is black desert online p2w

The question of whether Black Desert Online (BDO) is pay-to-win (P2W) is a topic of ongoing debate among players, and the answer depends on how you define "P2W." Heres a breakdown of the games monetization and its impact: Arguments That BDO Is P2W: Convenience Items: - Many quality-of-life items (e.g., inventory expansions, weight limit increases, pets for loot collection) are locked behind the cash shop. These are almost mandatory for efficient grinding. - Artisans Memory (reduces repair costs for gear) and Value Packs (extra marketplace silver, inventory, and storage benefits) give paying players a significant advantage. Selling Cash Shop Items for Silver: - Players can convert real money into in-game silver by selling cash shop items (costumes, outfits, etc.) on the marketplace. This allows whales to buy top-tier gear faster than free players. Premium Subscriptions (Value Pack, Kamasylve Blessing): - These provide XP boosts, reduced marketplace taxes, and other benefits that free players dont get, accelerating progression. Tent (Old Moon Book): - A cash-shop-exclusive tent allows repairs, potion purchases, and villa buffs while grinding, giving paying players a major advantage in long sessions. Arguments That BDO Isnt P2W: No Direct Power Purchases: - You cant directly buy gear or weapons with real moneyyou still need to grind or buy them with silver. - Skill and RNG (enhancement system) play a big role in progression. Free Players Can Compete (Eventually): - With enough time, free players can grind silver to buy cash shop items from the marketplace (though supply is limited). - Events and login rewards often give free pets, inventory slots, and value packs. PvP Balance (Sort Of): - While gear matters, skill and class knowledge still play a role in PvP. Some capped PvP modes (e.g., Arena of Solare) reduce gear disparity. Verdict: Yes, BDO has P2W elements, especially in terms of convenience, progression speed, and silver generation. Paying players will always have an advantage in efficiency and time saved. However, its not as extreme as some other P2W MMOsyou cant directly buy max gear, and free players can catch up with enough time and effort. If youre okay with grinding heavily to compensate for not paying, BDO is playable. But if you want to compete at high levels without spending, it will be a much slower and harder experience. Would you like recommendations on how to progress efficiently as a free player?