Any tips for new players getting Meta Cards quick?

Just constantly getting slammed by meta decks. How the hell is a new player supposed to have fun in this game? if you're lucky you get a pack of commons a day. Has the new player experience in this game always been so terrible? I've put a full 24 hrs into it in less then a week and haven't received a single legendary card. I just don't understand how a player that doesn't spend money is supposed to ever catch up to people putting their life savings into this game?