Not only playing & getting better, but there are enhancement parts that you can collect to upgrade your character(s). With that said, every enhancement, you get 3 points or so to increase your skill bars. Make sure you also collect as many Sub. ATT. cards & Prism Cards as possible to upgrade your main equip cards to strengthen said attributes. Including changing skill sets to fit your playstyle. Your Prism cards can platinum or diamond your equipped cards, making them stronger as well.

If you're asking because you're genuinely trying to be competitive, don't feel bad, this game's progression is confusing even for OG returning players.

The monetization is a maze. There are so many different currencies, upgrade systems, limited-time events, costumes, cards, pets, and enhancement items that it's hard to tell what's actually worth buying. The game does a poor job of explaining which upgrades provide the biggest impact.

And if you decide to grind instead of paying, be prepared for a frustrating experience. The matchmaking often throws you against players who are far stronger and much more geared than you are, making progression feel less like improving and more like getting farmed. Instead of gradually matching you with players around your level, you're frequently expected to compete against veterans with fully developed characters.

If any veterans have a simple "buy these first, ignore these" guide, I'd really appreciate it. Right now, it feels like you need a PhD in Freestyle 2's economy just to figure out how to build a competitive character, and if you don't spend money, the game seems to expect you to grind through countless one-sided matches before you can even begin to catch up.