Hrm - I play Clash Royale and the clan wars are typically locked-level cards. Early on when you’re getting started, the levels of cards for sure matters - but it stops fairly quickly. I’ve spent $10 on the game and regularly make it to the top league. Once you know how to play, it’s already stopped being pay-to-win. There is a reason it’s insanely popular and it’s not because there are no redeeming values. If time is money, I’ve spent thousands of times as much on Starcraft and Warcraft (and at least 6x dollars compared to sc2 alone). It’s a good product :)

Whatever you pay (even 0$), you'll end up with 50% winrate sooner or later.

I never paid anything for this game and had a lot of fun for years.

You get opponent that's either good with bad cards or good with bad cards. But you have 50% probability to win with either.

You are only winning as you climb to your level of opponents.

It's quite brilliant way to ensure players are appropriately challenged.