I’m thinking about giving Clash of Clans a try since Clash Royale seems to be slowing down lately. I’ve never installed Clash of Clans before, so I’m curious: how friendly is the game to free-to-play players right now? Can you realistically progress without spending any money? If so, how long does it typically take to reach a decent Town Hall level as a free player? Also, is upgrading buildings and heroes doable without paying? Looking for some firsthand experiences and tips.
5 Answers
People often get stuck thinking new content is always for the highest Town Hall, but honestly, the core gameplay and fun stuff can be enjoyed at pretty much all levels. Yeah, the newest defenses and troops show up mainly at the highest THs, but if you’re starting fresh, you won’t feel locked out of the game. Special events and challenges offer unique content for everyone, so even if some things require a lot of time or a little spending, you can still have a lot of fun without paying.
The game used to feel pay-to-win because the upgrade timers were insane, but Supercell has seriously toned that down with each new Town Hall level. They’ve cut upgrade times and costs across all Town Halls, not just the latest. Also, there are lots of quality of life improvements and fun events that everyone can join in on. Monetization is mainly from skins and decor, which are purely cosmetic. The Gold Pass can help, but it’s not required to have a good time or make solid progress as free-to-play.
Overall, from what I’ve seen and played, it’s still very much a free-to-play friendly game. Sure, spending money speeds things up significantly, but you can totally reach endgame content just by playing smart and being patient. Just make sure to manage your builders well and prioritize upgrades. The grind is real if you don’t pay, but that’s part of the strategy! Definitely worth downloading and giving it a shot.
I’ve been playing Clash for about 10 years and recently made a new account to test the current state. Honestly, the early Town Halls are pretty fast-paced now, so it’s way less grindy than before. The game throws a decent amount of magic items your way early on, which really helps smooth upgrades and heroes. Plus, events like the current WWE one give you special things that speed up progression and add some fun variety. I’d say it’s a great time to start fresh and enjoy the game free-to-play.
Clash of Clans definitely isn’t as pay-to-win as some games. It’s more like pay-to-skip timers. You can absolutely reach high levels without spending a dime; it just takes more patience. If you use your gems smartly—like saving them to get five builders early on—you’ll speed up your progress quite a bit.
Thanks for clearing that up! I was worried the newer stuff would be impossible to access without paying.