Play-Off Events didn’t just add competition. They reshaped the entire game in a way that rewards unhealthy playstyles, punishes casual and mid-tier players, and directly caused the rise of SP dropping.

1. Unfair by Design

Play-Off rewards are realistically only obtainable by the top players. If your mechs aren’t maxed or close to it, you’re basically locked out. With weaker or mid-level builds, you have something like a 94% chance of never touching top 10. Skill barely matters when power gaps decide outcomes before the match even starts.

2. 24/7 Grinding Encouraged

To get anything worthwhile, you must place top 10. That means nonstop grinding—day and night. This system quietly encourages account sharing, even though it’s prohibited.

I know this firsthand. In 2024, I shared a high-level account with 14 other players. Everyone played at scheduled times, covering the entire day. We were almost always #1 or #2 on leaderboards. That wasn’t skill—it was availability.

It’s now 2026, and this still happens. The system rewards who can grind the longest, not who plays the best.

3. Play-Off Events Encouraged SP Dropping

This is one of the biggest consequences people ignore.

Because Play-Off Events force players to win constantly against weaker competition, high-level players started intentionally lowering their Squad Power. By unequipping gear, running underpowered mechs, or manipulating matchmaking, they could dominate lower SP brackets and farm points faster.

SP dropping didn’t become common by accident - it became necessary to compete in Play-Off Events without burning out. And now it’s everywhere, ruining matchmaking for newer and mid-tier players.

4. No One Asked for This

No one wanted Fortune Vaults removed. Fortune Vaults guaranteed value of 400 A-Coins, skins, and progression that felt fair.

Play-Off Events replaced that with a near-zero chance of meaningful rewards. Most players walk away with a gold crate that’s useless to them but profitable for the game. The rewards feel worse, more random, and far more predatory.

Conclusion

Play-Off Events didn’t improve Mech Arena. They encouraged account sharing, SP dropping, and widened the gap between 'fun' and 'players'.

What was sold as “competitive” ended up being one of the biggest reasons the game feels less fair today.