Zero-cost players can also cross tribulations, of course.
It's just that the success rate is definitely lower than that of pay-to-win players; it's more about luck.
Pay-to-win players can max out on all kinds of Realm-Breaking Elixirs and might pass the tribulation in one go. Zero-cost players might be stuck at a certain level for a while and need to try multiple times to break through to the next level.
By the way.
In the game's tribulation crossing mechanics, neither pay-to-win nor zero-cost players can achieve a 100% success rate; the highest success rate is around 80%, and the lowest is 30%!
"It's a relatively luck-based mechanic; even the biggest pay-to-win players might find themselves failing ten consecutive tribulations due to bad luck. Conversely, zero-cost players might succeed on their first try due to good luck."
Chen Ba explained: "To be more secure, whether you're a pay-to-win or zero-cost player, the best way is to accumulate merit."
That's right, merit!
