Metin2 Item Shop and Fair Economy: Is a Server Pay to Win?

On most Metin2 Pvp servers, playing is free and teams cover their costs through the item shop. There's nothing wrong with that; the problem starts when what's sold for money begins to upset the game's balance. This guide explains how to examine a Metin2 item shop, how to tell whether a server is "pay to win" and what the signs of a fair economy are.

What is an item shop, and why does it exist?

On the official servers, you shop in the Item Shop with Dragon Coins (DC). Apart from some special sections of the shop, every Dragon Coin you spend earns you a Dragon Mark, and these marks can buy certain items in the shop. On Pvp servers, the currency's name, the prices and the items on sale are entirely up to the server team.

Keeping a Pvp server running has a cost: server rent, protection against attacks and development work. The item shop is where these costs get covered. So the real question isn't "what's in the shop?" but "how do the items on sale affect the game?"

What does pay to win mean?

"Pay to win" means that a player who spends money can instantly buy power that a non-paying player can't reach through effort, or would only reach after a very long time. On such a server, Pvp results are decided by wallets, not skill. Honest players quickly lose motivation, and the server's lifespan gets shorter.

Sort shop items into three groups

When you examine a server's shop, put every item on sale into one of these three groups:

Note that in the official game, costumes and hairstyles can also carry bonuses. If costumes with bonuses are on sale, they no longer count as purely cosmetic; judge them by the strength of their bonuses.

The gray zone: when does convenience turn into power?

Not every item fits neatly into this table. When in doubt, ask these questions:

• Can you also get it in-game? If EXP boosters or upgrade items such as the Blessing Scroll and Magic Stone also drop in-game, the shop is just a shortcut. If they're only available in the shop, the balance shifts toward the spenders. We explain what these items do in our upgrade guide.
• Can players sell them to each other? If items bought in the shop can be sold in-game for Yang, a player who doesn't spend money can still reach them through effort. That preserves the balance to some extent.
• Are the contents random? If power items only come from chests with random contents, that points to a pay-to-win structure and to a setup that makes your spending hard to control.

Signs of a fair economy

• An open shop list: The items and prices on sale are published before launch.
• Power is earned in-game: The strongest items come from dungeons, bosses and hard work.
• Stable rules: No power items suddenly appear in the shop after launch; changes are announced in advance.
• Yang keeps its value: Event rewards are reasonable, and market prices don't keep inflating. We've collected ways to earn Yang in-game in our Yang farming guide.
• Everyone is treated equally: Big spenders get no special treatment in the rules or in support.

The server type matters too. On Hardwork servers, items are valuable, so a shop that sells power quickly breaks the balance. On For VS servers, characters are ready quickly anyway, so the shop's impact should stay mostly on the cosmetic and convenience side.

Before you spend money

• Think about the server's lifespan: Characters and items are stored in the server's own database. If the server shuts down or gets reset, what you bought may be gone too.
• Only pay on the official website: Stay away from middlemen and "discount" sellers. For payment safety, also see our account security guide.
• Set yourself a limit: Set a monthly spending limit in advance, and don't exceed it in the heat of the moment.
• Don't deal in real money with other players: If you get scammed in such a deal, there's no protection you can turn to.

To find servers known for a fair economy, compare the descriptions and player reviews in the best servers list.

Frequently asked questions

Is every server with an item shop pay to win?

No. A shop that sells cosmetics and convenience while power is earned in-game keeps a server alive without upsetting the balance. The problem starts when power is sold directly.

What are Dragon Coins?

On the official servers, they're the Item Shop's currency; spending outside certain special sections of the shop also earns you Dragon Marks. On Pvp servers, the currency's name and how you get it vary from server to server.

Can you play a pay-to-win server without spending money?

You can, but you'll probably fall behind the big spenders in Pvp and the rankings. If competition matters to you, a server with a more balanced shop will be more fun.

What should I do if I can't see the shop list before launch?

Ask the team and request the answer in writing. A team that avoids sharing the list before launch can change the shop however it likes afterward; take that uncertainty into account when you decide.