Don't use money unless you prefer to play long term. The game becomes insanely difficult once you have collected enough XP to unlock ECR gambling for Legendary content. You have to grind in tournaments and gather enough resources to spend in a couple of ECRs to gain legendary mechs and weapons. 

They really messed up the game, because newly-joined players should face rank 5 legendary weapons as soon as they unlock ECRs. And Legendary mechs/weapons are very powerful compared to rare/epic mechs and weapons.  

I can tell you that I truly regret supporting this game with real money.  It's not about how much you spend, but if the game is worth it or not.  

This game hates everyone that plays it actually I'd say

Execept those who still blindly support the game, but are in the fews 

Thanks for the advice guys, I'll play to get that Ironhorn only...I'll remain a casual 

Don't spend money! The game is rigged to make you think you need to spend money to upgrade your stuff to be competitive. Once you do, you are still matched against opponents that are much stronger than you. This is done to try to keep you spending money for upgrades. This game is pay to lose and it