Is the Game Pay-to-Win?

This is the first question that most new players have to know before they started investing time and effort in playing the game. In this page, we will discuss how much of the game’s content is accessible to free-to-play players and if it’s worth playing in the long run.

We’ve been playing the game for a few days as of this writing and we can immediately attest that the game is very “free-to-play” friendly, with most (if not all) content accessible to players without needing to spend anything. You can enjoy the game at your own pace. Black Desert Mobile has heavy emphasis on PvE content with some touch of base-building (via the Camp and Node Manager features)

Obviously, there are microtransactions in the game but they’re entirely optional, mostly focused on cosmetics (like costumes, name modification, customizations, etc) and convenient boosters that will make your life a lot easier. As with any other MMO or mobile game, there will always be “Whales” or players who don’t mind shelling out money to have some advantages. Since you can straight-up buy great equipment using Pearls (premium currency), these players will have access to powerful equipment faster and earlier. Well of course, this means nothing if you’re not really into PvP and just want to enjoy the game as it is.

So our verdict? The game is Pay-to-Win strictly for the PvP aspect. However, for the experience, story/lore, and just plain fun, Black Desert Mobile offers hours and hours of entertainment and real MMORPG experience for its platform - without the need of spending a cent.