Is the gem mine in Raid: Shadow Legends worth it? Yes, but only for long-term players.
Upgrading the gem mine in Raid can generate huge long-term value, but it‘s not advisable early on. This in-depth guide examines if and when investing in the gem mine is worthwhile.
What does the gem mine do?
The gem mine is a structure that passively produces gems over time. Here‘s a quick overview:
- Initially costs 500 gems to build
- Produces 1 gem every 24 hours at level 1
- Can be upgraded up to level 10 for 500 gems per level
- At max level 10, produces 4.8 gems every 24 hours
Upgrading increases the output and reduces time between collections. It takes 4,500 gems total to fully upgrade from levels 1-10.
The pros of upgrading the gem mine
Let‘s examine the main benefits of investing in the gem mine:
Passive gem generation
The gem mine is a set-it-and-forget-it source of free gems. You don‘t have to grind stages or spend resources to obtain them.
Over time, this really adds up. Here‘s how many gems a fully upgraded level 10 mine generates:
- Daily: 4.8 gems
- Weekly: 33.6 gems
- Monthly: 144 gems
- Yearly: 1,752 gems (non-leap year) or 1,756.8 gems (leap year)
That‘s over 1,750 free gems per year! No other building produces premium currency for free like this.
Excellent long-term investment
While the mine takes time to pay off, it ends up generating far more gems than it costs.
For example, a level 7 mine costs 3,500 gems to upgrade but produces 2,555 gems in a year. In just over 16 months it has paid for itself and continues generating gems indefinitely.
Here are the upgrade costs versus 1 year of gem production:
| Mine Level | Upgrade Cost | 1 Year Production |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 500 gems | 365 gems |
| Level 5 | 2,500 gems | 1,277 gems |
| Level 10 | 4,500 gems | 1,752 gems |
For long-time Raid players, the mine is a fantastic investment.
Saves energy
It takes a lot of energy to farm gems by repeatedly running stages. The mine provides gems for free without having to spend any energy.
F2P friendly
For players trying to minimize real money purchases, the gem mine is a great passive source of premium currency. Fully upgrading it should be a top priority.
The cons of upgrading the early game gem mine
While the mine has nice benefits, it also has some significant drawbacks:
Very slow initial return
Don‘t expect the first few mine upgrades to pay off quickly. Here‘s how long it takes the early levels to break even:
- Level 1 mine (500 gems) takes ~1 month to reimburse cost
- Level 3 mine (1,500 gems) takes ~4 months to reimburse cost
It will be at least 1-2 months before you see a positive gem return on your investment. That‘s a long time to wait in the fast-paced early game.
Delays more important purchases
Those upgrade gems could be better spent on things like:
- Masteries for champions
- Shards for new champions
- Energy refills for progression
Upgrading the mine early significantly delays buying those things. This can hurt your progress.
Costs a lot for new players
Fully upgrading to level 10 costs 4,500 gems. As a new player with limited gems, investing so much into a structure you won‘t benefit from for months is very tough to justify.
Is the gem mine worth upgrading early game?
For new players in their first 1-2 months, upgrading the gem mine is generally not recommended.
The steep upgrade costs take too long to reimburse. Those gems are better spent on progress-boosting purchases:
- Full masteries for your starter champion should be the first gem priority.
- Shards for new champions adds much more value early than a mine.
- Energy refills help rapidly advance through content.
Without access to high gem income stages yet, new players simply can‘t afford the mine. You need adequate gems first before you can spare them on a passive generator.
Focus instead on strengthening your roster and completing content. Get to end-game before worrying about free gem generation.
When does upgrading the gem mine make sense?
As a general rule of thumb, investing in the gem mine starts becoming worthwhile once you can reliably farm stage 20 dungeons.
Reaching end-game means you‘ll have good recurring gem income from:
- Dungeon stage rewards
- Daily quests
- Challenges
- Events/tournaments
- Clan Boss Chests
- Doom Tower progression
At this point you can comfortably afford upgrading the mine while still buying other important items.
Here are two good milestones:
- Upgrade the mine after your core champs have full masteries
- Fully upgrade the mine after 6+ months of playtime
Mid and end-game players will start seeing great returns from the upgraded mine.
Is the gem mine worth it for long-term players?
For players committed to playing Raid for years, fully upgrading the gem mine is absolutely worth the investment.
Once your account is established, the “set it and forget it” passive generation from the maxed mine really starts to add up.
It‘s not uncommon for longtime players to have earned over 50,000 gems from the mine. That‘s equivalent to about $347 worth of gem packs!
The mine effectively generates hundreds of dollars of premium currency per year for long-term accounts. No other building comes close to this kind of return.
Maximizing your return from the gem mine
Follow these tips to get the most out of your gem mine:
- Upgrade to maximum level 10 as soon as possible
- Check back often to collect your free gems
- Don‘t let the mine reach max capacity and stop producing
- Use gems to buy 1-2 day Mine Time Boosts from the Bazaar
- Pair with a Clock Tower boost for huge gem bursts
Final thoughts on the Raid: Shadow Legends gem mine
The gem mine is a lackluster investment at first, but evolves into an invaluable gem generator for dedicated players.
New players should avoid upgrading the mine and focus on progress.
Veteran players who plan to play long-term will gain huge value from a fully upgraded gem mine. It should be one of the first buildings maxed out.
With proper planning and patience, the gem mine will provide a steady, reliable stream of free gems for years to come!