# Magic vs Metal vs Catalyst Black

The clearest difference is ads: Catalyst Black at none against Magic vs Metal's shown. Catalyst Black also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs monthly) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). Magic vs Metal's advantage is review sentiment (79% vs 50%) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Magic vs Metal sells 14 one-off in-app purchases and Catalyst Black sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Magic vs Metal holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.4K and 1.8K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Magic vs Metal's written reviews are positive against 50% of Catalyst Black's.

Magic vs Metal ships an update monthly, Catalyst Black every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Magic vs Metal | Catalyst Black |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magic-vs-metal/id1521684249/reviews)** | [4.5 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/catalyst-black/id1525298433/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1.4K | **1.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **79.0% of reviews** | 49.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 981 MB | 1.0 GB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Foursaken Media](https://appshunter.io/developer/366197999) | [Super Evil Megacorp](https://appshunter.io/developer/671464707) |

## What reviewers say

### Magic vs Metal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magic-vs-metal/id1521684249)

Engage in a post-apocalyptic war between biological and mechanical factions. Command armies in real-time strategy or join the fray in third-person shooter mode. Unleash powerful hero abilities and craft unique items to dominate the battlefield.

**Highlights:** Real-time strategy (RTS), Third-person shooter (TPS), Massive single-player campaign, Unique heroes with powerful spells, Item crafting system, Fantasy and sci-fi genre blend, Stunning 3D graphics

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rare Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| Bonus Vault | $2.99 | one-time |
| Battle Pass | $4.99 | one-time |
| Rare Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Special Offer | $4.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Magi | $6.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Mecha | $6.99 | one-time |
| Unlock All | $9.99 | one-time |
| Rare Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $9.99 | one-time |
| Special Offer | $9.99 | one-time |
| Rare Coins | $19.99 | one-time |
| Special Offer | $19.99 | one-time |
| Rare Coins | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 👍 Generous free-to-play model
- 🎨 Great graphics
- 🕹️ Engaging combat
- 🔥 Addictive gameplay

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 🔁 Repetitive and grindy
- 🎮 Needs controller support
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when using too many powers
- Text replaced by jumbled symbols
- Berserker loses self-heal when equipping Crusher weapon
- Unable to progress past certain levels

**Requested features**

- Multiplayer and co-op modes
- More campaign content
- Ability to disable auto-fire
- Seamless view switching
- Improved inventory management


### Catalyst Black

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/catalyst-black/id1525298433)

Engage in team-based combat with customizable weapons and abilities. Transform into powerful mystical beings to dominate the battlefield. Team up with friends to strategize and conquer various game modes.

**Highlights:** Primal transformations, Customizable guns and gear, Multiple game modes, Team-based multiplayer, Real-time strategy, Level up abilities

**Features:** Game Controller support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tiny Satchel of Marks | $1.99 | one-time |
| Tiny Bundle Offer | $1.99 | one-time |
| Small Bundle Offer | $4.99 | one-time |
| Small Bundle Offer 3 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Small Bundle Offer 2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Small Bundle Offer 4 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Medium Pack of Marks | $9.99 | one-time |
| Medium Bundle Offer | $9.99 | one-time |
| Medium Bundle Offer 3 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Large Bundle Offer | $19.99 | one-time |
| Huge Case of Marks | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 🎨 Great graphics
- 👍 Addictive and fun
- 💡 Unique gameplay mechanics
- 🎮 Responsive controls

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🕰️ Slow progression and grind
- 💰 Pay-to-win mechanics
- 🕹️ Imbalanced matchmaking
- 🤖 Presence of bots in matches

**Reported bugs**

- Authentication server issues
- Inability to start matches
- Audio cutting out during gameplay
- Graphical glitches and performance issues
- Incorrect or missing in-game information

**Requested features**

- Bring back Vainglory
- Add more game modes and maps
- Improve social features like clans and chat
- Implement a competitive ranked mode
- Expand weapon and character customization


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Magic vs Metal free?

Magic vs Metal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Catalyst Black free?

Catalyst Black is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Magic vs Metal or Catalyst Black?

Magic vs Metal is rated higher. Magic vs Metal averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.4K ratings, while Catalyst Black averages 4.5 from 1.8K ratings.

### Do Magic vs Metal or Catalyst Black have ads?

Magic vs Metal shows ads; Catalyst Black does not.

### Which is updated more often, Magic vs Metal or Catalyst Black?

Magic vs Metal ships an update monthly, and Catalyst Black every 5 days. Most recently, Magic vs Metal was updated on October 19, 2026 and Catalyst Black on October 16, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*