New to MAke Drama: MAD? Its first hours introduce a surprising number of menus, currencies and unit upgrades. Use this checklist to make the early game easier without paying or rerolling indefinitely.
1. Play the campaign before optimizing
Early story progress usually unlocks more systems and rewards than tinkering with every menu immediately. Clear what your team can handle, then spend your newly earned resources when you reach an actual wall. When a stage stops you, inspect enemy elements and the damage report before assuming you need another rare unit.
2. Respect elemental matchups
Community guides describe a 30% damage advantage when attacking the weaker element. That can matter more than a small gap in character rarity. Keep several damage dealers across elements; a flexible roster gives you more answers to changing encounters. Support and tank slots can often stay consistent while you rotate damage dealers.
3. Prioritize an effective five-character core
Avoid spreading scarce upgrade materials across every character you pull. Start with a reliable front-line unit, a healer or defensive support, your best general-purpose damage dealer, and enough alternatives to handle elemental weaknesses. Grow the core before investing in specialist units for niche content.
4. Finish newcomer missions
Check newcomer events and reward tabs after completing batches of stages. These can contain summon tickets, resources and potentially a character selector. Verify the contents in your current region and server, since event pools and deadlines can change after updates.
5. Think carefully about your selector
At the time of the referenced beginner guide, Ines and Charlotte were recommended as versatile early picks: Ines for sustain, Charlotte for offensive team buffs. This is not a universal answer. If you already have strong healing, filling a missing role or element may make more sense than taking another copy of a popular unit.
6. Don't ignore lower-rarity units
A lower-rarity attacker with the right element can outperform an off-element rare unit in the right stage. Existing guides also describe passive unlocks as units gain stars. Check what each upgrade actually adds before spending materials, especially if your most-used low-rarity character can unlock a meaningful passive.
7. Save flexible currency until you understand banners
Special banners can offer different featured rates, exchange systems and eligibility rules. Learn the banner details first. If you are comfortable with your current team, saving enough for a useful future pickup can be better than spending every time you earn a few gems.
8. Verify guides against the global client
Make Drama launched in South Korea before rolling out globally on October 8, 2026. Older guides and screenshots may describe earlier rates, currencies, menus or a different language build. Treat any specific number as provisional until your in-game notice confirms it.
The short version
- Story unlocks and elemental counters often matter more than an early perfect tier list.
- Invest in a compact, balanced core before collecting every unit.
- Choose selector and banner investments based on the gaps in your own account.
Sources & verification
Our summaries are independently written. Community recommendations may change with updates. Verify banner odds and availability in the game.