Quick tips for non payers starting out?

There is a section in these forums devoted to player guides, I don't know how useful it is but just try searching or asking for tips there if you cant figure something out https://forums.galaxy-of-heroes.starwars.ea.com/categories/guides
However I have a suggestion that you may want to try. I find buying the normal energy twice or three times a day really helps gain player level experience, if you decide to do so I would also suggest using that energy to simulate hard battles for the shards of whichever character your interested in