10 Best Beginner Tips for RAID: Shadow Legends

RAID: Shadow Legends is a deep, strategic turn-based RPG with hundreds of champions, tons of gear, and more systems than most mobile games. For new players, all those menus, stats, and upgrade options can feel overwhelming at first. But with the right guidance, you can avoid early mistakes, build a strong foundation, and progress faster through the game. In this guide, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best beginner tips to help you understand the basics, manage your resources wisely, and start building a powerful team right from the start.

#10: Choose the Right Starter Champion

At the very beginning of RAID: Shadow Legends, you’ll be given the choice between four starter champions—Kael, Athel, Elhain, and Galek. While all of them can carry you through early content, Kael is widely considered the best pick for beginners. His Poison debuffs and solid damage scaling make him extremely useful in campaign, dungeons, and even Clan Boss fights. Choosing the right starter sets the tone for your entire account, so go with a champion who will stay relevant long after the early game.

#9: Understand the Affinity System

RAID: Shadow Legends uses a rock-paper-scissors-style Affinity system that plays a big role in combat. There are four types: Magic (Blue), Spirit (Green), Force (Red), and Void (Purple). Magic beats Spirit, Spirit beats Force, and Force beats Magic, while Void is neutral against all. Using champions with an Affinity advantage gives you more consistent hits and better chances to land debuffs. On the flip side, attacking into a disadvantage increases the chance of weak hits and missed effects. Always check affinities before going into battle—it can be the difference between winning and getting wiped.

#8: Focus on the Campaign First

It might be tempting to jump into dungeons or the Arena right away, but your first priority should be clearing the campaign. The campaign mode is the best source of early-game experience, silver, gear, and even some valuable champions. Completing it on Normal, Hard, and Brutal difficulties unlocks better rewards and gives you access to higher XP farming stages. Plus, you’ll need progress in the campaign to unlock key areas like the Forge and unlock more advanced content. Stick with it early on—it’s the foundation for everything else in RAID.

#7: Build a Balanced Team

In RAID: Shadow Legends, throwing all your strongest damage dealers into one team won’t get you very far. A successful team needs balance—usually a mix of damage, support, debuffs, and healing or shielding. Aim to have a solid nuker (your main damage dealer), a support or healer, a debuffer to weaken enemies, and a tank or control unit to absorb or disrupt damage. A well-rounded team will carry you much further than just raw power, especially in tougher content like dungeons and bosses.

#6: Manage Your Resources Wisely

In RAID, resources like energy, silver, gems, and shards are extremely valuable—especially in the early game. It’s easy to waste them on random upgrades or pulls, but smart resource management will save you time and frustration later. Don’t spend all your silver on low-rank gear, avoid leveling random champions you won’t use long-term, and save your shards for events or double-rate summons. Use your gems for things that give long-term value, like upgrading the Mine or buying more energy. Being patient and planning ahead pays off big in the long run.

#5: Upgrade Your Champions Strategically

Not every champion is worth your time and resources. Focus on upgrading champions that you’ll use long-term—especially your starter and any strong rare or epic champions you pull early. Level them up, ascend them, and invest in their masteries once you’re sure they’re part of your core team. Avoid pouring resources into every new champion you get—stick to a focused group and build them up properly. Strategic upgrades save resources and make it easier to push through tougher content without constantly resetting progress.

#4: Join a Clan Early

Joining a clan is one of the best early moves you can make in RAID: Shadow Legends. Being part of a clan unlocks access to Clan Boss battles, which reward you with valuable gear, potions, shards, and other important items every day. Even if your damage isn’t high yet, participating regularly adds up over time. Clans also give you access to Clan Quests, events, and a community that can offer advice and help you learn faster. Don’t wait—find an active clan and start reaping the rewards early.

#3: Claim Daily Login Rewards and Complete Quests

Consistency is key in RAID: Shadow Legends, and the game rewards players who log in and play daily. Make sure to claim your daily login rewards, which include energy, silver, gear, and even rare champions over time. On top of that, completing your daily, weekly, and monthly quests gives you a steady flow of resources and progress. These tasks are often simple but offer great value, especially early on when every bit of energy and silver matters. Logging in and knocking out your quests daily is one of the easiest ways to stay ahead.

#2: Utilize the Sparring Pit and Market

Two often-overlooked features in RAID: Shadow Legends are the Sparring Pit and the Market—both of which can give you a steady edge over time. The Sparring Pit lets you passively level up champions without spending energy. Upgrade a few slots early and drop in low-priority champs or food units to level them up over time. The Market, once refreshed and upgraded, can offer useful items like rare champions, mystery shards, and XP brews—sometimes for just a bit of silver. Make it a habit to check both daily—they’re slow and passive, but they add up fast.

#1: Be Patient and Persistent

RAID: Shadow Legends is a long-term grind—not a game where you max out in a week. Progress can feel slow at times, especially early on, but every raid, upgrade, and decision builds toward a stronger account. Don’t get discouraged by tough stages or unlucky pulls. Focus on steady improvement, smart resource use, and learning from your mistakes. Patience and persistence are the real keys to success in RAID. Stick with it, and you’ll be surprised how far you can go.

Conclusion

Getting started in RAID: Shadow Legends can feel overwhelming, but with the right approach, you’ll find your rhythm and start making steady progress. By choosing the right starter champion, managing your resources wisely, building a balanced team, and taking advantage of features like clans and daily quests, you’ll set yourself up for long-term success. RAID rewards patience, planning, and consistency—so take your time, stay focused, and enjoy the journey as your team grows stronger with each step.