Everything a new player needs to know about classes, weapons, strategies, and how to build a winning team in this free-to-play RPG.

Raid: Shadow Legends is a free-to-play mobile and PC RPG developed by Plarium. You collect and level up champions — each with a unique class, skill set, and role — then build teams of five to fight through story campaigns, PvP arenas, and endgame content. The game is known for its deep team-building mechanics, frequent events, and a generous free-to-play path that lets you progress without spending a cent.

The core loop is simple: complete stages to earn resources, level up your champions, upgrade their skills, and forge gear. But the depth comes from understanding how each class interacts with the others — a well-built team can clear content that a stronger but poorly composed team cannot.

Unlike many gacha games, Raid rewards strategic thinking over raw power. Positioning, skill order, and champion synergy matter more than the numbers on a stat sheet. This guide will walk you through the most important decisions a new player faces.

Choosing the right class is the single most important early decision in Raid. Each class has a distinct role, and the best teams are built around a balance of those roles. Here are the classes that are most forgiving for beginners and the most versatile in the long run.

A good rule of thumb for your first team: one tank, one support, and three damage dealers (a mix of physical and magic). This composition is flexible enough to handle most early content and can be refined as you unlock more champions.

Avoid the temptation to spread your resources across too many champions. It is far better to fully upgrade a core team of five than to have ten half-built champions. Focus your energy, gold, and gems on the champions who will carry you through the early and mid-game.

Gear in Raid: Shadow Legends comes in three rarities: Epic, Mythic, and Legendary. Each piece of gear has a base stat (like Attack, Health, or Defense) and a set bonus that activates when you equip multiple pieces from the same set. The best gear for a new player is not the rarest gear — it is the gear that matches your champion's role.

When forging gear, always check the set bonus before you commit resources. A piece of Epic gear with a useful set bonus is often better than a piece of Mythic gear that does not fit your team's composition. Also, keep an eye on the gear's base stat — a higher base stat is always better, all else being equal.

One of the biggest mistakes new players make is forging gear for a champion who is not in their core team. Resist the urge to 'just one more' — focus your forging resources on the five champions who will be in your main team for the next several weeks.

Strategy in Raid: Shadow Legends is about more than just having strong champions. It is about understanding how skills interact, how to manage your team's resources, and how to adapt to different opponents. Here are the core strategies that will set you apart from other new players.

One of the most important strategies is to understand the concept of 'team composition.' A team is not just a collection of five strong champions — it is a system where each champion plays a specific role. A team with a tank, a support, and three damage dealers is a system. A team with five damage dealers is not. Always build your team with a clear role in mind for each champion.

Finally, do not be afraid to experiment. Raid is a game of strategy, and the best strategy is the one that works for you. Try different team compositions, different skill orders, and different gear sets. The more you experiment, the more you will understand the game and the more fun it will be.

Even experienced players make mistakes, but there are a few that are especially common among new players. Avoiding these mistakes will save you time, resources, and frustration.

The most common mistake is trying to do everything at once. Raid is a long-term game, and the players who succeed are the ones who stay consistent and focused. Set a daily routine — log in, complete your stages, participate in one event, and forge one piece of gear. Over time, this consistency will compound into a powerful team.

Raid: Shadow Legends is one of the best free-to-play RPGs available today. It rewards strategic thinking, offers a generous free-to-play path, and has a depth of content that will keep you engaged for months. If you are looking for a game that combines collection, strategy, and PvP, this is it.

Start with a tank, a support, and three damage dealers. Focus your resources on your core team. Participate in events every day. And most importantly — have fun. Raid is a game, and the best way to enjoy it is to play it your way.