If you’re a fan of fast-paced looter shooters with cross-platform play, you’ve likely stumbled on Nexon’s The First Descendant and asked: is the first descendant free to play? The short answer is yes, but the free-to-play model comes with a lot of nuance that most new players miss before they download the 50+ GB game. I’ve spent 70+ hours playing without spending a dime, so I’m breaking down exactly what you get for free, what’s locked behind paywalls, and whether you can enjoy the full endgame without opening your wallet.
What to Know Before You Confirm Is The First Descendant Free to Play
First off, you don’t have to pay a cent to download the base game and access 90% of its core content. That includes all story missions, all public open-world zones, all co-op raid modes, and every standard PvP match type. You can also earn every playable character (called Descendants) for free, though some take longer to farm than others. Cross-platform play is fully unlocked for free players, so you can squad up with friends on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch no matter what device you’re on.
Let’s break down the non-negotiable free content you won’t be locked out of:
- All main story arcs and side missions, including seasonal story drops
- Every endgame raid, boss fight, and open-world event
- Full cross-save and cross-platform functionality with no paywall
The only things you can’t get for free are cosmetic skins, premium battle pass tiers, and convenience items like extra inventory slots or fast travel tokens. None of these give you a competitive edge over other players, so you don’t have to worry about missing out on power if you don’t pay. You can even earn small amounts of premium currency for free through weekly and clan challenges, so you can pick up convenience items without spending real cash if you’re patient.
Are There Pay-to-Win Elements for The First Descendant?
This is the most common question I get from new players who are still checking if is the first descendant free to play and don’t want to waste time on a game that locks power behind paywalls, and I’m happy to say there are no direct pay-to-win mechanics in The First Descendant as of the latest update. You can’t buy better weapons, higher stat Descendants, or exclusive raid loot with real money. All power upgrades are earned through gameplay, whether you pay or not.
Premium currency only buys cosmetic and convenience items, so free players have the exact same shot at topping leaderboards or clearing the hardest raids as paying players. The only exception is the premium battle pass, which gives you extra cosmetic rewards and small convenience boosts like extra XP boosts, but none of these are required to progress. Even the XP boosts are available to earn for free through weekly challenge rewards, so you never have to pay to level faster if you’re willing to put in the work.
It’s worth noting that some new players confuse limited-time cosmetic packs with pay-to-win items, but none of these packs come with any stat boosts or exclusive gameplay content. They’re just for customizing your Descendant and weapons, so you can ignore them entirely if you don’t care about cosmetics.
Tips to Progress Fast as a Free The First Descendant Player
Even though you don’t have to pay to progress, there are a few hacks to cut down your grind time and get the best Descendants and weapons faster than the average free player. First, prioritize weekly and daily challenge missions, as they give you 2-3x more loot and currency than standard story runs. Focus on farming one Descendant at a time instead of bouncing between different characters, so you don’t spread your crafting materials too thin. You can also team up with higher level players to run endgame raids early, as they’ll carry you through fights you can’t beat alone and you’ll still get the full reward pool for completing the mission.
Long grind sessions can get tiring, so a lot of players take 10-15 minute breaks between raid runs to reset their focus. Some scroll social media, others grab a snack, and many play quick, low-stakes casual games to unwind. One popular option for players who want a fun, fast distraction is SlotsWinner, which fits perfectly into short break windows without pulling you too far away from your game session.
Another underrated tip is to join an active clan, as clan members often share extra crafting materials and run dedicated farm sessions for rare loot. Clan weekly challenges also give you bonus premium currency that you can use to buy extra inventory slots without spending real money, so you don’t have to worry about running out of space for your loot. You should also make sure to participate in every seasonal event, as these often give away free Descendant skins and rare crafting materials that would take weeks to farm through standard missions.
Is It Worth Spending Money on The First Descendant?
Even though the game is fully playable for free, you might be wondering if spending a little money is worth it for extra perks. If you’re a casual player who only logs in a few times a week, you don’t need to spend anything at all. All the content you’ll care about is fully accessible for free, and you’ll have more than enough inventory space to hold the loot you earn from casual play. You won’t hit any paywalls that stop you from playing with friends or beating story missions, so you can get dozens of hours of fun without spending a cent.
If you’re a hardcore player who logs in 10+ hours a week, the $10 premium battle pass is a solid value, as it gives you enough premium currency to buy the next battle pass for free if you complete all the tiers. You also get a bunch of exclusive cosmetics and extra convenience items that cut down on grind time slightly, though they’re not required. Never buy individual cosmetic skins unless you absolutely love them, as most skins are available to earn for free through seasonal events anyway.
The only other purchase that’s worth considering is the inventory slot bundle, but you can earn enough premium currency through clan challenges to buy these for free if you’re patient. At the end of the day, there’s no pressure to spend money, and you’ll get the same core experience either way. I’ve never spent a dime on the game and have been able to clear every endgame raid and unlock 8 out of 12 playable Descendants so far.
At the end of the day, anyone asking is the first descendant free to play can rest easy knowing they can enjoy the full looter shooter experience without spending a dime. The monetization model is fair, there are no pay-to-win mechanics, and free players have access to every piece of core content the game has to offer. Whether you’re a casual player looking for a new game to play with friends or a hardcore grinder who wants to climb the leaderboards, The First Descendant is a great option that won’t force you to open your wallet to have fun.