Black Cards vs Rainbow Cards in Punishing: Gray Raven – Key Differences & Best Ways to Use Each

Ask any Punishing: Gray Raven (PGR) player what‘s the most common mistake they made as a beginner, and you’ll get the same answer: wasting Black Cards on the wrong banners.

It happens to nearly everyone. You see a shiny new banner, you‘ve got a few thousand Black Cards saved up, and you think—“just one 10-pull can‘t hurt.” Then pity resets. Your dream S-rank construct banner drops next week. And you’re empty-handed.

The good news? You don‘t have to make those mistakes. PGR’s currency system is actually quite straightforward once you understand how Black Cards and Rainbow Cards work—and more importantly, where to spend each for maximum value.

In this guide, I‘ll break down the key differences between Black Cards and Rainbow Cards, show you exactly how much you can earn as an F2P player, explain the pity system in plain numbers, and give you a clear spending roadmap whether you spend $0 or $100+ a month.

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1. Currency 101: Defining Black Cards and Rainbow Cards in PGR

Let‘s start with the basics. PGR has two main currencies, and confusing them is the fastest way to waste your resources.

Black Cards – The King of PGR Currencies

Black Cards (BC) are the most important and precious banner currency in Punishing: Gray Raven. Why? Because they can be converted 1:1 into any other pulling currency—Event Construct R&D Tickets, Target Weapon R&D Tickets, you name it. Every gacha banner in the game ultimately runs on Black Cards.

How to get Black Cards:

• Free methods: Stage completion (main source in early game), daily and weekly missions, events, login rewards, level-up bonuses, and first-time completion rewards

• Paid methods: Purchase Rainbow Cards with real money, then exchange them for Black Cards at a 1:10 ratio (more on this below)

How Black Cards are spent:

• Character banners (Event Construct / Theme Limited banners)

• Weapon banners (Target Weapon Research)

• CUB (auxiliary unit) banners

• Each pull costs 250 Black Cards (2,500 for a 10-pull)

Rainbow Cards – The Premium Paid Currency

Rainbow Cards (RC) are PGR‘s premium, paid-only currency. You cannot earn them through gameplay—the only way to get Rainbow Cards is to buy them with real money.

What Rainbow Cards are used for:

• Exchanging for Black Cards at a 1:10 ratio (1 RC → 10 BC)

• Purchasing the Monthly Pass (costs 30 Rainbow Cards)

• Buying exclusive character skins and effect bundles

• Purchasing special event packs and limited-time bundles

The key difference: Black Cards are earned through playing; Rainbow Cards are bought with money. That‘s it.

Quick Comparison Table

Pro tip from the community: F2P players should avoid converting Black Cards into Basic Construct R&D Tickets or Basic Weapon R&D Tickets at all costs—you get those tickets for free from login rewards and level-up bonuses.

2. The 1:10 Exchange Rule: How Rainbow Cards Convert to Black Cards

This is the single most important mechanic connecting Rainbow Cards and Black Cards.

The Conversion Ratio

1 Rainbow Card = 10 Black Cards

That‘s it. Straightforward, no tricks. If you have 30 Rainbow Cards, you can exchange them for 300 Black Cards.

Where to Convert

In the game, head to the Black Card Exchange section of the shop. Select the number of Rainbow Cards you want to convert, confirm, and the Black Cards are added to your balance instantly.

Should You Always Convert Immediately?

Not necessarily. Here‘s when to convert and when to hold:

• Convert immediately if: You‘re saving for an upcoming banner and want to avoid the temptation of spending RC on skins

• Hold your RC if: A limited-time skin you want is coming soon (skins can only be bought with RC, not BC)

• Consider partial conversion: Keep a reserve of 50–100 RC for unexpected Monthly Pass renewals or event skins

What About the Monthly Pass?

The Monthly Pass costs 30 Rainbow Cards. And it‘s widely considered the best value purchase in PGR—you pay 30 RC, and over 30 days you receive roughly 3,330 Black Cards (depending on the pass tier). That‘s a return of over 111 Black Cards per Rainbow Card, compared to the standard 10:1 conversion ratio you‘d get from direct exchange.

The math: 30 RC spent on Monthly Pass → ~3,330 BC (111 BC per RC). 30 RC spent on direct conversion → 300 BC (10 BC per RC). The Monthly Pass gives you 11x the value for your Rainbow Cards.

For a deeper breakdown of pack values and spending efficiency, check out Prydwen‘s Punishing Gray Raven resources for community-ranked tier lists and detailed currency guides.

3. Where to Spend Black Cards: Banner Priorities & Value Ranking

This is where most new players make mistakes. Let‘s rank every banner in order of value, from “must-pull” to “skip unless whale.”

Priority 1: New S-Rank Construct Debut Banners (Theme Limited)

This is where your Black Cards should go. Period.

New S-rank construct debut banners (also called “Theme Limited” or “Event” banners) are released roughly every two months. These banners feature the latest and strongest characters—and F2P and low-spender players should save every Black Card specifically for these.

• Cost per pull: 250 BC

• 10-pull: 2,500 BC

• Pity guarantee: 60 pulls for an S-rank construct

• Total cost to guarantee an S-rank: 15,000 BC

Note: New accounts have an initial 40-pull pity for their first S-rank construct—so if you‘re just starting, you only need 10,000 BC to guarantee your first S-rank character.

Priority 2: Target Weapon Research (6★ Signature Weapons)

Once you have your core S-rank characters, the next best use of Black Cards is their 6★ signature weapons.

• Cost per pull: 250 BC

• 10-pull: 2,500 BC

• Pity guarantee: 30 pulls for a 6-star weapon

• Total cost to guarantee a 6★ weapon: 7,500 BC

• Rate-up chance: When you hit pity, there‘s an 80% chance the weapon you targeted is the one you get

When to skip: If you‘re F2P and just starting out, skip weapons entirely until you have at least 2-3 S-rank characters built. A new character > a weapon for that character.

Priority 3: A-Rank Constructs

A-rank constructs are guaranteed every 10 pulls. But here‘s the thing: all A-rank constructs are farmable for free through daily shard farming. You should never spend Black Cards specifically chasing A-ranks.

What to NEVER Spend Black Cards On

For a detailed overview of how PGR‘s pity system works across all banner types, visit the PGR Gacha Wiki. It‘s one of the most comprehensive resources for understanding drop rates and guarantee mechanics.

Black Card Spending Priority Table

4. Where to Spend Rainbow Cards: Conversion vs Direct Purchase

Rainbow Cards give you options. Here‘s how to choose the right one.

Option 1: Convert to Black Cards (The Standard Approach)

This is what most players do. Buy Rainbow Cards, convert them to Black Cards at 1:10 ratio, then use those Black Cards for character and weapon banners.

• Best for: Players who need Black Cards right now for an active banner

• Efficiency: Low (10 BC per RC)

• When to use: You‘re short on BC for a must-pull character banner

Option 2: Buy the Monthly Pass (The High-Value Choice)

The Monthly Pass costs 30 Rainbow Cards and delivers Black Cards daily over 30 days. This gives you roughly 3,330 BC for 30 RC—over 11x the value of direct conversion.

• Best for: Low spenders and anyone who logs in daily

• Efficiency: Very high (~111 BC per RC)

• When to buy: The first day of every month, always

Option 3: Buy Exclusive Skins (The Cosmetic Choice)

Rainbow Cards are the only currency that can buy most limited-edition skins. Some skins are only available during specific events and may never return.

• Best for: Players who prioritize aesthetics over meta

• Efficiency: Not applicable (cosmetic only)

• When to buy: When your favorite character‘s limited skin drops and you have RC to spare

The game occasionally releases free skins as well—for example, a free Rainbow Card Shop coating was recently made available through login rewards during the Homecoming Voyage update. Keep an eye on event announcements before spending RC on older skins.

Option 4: Buy Event Packs and Bundles

The shop occasionally features limited-time event packs that give you more value than standard RC→BC conversion. Always check the “Value” of event packs before buying.

• Best for: Dolphins and whales

• Efficiency: Variable (check the pack contents carefully)

• When to buy: Anniversary events, new character debut events, holiday sales

Rainbow Card Use Priority Table

5. Smart Spending by Player Tier: F2P, Low Spender & Whale

Now let‘s put it all together with strategies for different budgets.

F2P (Free‑to‑Play) – $0 / month

You only get Black Cards, never Rainbow Cards.

• Weekly income: Approximately 1,210 Black Cards from consistent daily and weekly mission completion

• Monthly income: Roughly 4,840–5,000+ Black Cards

• Add event rewards, story progression, login bonuses, and promo codes, and dedicated F2P players can reach 6,000–8,000 BC per month

The F2P strategy:

• Save every Black Card for new S-rank debut banners

• Never convert Black Cards into Basic tickets

• Use only the free tickets you get from logins for standard banners

• Take advantage of story mode as your main Black Card source in early game

How many S-ranks can an F2P get? With ~5,000 BC per month, you need 3 months of saving to guarantee one S-rank (15,000 BC). But with events, promo codes, and the first-time 40-pull pity, you can realistically pull a new S-rank every 2-3 months.

Looking to stay F2P? Check out the PGR Fandom Beginner‘s Guide —it‘s packed with tips on maximizing free resources and avoiding common early-game mistakes.

Low Spender / Minnow – $5–15 / month

Buy only the Monthly Pass (30 Rainbow Cards, ~$4.99).

• Monthly BC income: ~5,000 (F2P) + ~3,330 (Monthly Pass) = ~8,330+ BC

• Rainbow Card cost: $4.99 per month

Strategy:

• Monthly Pass is mandatory—it gives you 11x the value of direct conversion

• Save all BC for S-rank debut banners

• You‘ll guarantee one S-rank every 1.5–2 months instead of 3

• Never buy skins or event packs until your roster is built

Dolphin – $30–80 / month

Core purchases: Monthly Pass + selected event packs + occasional Battle Pass paid tier.

• Monthly BC income: ~5,000 (F2P) + ~3,330 (Monthly Pass) + event pack BC = 10,000+ BC

• Reach: Guarantee an S-rank every month; start pulling for signature weapons

Strategy:

• Always maintain Monthly Pass

• Buy event packs during anniversary and new character debut events

• Consider Battle Pass paid tier during event patches

• Start pulling for 6★ signature weapons for your main DPS characters

Whale (Heavy Spender) – $100+ / month

Buy everything. Monthly Pass ×2 (if allowed), all event packs, direct Rainbow Cards for conversion.

Strategy:

• Max out all new S-rank constructs (aim for SS or SSS ranks through dupes)

• Get every signature 6★ weapon

• Collect limited-edition skins with spare Rainbow Cards

• Direct RC→BC conversion for emergency pulls when you run out

6. Common Mistakes to Avoid: Wasting Black Cards & Rainbow Cards

Learn from others‘ mistakes. Here are the five most common currency mistakes in PGR.

Mistake #1: Spending Black Cards on the Member Recruit Banner

What it is: The standard banner full of older characters.
Why it‘s bad: You get free Basic Construct R&D Tickets from login rewards. Converting BC into these tickets is a massive waste.
The fix: Never touch the Member Recruit banner with Black Cards. Use only the free blue tickets you receive.

Mistake #2: Pulling for Weapons Before You Have Characters

What it is: Spending 7,500+ BC on a 6★ weapon for a character you don‘t own yet.
Why it‘s bad: The weapon does nothing without the character. Characters always come first.
The fix: Characters > weapons. Always. Only pull for weapons after you‘ve secured the character.

Mistake #3: Exchanging Rainbow Cards Directly Instead of Buying Monthly Pass

What it is: 30 RC → 300 BC through direct conversion.
Why it‘s bad: 30 RC → 3,330 BC through Monthly Pass is 11x better.
The fix: If you‘re spending any money on PGR, buy the Monthly Pass first. Then consider direct RC if you still need more.

Mistake #4: Using Black Cards to Refill Stamina

What it is: Spending BC to refresh serum (stamina).
Why it‘s bad: The conversion rate is terrible. You‘re burning precious pulling currency for a few extra minutes of farming.
The fix: Be patient. Your serum regenerates naturally. Save BC for banners.

Mistake #5: Chasing Every Banner Instead of Saving

What it is: Doing a few pulls on every banner that drops.
Why it‘s bad: Pity does NOT reset in your favor when you spread pulls thinly. You‘ll never hit guarantees and end up with nothing.
The fix: Skip banners entirely except the ones you‘re committed to. Save until you can hit pity (15,000 BC for S-rank characters).

7. FAQ – Common Questions About Black Cards and Rainbow Cards

Q: Can F2P players get Rainbow Cards for free?
A: Generally no—Rainbow Cards are a paid currency only. However, special events like anniversaries occasionally give away free Rainbow Card Shop items (coatings, not Rainbow Cards themselves). The Homecoming Voyage update, for example, offered a free coating through login rewards.

Q: How many Black Cards can I earn per week as a free player?
A: Approximately 1,210 Black Cards per week from consistent daily and weekly missions, plus event and story rewards. This totals roughly 5,000 Black Cards per month.

Q: Is it better to convert Rainbow Cards to Black Cards or save them for skins?
A: It depends on your goals. For meta progression, converting to BC for characters is better. For long-term enjoyment, saving for a limited skin you love is valid—just don‘t do it at the expense of missing a must-pull character.

Q: Can I buy Black Cards directly without Rainbow Cards?
A: No. Black Cards are either earned through gameplay or obtained by converting Rainbow Cards. There‘s no “buy Black Cards” button—you buy Rainbow Cards, then convert.

Q: What‘s the cheapest way to get Black Cards in PGR?
A: The Monthly Pass. For $4.99 (30 RC), you get ~3,330 BC over 30 days—the best value in the game by a wide margin.

Q: Do Rainbow Cards expire?
A: No. Rainbow Cards stay in your account until you spend them. However, limited-time event packs and skins do expire—the RC themselves don‘t.

Q: Can I transfer Rainbow Cards or Black Cards between servers?
A: No. Your data—including all currencies—is locked to the server you choose at account creation. Choose carefully.

Q: Which banners should I skip as a low spender?
A: Skip all standard banners (Member Recruit), skip weapon banners until your character roster is solid, and skip any banner where you can‘t reach pity (15,000 BC saved).

Q: Is the Monthly Pass worth buying with Rainbow Cards?
A: Absolutely. It‘s the single highest-value purchase in PGR. Thirty Rainbow Cards give you 11x more BC than direct conversion.

Q: How do I get free Black Cards from promo codes in 2026?
A: Use active codes like PGR2026, NEWROSETTA0203, and HAPPY6THBIRTHDAY on the Global server. To redeem: complete the tutorial → tap the notifications icon (left of screen) → enter your code in the box at the bottom right. Check Pocket Gamer‘s PGR codes list regularly for updates.

Q: What‘s the fastest way to top up Punishing: Gray Raven right now?
A: Top up at Topuplist with UID‑only delivery — provide your Role ID and server, and Rainbow Cards arrive within minutes. No passwords, no waiting. Browse all games at the Topuplist main shop.

Final Verdict

Understanding the difference between Black Cards and Rainbow Cards is the first step to spending smart in Punishing: Gray Raven. Here‘s your cheat sheet:

• Black Cards are for pulling. Save them for new S-rank debut banners (15,000 BC for guarantee). Never waste them on standard banners or weapons before you have characters.

• Rainbow Cards are for value. Use them first on the Monthly Pass (11x value). Then consider event packs, skins, or direct conversion only if needed.

• F2P income: ~5,000 BC/month from daily/weekly activity. Enough to guarantee an S-rank every 2-3 months.

• Low spenders: Buy the Monthly Pass. That alone gives you ~8,300+ BC/month.

• Promo codes are free BC. Redeem them weekly.

The difference between a smart spender and an impulsive one is thousands of Black Cards saved over a few months—and multiple guaranteed S-rank characters you‘d otherwise miss. Now go secure those resources and build the squad you‘ve been saving for, Commandant.

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