Searching for mobile strategy games that are not pay to win? Rather than slap a label on it, here's exactly what money buys in Astrakeep, and what it doesn't. The game is free to play with optional in-app purchases, and it states three principles in its shop: gems never buy summons, everything is sold at a listed price with no random draws, and a spending cap limits how much you can pay in 24 hours. You can judge for yourself whether that's what you're after.
The principles written into the game
Astrakeep's shop spells out its rules in plain words:
- Gems are the premium currency and pay for speed-ups and peace shields. Gems never buy summons.
- Everything in the shop is sold at a listed price, with no random draw: offers, gems, legendary heroes, the season pass and village skins.
- There are no paid random draws, so you always know what you're buying.
The shop also shows a 24-hour spending cap: you can't spend without limit in a single day.
One-off offers come without pressure. The game tells you there's no rush: you can ignore an offer and it stays in the Offers tab until it ends. Only one offer is shown at a time.
What money buys
Let's be precise, including about the things that do give you an edge.
Time
Gems let you finish a construction or a training session instantly, and rent a second builder for a couple of days. The second builder can also be bought outright. Fixed-length cards (a monthly card, a builder card and a hero card) and a one-time starter pack are also on offer. There are no auto-renewing subscriptions: these cards simply last a set time.
Protection
Gems buy peace shields of 8, 24 or 72 hours, capped at 72 hours purchased per 7 days. The game is explicit: a shield protects you, it doesn't make you stronger, and attacking ends it. And anyone you attacked can still take revenge within 24 hours, even through a shield.
Legendary heroes
This is the one to know about: Aurelion the Paladin and Sylvara the Empress are sold in the shop, described as more powerful than any summoned hero. But they're not locked behind a purchase: every daily chest you open gives one legendary fragment, and 40 fragments let you pick a legendary for free. The shop price is fixed, with no draw. The full breakdown is in our Astrakeep heroes guide.
One more thing worth knowing: your first purchase, whatever it is, comes with a free epic hero, and your first gem purchase is doubled.
A season pass and a growth fund
A season pass comes in free and premium tracks (it opens with season 1). A growth fund pays out big rewards as your Crystal Tower reaches certain levels.
Skins
Castle skins change how your village looks on the world map. They're purely cosmetic, with no effect in battle.
What money doesn't buy
- Summons. Epic heroes come from the Summoning Altar using tokens, and tokens are earned by playing: the daily chest, day 7 of the login streak, the Sky Ruins expedition, plus one free token a day from a video. Gems can't buy them.
- Paid random draws. Nothing in the shop is a mystery box: you know what you're getting.
- Luck at the Altar. The odds are shown (epic hero card 6%, epic shards 34%, rare shards 60%), with an epic card guaranteed by your 10th summon without one.
What you earn by playing
Gems aren't only for sale. You earn them from daily tasks, the daily chest, your first win on each level and your first win against each boss. The daily chest, unlocked by finishing the 5 daily quests, also holds resources, a token and a legendary fragment.
What about ads?
Astrakeep's ads are optional rewarded videos: speed up a build, open a free chest, earn a token, double your loot, or get free gems, all with daily limits. You can close a video and simply skip the reward. The No Ads purchase grants those video bonuses instantly, without the video, within the same daily limits.
So, your call
Astrakeep sells time, protection, legendary heroes (which can also be earned), a pass and cosmetics, at fixed prices with a daily cap. It doesn't sell summons or random draws. To see how these rules play out against other players, read our page on tower defense PvP on mobile. If you're weighing it against a big name in the genre, our look at games like Clash of Clans will help, and to understand the role heroes play, see tower defense games with heroes. More ideas wait in our roundup of free tower defense games.
Frequently asked questions
Can you buy summons in Astrakeep?
No. The game says so in plain words: gems never buy summons. Summons use tokens you earn by playing.
Do the strongest heroes cost money?
The two legendary heroes are sold in the shop, but you can also get one for free with 40 fragments, earned one per daily chest you open.
Are there paid loot boxes?
No. The shop states there are no paid random draws and that you always know what you're buying. Everything has a listed price.
Is there a limit on spending?
Yes. The shop shows a 24-hour spending cap, and peace shields are limited to 72 hours purchased per 7 days.
Is Astrakeep free?
Yes, free to play with optional in-app purchases. It's coming soon to Android.
