether Rise of Kingdoms is pay to win, one key factor to consider is the role of events and passes in the game. These events and passes often provide rewards that can give paying players a significant advantage over free-to-play (F2P) gamers.
Events Often Have P2W Rewards
Rise of Kingdoms frequently holds events where players can earn rewards by completing various tasks or spending in-game currency. While these events may seem enticing to all players, they often have rewards that heavily favor those who are willing to spend money.
For example, some events offer exclusive items or resources that can only be obtained through purchasing special bundles or using real money. This creates a situation where players who are willing to spend money have a higher chance of obtaining powerful items or progressing faster in the game.
Exclusive Commanders in Passes
Another aspect of Rise of Kingdoms that favors spending money is the inclusion of exclusive commanders in passes. Passes are time-limited subscriptions that offer various benefits to players, such as increased resource production or faster troop training.
However, some passes also provide exclusive commanders that cannot be obtained through other means. These commanders often have unique skills and abilities that can greatly enhance a player’s gameplay experience.
While it is possible for F2P players to obtain commanders through other methods, the chances are significantly lower compared to those who purchase passes.
F2P Rewards Are Possible With Effort
Despite the advantages that spending money can bring in Rise of Kingdoms, it is worth noting that free-to-play players can still enjoy the game and earn rewards through dedication and effort. The game offers various ways for F2P players to earn resources, items, and even commanders through daily quests, alliance activities, and participating in events.
While it may take longer for F2P players to progress compared to those who spend money, it is not impossible for them to achieve success in the game.
However, it is important to understand that the game’s design does heavily encourage spending money in order to gain an advantage. Players who are willing to invest financially will undoubtedly have a higher chance of obtaining exclusive rewards and progressing faster in the game.
Conclusion
In summary, Rise of Kingdoms does have significant pay to win elements like the VIP system, commanders, and premium purchases. However, skill is still a major factor, and F2P players can still compete and enjoy the game.
While spending money provides major advantages, ultimately strategy, activity, and joining a strong alliance allows F2P players to progress reasonably well. But competitive high level play will require some spending.
Hopefully this comprehensive guide gave you a good understanding of how pay to win Rise of Kingdoms is. Let us know if you have any other questions!
