You have to get shards. There are a few places where you can get shards without using crystals:
1) Hard mode in the Light/Dark Battles
2) Cantina
3) Cantina Shipments
4) Arena Squad
5) Galactic War
6) Bronzium packs
What? Are you tired of Chewbacca, clone trooper and JC already? Its good to spend ten dollars, even if you are free to play to get your team started. Cross your fingers you get a good toon you like and not Lobot or mob enforcer. You will spend a bunch of time with your first squad of characters. A few months from now you will be unlocking toons a couple times a week with no intent of using them. Win Galatic war 100 times and you will see what I mean.
Replies
1) Hard mode in the Light/Dark Battles
2) Cantina
3) Cantina Shipments
4) Arena Squad
5) Galactic War
6) Bronzium packs