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Shroud of the Avatar is free to play for the complete Episode One experience. The official store says, “No purchase is required to have a full game experience for Episode one.” You can also access Episode One content in Offline mode for in-game gold. Spending starts only when you choose optional extras: a monthly subscription, COTOs (the game’s premium currency), account upgrades, or later episode DLC.
This guide separates what is genuinely free from what costs money, explains all three subscription tiers listed by the operator, and flags prices that may change. The figures below were checked in November 2026 against the game’s official store and release posts.
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Is Shroud of the Avatar really free to play?
Yes. You do not have to buy the base game or maintain a subscription to play through Episode One. The official Store page explicitly says that no purchase is required for a full Episode One experience. It also states that Episode One content is available in Offline mode for in-game gold.
That free-to-play statement applies to Episode One, not automatically to every future episode. The store describes later episodes as downloadable content (DLC), and an official 2024 release announcement says the game can be played without spending money apart from expansions such as Episode 2. In practical terms, free players receive the core Episode One experience; additional episodes may be separate purchases.
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“Free to play” also does not mean that every optional account feature, cosmetic, convenience item, or premium-currency bundle is free. Those are separate purchases that you can ignore if your goal is simply to play Episode One.
What is included without paying?
The no-purchase route covers the principal Episode One game rather than a short trial. You can progress through the Episode One content and, according to the store description, use Offline mode with in-game gold. The published wording does not require a subscription, a COTO balance, or an Episode 2 purchase for that experience.
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- Episode boundary: future story episodes are treated as DLC. Owning or playing Episode One does not establish that later episodes will be free.
- Optional-account boundary: premium currency, extra character or bank capacity, and other account add-ons are not part of the no-purchase promise.
The free option therefore makes the most sense for a player who wants to see whether the game’s systems and Episode One story fit before buying anything. You can postpone every paid decision until you know whether you want an expansion, convenience upgrade, or recurring subscription.
Do I need a subscription to play?
No. The subscription is optional and is not an entry requirement for Episode One. The latest detailed official tier listing reviewed here is the Release 151 post, which lists three monthly plans. Each plan adds recurring COTOs, potions, and timed subscriber rewards; none is described as mandatory access to the base game.
| Tier | Monthly price | Monthly COTOs | Monthly Obsidian potions | Other listed rewards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $9 plus tax | 900 | 3 | About three subscriber login items per month; exclusive title every three months; dye 12-pack every six months |
| Tier 2 | $18 plus tax | 2,000 | 6 | About three subscriber login items per month; exclusive title every three months; dye 12-pack every six months |
| Tier 3 | $27 plus tax | 3,500 | 9 | About three subscriber login items per month; exclusive title every three months; dye 12-pack every six months |
The quantities and benefits above come from Release 151. The post says the included potions have stronger effects while you remain subscribed. That is a subscription utility benefit, not a prerequisite for entering the game or completing Episode One.
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Because the prices are quoted before tax, your final charge can be higher depending on your location. Treat the table as the published base price, not a universal tax-inclusive total.
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What do the subscription tiers actually give you?
The main recurring benefit is a monthly allotment of COTOs, plus Obsidian potions and timed rewards. Tier 1 supplies 900 COTOs and three potions each month; Tier 2 supplies 2,000 COTOs and six potions; Tier 3 supplies 3,500 COTOs and nine potions. The release post also lists roughly three subscriber login items per month, an exclusive title every three months, and a dye 12-pack every six months.
Those time-based rewards matter if you intend to remain subscribed for several months. The higher tiers increase the monthly currency and potion quantities, but the published listing does not say that a higher tier unlocks a different Episode One storyline. Choose among them based on how much premium currency and potion utility you expect to use, not on access to the base game.
The official description of the potions says their effects are stronger while the player is subscribed. That means the value of this benefit is partly conditional: it is tied to active subscription status rather than being a permanent upgrade that remains at full strength after cancellation.
How does subscription billing and cancellation work?
An earlier official Release 129 post says subscriptions renew monthly and can be canceled from the account page. It also says your subscribed status continues through the period you have already paid for. This is useful guidance, but it is older policy language; check the live account terms and cancellation screen before relying on it as a current guarantee.
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When considering a subscription, note the difference between stopping renewal and receiving a refund. Canceling a recurring plan normally prevents a future renewal; it does not imply that the current paid period is refunded. The store’s separate refund policy is stricter still, as explained below.
What can you buy in-game or from the official store?
The paid catalog has three broad categories: COTOs, account add-ons, and episode content. The official store lists COTO packs and digital account upgrades alongside game access items.
COTOs and Crown Shop items
COTOs are premium currency used for purchases in the Crown Shop. The store displayed COTO packs, including sale pricing, when checked. A sale price is a temporary observation, not a permanent rate, so verify the live listing before budgeting or comparing bundles.
Release 129 describes Crown Shop items bought with COTOs as “non-pay-to-win.” That is the operator’s characterization, not an independent finding about game balance. It should also be read alongside the subscription listing: subscribers receive utility benefits such as potions, and the release post says those potions are stronger during an active subscription. A careful summary is that the operator labels Crown Shop purchases non-pay-to-win while subscriptions provide additional utility; players should decide whether that distinction fits their own tolerance for paid advantages.
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Account add-ons
The store lists optional upgrades including an additional character slot and a bank upgrade. These are account conveniences or capacity increases, not requirements for the free Episode One route. If you are still learning the game, waiting lets you identify a real storage or character-capacity problem before paying to solve it.
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Episode 2 Early Access and other DLC
Episode 2 Early Access was shown at $19 on the store when checked. That figure is a dated store observation, not a promise that the price, sale status, or Early Access terms will remain unchanged. The store and release material both frame later episodes as optional expansions, so do not add the Episode 2 price to the cost of playing Episode One unless you specifically want that DLC.
Are paid items required to progress?
No paid purchase is identified as necessary for the full Episode One experience. You can begin with no subscription, no COTOs, and no account add-ons. The operator’s non-pay-to-win wording applies to Crown Shop items, while the subscription’s stronger potion effects are a separate, explicitly listed benefit; neither statement should be stretched into a guarantee about every player’s preferred definition of balance.
A sensible approach is to treat optional purchases as convenience, cosmetic, currency, or expansion decisions. If an item appears to solve a problem you have not actually encountered, defer it. This is particularly relevant to extra bank space and character slots, whose usefulness depends on how you play and how much inventory or roster pressure you experience.
What is the refund policy?
The official store says there are no refunds on pledges, store items, or services purchased. Read the item description, the applicable account terms, and the final checkout total before confirming a transaction. This policy makes “buy now and decide later” a poor strategy, especially for COTO packs and digital add-ons.
Because the store can show discounts and the operator can change DLC or subscription terms, save a copy of the receipt and the product description for your own records. If you cancel a subscription, use the account page and verify the renewal status rather than assuming that deleting a payment method has ended the plan.
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Which payment path fits your situation?
Start with the free route unless you already know why you want a paid feature. These scenarios cover the common decisions:
- “I only want Episode One”: pay nothing. The official store’s no-purchase statement covers this use case, including the described Offline mode for in-game gold.
- “I want a regular supply of COTOs and potions”: compare the $9, $18, and $27 monthly tiers. Remember that each price is before tax and that the higher tiers are not required to play.
- “I want one convenience upgrade”: buy the specific account add-on only after confirming that an extra character slot or bank upgrade addresses a problem you actually have.
- “I want the next story episode”: check the current DLC listing. The $19 Episode 2 Early Access price was what the store displayed when checked, not a fixed lifetime price.
- “I am unsure about the game”: avoid a subscription and irreversible store purchases initially. The free Episode One route lets you make an informed decision before committing money.
What should you check before spending money?
- Confirm the exact product: distinguish Episode One access, Episode 2 DLC, COTO currency, and account upgrades. They solve different needs.
- Check the live price and tax: subscription figures are listed plus tax, while COTO packs may be discounted. Do not rely on an old screenshot or a sale price.
- Read the renewal terms: monthly subscriptions renew according to the account terms. If you do not want another charge, cancel through the account page before the next billing date.
- Review the refund rule: the store states that pledges, store items, and services are non-refundable.
- Decide whether the benefit is temporary: potion effects are described as stronger while subscribed, so do not assume every subscription benefit remains at its peak after cancellation.
- Keep the free option in perspective: buying a subscription or add-on is an upgrade to your chosen play style, not an admission fee for Episode One.
Are subscriber login rewards permanently exclusive?
Not necessarily. An official Update of the Avatar says the current subscriber program is not intended to provide permanent rarity. Monthly subscriber login rewards are intended to become available in the Crown Store after a 10–14-day exclusivity period. That means subscribing may provide early access to a reward without being the only eventual way to obtain it.
The timing and availability of specific rewards can change, so treat the update as policy context rather than a guarantee about a particular item’s future listing.
Bottom line: what will Shroud of the Avatar cost me?
It can cost you nothing to play Episode One. The optional monthly subscription is listed at $9, $18, or $27 plus tax, with increasing COTO and potion allowances; COTO packs, account upgrades, and later episodes add separate costs. Episode 2 Early Access was listed at $19 when checked, but store prices and sales can change. Start free, then pay only for a clearly identified feature or expansion you want, and remember that the store states its digital purchases and services are non-refundable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play Shroud of the Avatar offline without paying?
The official store says Episode One content is available in Offline mode for in-game gold and that no purchase is required for a full Episode One experience. That statement is specific to Episode One; it does not promise offline access to future paid episodes.
Do subscription COTOs expire if I cancel?
The supplied official posts describe the monthly COTO allotments and cancellation of recurring billing, but they do not establish an expiration rule for already granted COTOs. Check the account and currency terms shown at the time you subscribe before assuming how long unused currency remains available.
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The published material distinguishes rewards earned during the subscription from the stronger potion effects tied to active status. It does not say that already claimed login items are removed, so review the live reward and account terms for the specific item.
Is Episode 2 included with Episode One?
No inclusion is stated. The store and release material describe future episodes as DLC, and Episode 2 Early Access was listed separately at $19 when checked. Confirm the current product page because DLC pricing and availability can change.
