Summoners War: Sky Arena – A Decade Later, Still Summoning

Summoners War: Sky Arena is a mobile turn-based strategy game developed by Com2uS, originally released all the way back in 2014. And I’ve been an occasional Summoners War enjoyer ever since it launched. Some of it is because I genuinely like the game, but it’s also a little personal for me.

You see, this is the game my wife and I started playing together when we first started dating. One of my favorite early memories together is us curled up under a blanket, coffee mugs in hand, theory-crafting how to improve our teams. The game became our shared hobby, and that feeling of building something together—our little accounts, our goals, our dream Nat 5 summons—stuck with me.

That’s why I still come back to it, because it reminds me of a time I’ll always cherish.

Fast forward 10 years, and Summoners War is still alive, kicking, and evolving. Com2uS has been steadily pushing updates, quality-of-life improvements, and, one of their biggest selling points, collaborations. Over the years, they’ve partnered with a wild mix of franchises, including Street Fighter, Cookie Run: Kingdom, Assassin’s Creed, One Punch Man, The Witcher, and even The King of Fighters. Each collab brought unique monsters with distinct abilities and plenty of hype—and yep, sometimes a free unit to sweeten the deal.

So, if you’re wondering whether this game has stayed relevant all these years later, the answer is yes. It’s changed, but it’s still unmistakably Summoners War.

Gameplay Basics – Scrolls, Monsters, and Runes

Let’s break down the gameplay without drowning in details.

Yes, it’s a gacha game. You summon monsters using various scrolls—Mystical, Legendary, Elemental, Light & Dark—and the odds aren’t always kind, but that’s part of the thrill. Every scroll has a chance to pull something rare, and if you’ve got a bit of superstition in you, you’ll probably develop weird rituals around your summoning sessions. (I still summon in channel 121 because that’s where I got my first Nat 5)

After you’ve summoned, the real work begins. Monsters must be leveled, evolved, awakened, and, most importantly, runed. Runes are the game’s gear system, and they’re arguably more important than the monsters themselves. A bad unit with god-tier runes can carry you. A top-tier unit with garbage runes is useless.

Runes drop from dungeons like Giant’s Keep, Dragon’s Lair, and Necropolis. Each dungeon offers specific rune types, and every rune comes with substats that can make or break a build. Farming runes is the core grind of the game—and trust me, it’s addicting. You’ll spend hours chasing that perfect Swift rune with triple speed rolls, and when you finally get it, it feels incredible.

Yes, it’s RNG-heavy. Yes, it’s complex. And yes, it’s absolutely worth digging into if you enjoy theorycrafting and micromanagement.

PVE to PVP – Where the Grind Pays Off

Summoners War splits its gameplay into two big buckets: PVE and PVP.

PVE is the grindy, resource-gathering side. You’ll farm runes, awaken monsters, and build dungeon teams that can auto-run reliably. You’ll also take on things like ToA (Trial of Ascension), Rift Beasts, and the new Dimensional Hole content for more late-game progression.

But eventually, you’ll want to test your monsters against other players—and that’s where Arena and Live Arena come in.

1. Arena (Regular PVP) – This is where you set a defense team of four monsters and attack others’ defenses to climb the ladder. It’s asynchronous, turn-based, and a solid place to test your team-building.
2. Live Arena (RTA) – This is the real-time, draft-based, sweaty side of PVP. You take turns drafting monsters with your opponent, banning one of their picks, and then battle it out. It’s less about brute force and more about counterplay, team synergy, and—again—rune quality. RTA even has a World Arena Championship with a legit prize pool and a fiercely competitive community.

If you’re a min-maxer who loves outsmarting people or just want to see if your runes can hold up in real-time, RTA is where it gets real.

Free to Play Friendly? Surprisingly, Yes

For a gacha game, Summoners War is very free-to-play friendly.

I’ve never felt like I had to spend money to enjoy the game. Sure, whales exist, and they dominate the highest tiers of RTA—but if you’re not aiming for the World Championship, you can build a competitive account without spending a cent. You just need patience, planning, and a healthy dose of luck.

Com2uS has also been more generous lately with events, freebies, and login rewards. These days, even casual players can get consistent scrolls, devilmons, and grindstones just by participating in regular content.

It’s a game that respects your time… as long as you’re willing to give it a lot of it.

Tips for New Players

If you’re just starting out, or returning after a break, here are a few tips I wish I had from day one:

• Focus on Teams, Not Summons – Don’t chase every new monster. Focus on building reliable teams for farming Giant’s B12, Dragon’s B12, and eventually Necro. The game opens up when you can farm efficiently.
• Runes > Units – It doesn’t matter how rare your monster is if your runes are trash. Farming runes is the real endgame.
• Check the Community – YouTube, Reddit, Discord—use them all. There are insanely good guides and team comps out there for every stage of the game.
• Be Patient – Don’t stress if your summons are unlucky or your grinds take forever. This game is a marathon, not a sprint.

Final Thoughts – Still Worth It in 2025?

Absolutely.

Is Summoners War: Sky Arena the flashiest mobile game out there? No. It’s a little dated in places. But underneath the aging UI is a rock-solid strategy game with real depth, a loyal community, and some of the most satisfying monster-building you’ll find on mobile.

It’s the kind of game you can play on the side while watching TV, or fall headfirst into during your competitive arc. You can leave for a year, come back, and pick up right where you left off—new events, new units, and new metas to learn.

And if you’re like me, it might even hold a little emotional weight too. That’s something no shiny banner or flashy collab can replace.

So if you’re looking for a mobile game to stick with—something you can sink your teeth into—give it a shot. Just take it slow, enjoy the process, and as always: summon responsibly.