Azuki has announced the launch of its first-ever TCG, introducing the Alpha Starter Decks as a limited early release. The Alpha decks will offer fans a first look at the mechanics and card design behind the Azuki TCG, setting the stage for a broader launch later this year.
Pre-orders for the Alpha decks open on March 27, exclusively for Azuki community members, with pricing set at $95 USD, payable in $ANIME—Azuki’s native token. Each order comes with a redeemable NFT, which can later be exchanged for a physical deck. The initial release is being framed as a rare collectible moment, as all cards from this edition will include a limited “Alpha” stamp and will not be reprinted in future sets.
Access to the sale will be determined by Azuki’s Collector Status system, and a raffle will be held to distribute remaining inventory after the main pre-order window.
How to purchase an Alpha Starter Deck?
To take part in the pre-order, users must have a verified Collector Profile within the Azuki ecosystem. Azuki took a snapshot of wallet activity prior to the announcement to determine eligibility, categorising users into tiers—Order, Legend, Grand, and Esteemed. The higher the tier, the more decks a user can purchase during the pre-order phase. For example, Order Tier holders can buy up to eight decks, whilst those in the Grand Tier are limited to one.
The pre-order window runs from March 27 at 17:00 UTC to April 3 at 17:00 UTC. All purchases must be made using $ANIME tokens, and buyers must connect their wallet—either on Ethereum or Arbitrum—to complete the transaction. A wallet cannot be changed after a purchase is made, and users are discouraged from using unauthorised delegate setups, which may prevent successful ordering.
After completing a purchase, users receive an NFT receipt representing each deck ordered. These NFTs will be redeemable in Q3 2025 for the physical decks, with further shipping details to be announced closer to the release date.
If users want more decks than their initial allocation, or if they weren’t eligible to pre-order directly, they can enter a weighted raffle during the same pre-order window. Entries are capped based on Collector Tier—for instance, Order Tier holders can request up to 50 additional decks, whilst Esteemed Tier holders are limited to one.
Participants must prepay in $ANIME to enter the raffle, and unfulfilled entries will be refunded in full after the raffle concludes on April 4. The system ensures that unsold decks from the allocation phase are made available through the raffle pool.
What’s included the Starter Deck?
Each Alpha Starter Deck contains one of two possible preconstructed decks—Shao or Raizan—assigned at random. Alongside the main deck, buyers will receive several booster packs containing a mix of cards with four levels of rarity: Common (C), Uncommon (UC), Rare (R), and Super Rare (SR). Some cards will also include Alternate Versions, which are more difficult to obtain.
All cards in the Alpha release will feature a unique “Alpha” stamp, identifying them as part of this early wave. These cards may appear in later sets, but without the stamp. According to Azuki, there are no plans to reprint Alpha-stamped cards, adding to their scarcity and collector appeal.
Each deck will also include a quick-start manual, and a tutorial video will be made available to help new players learn the game’s core rules and mechanics.
The Alpha Starter Decks serve as a playable preview of the Azuki TCG, giving the community a first hands-on experience with the game. Whilst the basic gameplay systems are in place, Azuki notes that tweaks may still be made to card effects or mechanics ahead of the game’s full release, known as Set 1.
A limited reserve of Alpha decks will be held back for future events, tournaments, and promotions, but these will not include reprints—only original inventory from the current launch.
Blockchain evangelist. Content creator & graphic design hobbyist. Loves gaming!