After the Goddess of Destruction update, there has been some sort of help when creating a new character, consumables, armor/weapons and other time limited items. You can get some free gear from the game along with some cheap boosts that are easy to obtain add some events that are repeated throughout the year and you can eventually start making progress in the game.
The exalted set is something that all characters get once they acquire noblesse status, which is now available once you hit level 100 and is part of the main questline.
- Dual class skills: There are 2 sets of dualclass skills, the ones you get for having a 85 - 105 dual and the ones you get to have from 107-110. The 105 dual class skills are divided into 3 categories, each one of them requires a certain amount of certificates and have skills such as pdef/mdef, patk/matk, critical damage, reuse and many more to choose from, the 110 ones, only require 1 certificate and give weapon patk, weapon matk, adena gained, xp gained, element atk and element defense.
- Homunculus: This feature allows you to get a pet (its passive, you cannot summon it and have it follow you) that depending on its type, you can permanent stats that will increase your offensive or defensive stats, element attack/ defense, reuse etc. You can get up to 4 per day, 1 from the "Cradle of Time" for free and 3 from the "Cradle of Life" that cost 12m adena each and can be bought from the Adena shop.
- Attendance Rewards (Boss Jewels): Blessed Valakas, Blessed Antharas, Lindvior Earring, Rulers Ring of Authority, Truth Seeker Ring, you choose what is be for you. You can say that it is tradition during an Update, that an Attendance Event will also be there. Usually 2 to 3 times a year you get to choose one of those accessories for free, cant trade them but are permanent on your toon, requires 3 black tickets.
- Attendance Rewards (Golden Beads - Collections): Once you are done collecting the accessories of your choice or do not need them based on the class that you are you can exchange 3 black tickets for a Golden Bead, that golden bead can fill any "Single" collection spot that requires, Blood Red Sould Beads, Orb of Abyss, Dark Bead and Wrathfull Beads (from ToI), of any quantity or enchant. ( this can be 2400 x (level 0) Blood Red Soul Beads, 800 x Wrathfull Beads 8th floor or 150 x +10 Orb of Abyss.
- Virtual Equipment: A rather new feature that allows players to borrow certain items ( those items may chance from Season to Season) by using points that are obtained daily. Although there are thresholds on those points based on the characters level, you certainly can get items that would otherwise take forever to farm on your own. As mentioned earlier not all items are the same each season, for example, you may have Ruby and Sapphire for one Season and Red /Blue Cats Eye on the following one, however items like cloaks/armors/weapons are always available (a jewel and a cloak should always be the first choice).
- +12 Atlas Earring: An item that can be made for absolutely free and will give you 5% normal/skill/magical crit damage among other stats. The earring itself can be obtained from the graduation box upon reaching 105 at +0 and its 100% success rate to +12. All you need to do is 12 mentees and this is an item that will most likely last you until level 120 or more.
Combine all those with some Dethrone Skills, which are not free to level or upgrade but are rather easy to obtain and you can build a character with a solid foundation. Then your gear will do the rest.