This Raid Shadow Legends beginner guide covers the decisions that actually shape a new account: which starter to pick, who gets your first Rank 6, what to farm, and which resources you’ll regret wasting. Raid throws dozens of systems at you in the first hour, and most of them can wait. These can’t.
If you haven’t installed it yet, the PC version runs on Windows 10 (21H1 or newer) and Windows 11, and it’s free. Play Raid: Shadow Legends free on Windows PC.
Key Takeaways
- Your starter (Kael, Elhain, Athel or Galek) is permanent, and Kael is the most common recommendation
- Don’t auto-rank your starter to 6 stars: check promo codes and free champions first
- Never feed Epic champions as food
- Demon Lord (Clan Boss) is your main progression engine
- Arbiter Missions are the best roadmap if you feel lost
Picking Your Starter Champion
At the start you choose one of four Rare champions: Kael, Elhain, Athel or Galek. You can’t change this later, so it’s worth thirty seconds of thought.
Kael is the safe pick. His poisons make him useful for Campaign farming, the Demon Lord and the Dragon’s Lair, which are exactly the three places a new account spends most of its energy. Athel and Galek are fine, and Elhain has her fans, but none of them carry as many early jobs as Kael does.
One important change from older guides: taking your starter straight to Rank 6 is no longer automatic. New player link codes, promo codes and free champion events (Dorothy Gale was a recent login reward) can hand fresh accounts stronger options. Look at your whole roster before you spend your first five Rank 5 “chickens.”
Your First Rank 6 and First Team
Your first Rank 6 champion should do as many jobs as possible: farm Campaign, then contribute to Demon Lord, Dragon, Spider, Fire Knight, Arena and Doom Tower. HellHades points to Pelops as a good example, with damage, shields, HP burn, Decrease ATK and Taunt in one kit.
After that, think in teams of five rather than individual units. You want these roles covered:
- Damage
- Healing or protection, plus a revive
- Speed and turn meter control
- Crowd control
- Decrease ATK and Decrease DEF
The best early champions cover several of these at once. Kryen, for instance, brings Increase SPD, turn meter boosts and Freeze in a single slot.
Don’t Waste These Resources
Most new-player regret comes from spending things too early. Three rules save you a lot of pain:
- Never feed Epics. Faction Wars needs teams from every faction, and an Epic with Heal Reduction or Provoke can become key months later. Keep at least one copy of each Rare early on too.
- Only book skills that matter. Ask whether a tome adds damage, raises debuff chance or cuts an important cooldown. Many champions do their main job without a full book.
- Buy Masteries for your first carry. Spending gems on your first full Mastery tree is worth it, because that champion appears everywhere. Farm Minotaur for later champions once your team clears higher stages.
Demon Lord: Your Progression Engine
The Demon Lord Clan Boss should become your top priority. Higher difficulties give daily chests with Ancient, Void and Sacred Shards, Epic and Legendary Skill Tomes, gems, silver and artifacts. Every step up compounds.
Poison champions like Kael, debuffers like Venomage and Ally Attack champions like Fahrakin the Fat are the classic early-game core. Don’t worry about Ultra-Nightmare. Reaching Nightmare is a real milestone for any young account.
Dungeons, Gear and Events
Dragon’s Lair is the most valuable early dungeon because Speed gear matters everywhere. Even so, don’t burn every point of energy on low Dragon stages. Campaign rewards, Nightmare Campaign stars, Forge gear, tournaments, missions and Clan Boss chests all hand out gear too.
Stats beat sets. A 6-star chestplate with HP%, Speed and Accuracy is better than a weak piece that completes a four-set. Once your team reliably farms Stage 20 dungeons, dedicated gear farming starts paying off.
Last tip: always check upcoming events before spending energy. If a dungeon tournament and an artifact event overlap the next day, waiting one day lets the same runs score in both. During Fusion events, that kind of double dipping is the difference between finishing and falling short.
Use Arbiter Missions as Your Roadmap
Feeling lost? Open your Arbiter Missions. They walk you through Raid’s core systems in a sensible order, and finishing them alongside Campaign and Demon Lord keeps you on track. Before a big farming session, check your Challenges and Missions too. Early artifact challenges often send you back to Campaign, so time them with your champion leveling and you’ll save a lot of energy.
FAQ
Who is the best starter in Raid: Shadow Legends?
Kael is the most common recommendation, thanks to poisons that work in Campaign, Demon Lord and Dragon.
Can I change my starter champion later?
No, the starter choice is permanent, but you’ll collect plenty of other champions quickly.
Should I feed Epic champions?
No. Keep them for Faction Wars, Doom Tower and future bosses.
Is the PC version free on Windows?
Yes. Raid: Shadow Legends is free to play on Windows 10 and 11 PCs, with optional in-game purchases.
Want the full picture first? Read my Raid Shadow Legends review, then check the Raid Shadow Legends tier list before you spend shards or books. If you enjoy grind-friendly RPGs, the Ragnarok Zero beginner guide is worth a look, and the RPG & Other section has more. For news and patch notes, visit the official Raid: Shadow Legends website.
