Assuming you get max CC(CombatCredit) each round, ~28 games to afford "starter" Pros(4500cc)
Much faster if you spring for CC boosters
Of the boosters there's a Timed(+100%), PerWin(+100%) and PerMatch(+500%)
Stack those 3 and you get up to 1280(2560 if you hit First Win of the Day bonus)
Personally I think the Timed is most worth the money, especially if you opt to play a lot
Luckily you can hold off on buying Pros because there's always 6 that are free for the week, so you can test out just about all of them given enough time.
Sharpshooters(see: sniper types) are usually excluded to give aimbotters the finger
If you have enough patience you don't have to spend a cent ever(unless you want to trade, but the minimum is $1 so it won't cost you much)
SMNC is also probably the farthest from pay2win you can get cuz the following are pretty much the only cash items
- Pros (cc can be used as well)
- Cosmetic items (player/weapon skins, accessories, taunts, flair)
- Blitz weapons (Blitz is PvsBots, just more insane than MNC Blitz)
- Boosters (CC and XP)
- Bundles (usually Pro/Cosmetic combos at discounted price
(I'm sure I'm forgetting something)
Anything that affects gameplay is CC only
If you're impatient on getting Pros:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/212520/?snr=1_7_suggest__13
$15 for $50 worth of stuff, including the 6 original MNC Pros, 4 Flairs and a 5-match, +500% CC booster
Also, Turbocross is roughly equivalent to classic MNC, and now even allows you to drop in/out whenever you please