Azuki has released the first official gameplay guide for its upcoming trading card game, outlining how the game will be played ahead of its first in-person tournament on July 5 in Los Angeles.
The guide introduces the core rules, game structure, and card types, offering a full explanation of how players engage in matches and win. The release of the guide gives players and tournament participants a clear framework to learn before the game’s formal launch later in 2025.
The guide is accessible directly on the official Azuki TCG website—no download is required.
Key Insights
Azuki TCG gameplay guide is now live ahead of the tournament in Los Angeles on July 5The guide outlines rules for cards, field layout, and win conditionsThe full launch of the TCG is expected later in 2025
Source: Azuki TCGWhat is Azuki TCG?
Azuki TCG is a trading card game developed as part of the Azuki project, a web3-focused brand that includes digital art, online communities, and anime-inspired themes.
The TCG introduces a structured card game format featuring turn-based strategy, faction-based decks, and defined win conditions. It will be played both competitively and casually, with its first official tournament taking place in July 2025.
The release of a gameplay guide marks the project’s first detailed explanation of how the game works. Although Azuki is a blockchain-native brand, the guide does not currently mention any integration with digital assets or tokens.
Source: Azuki TCGHow do you play the game?
Each player selects a faction and uses a 50-card deck built around a Leader card. The game is played on a field divided into two rows, with each row allowing up to 5 entities.
Garden (front row): This is where battles take place; any cards here can be attacked or used to attack.Alley (back row): A protected zone used to stage cards before moving them forward using a Gate card.
Cards are moved from the Alley to the Garden using a Gate card. Once in the Garden, most cards must wait a turn before acting, unless they have a “Charge” attribute. In addition to these two rows, you have an IKZ pile and an IKZ area. The resource system is based on IKZ cards, which are tapped to pay for playing other cards. One IKZ card is revealed per turn from a separate pile and placed into the IKZ area for use or pay for card costs.
To win the game, players must either reduce the opposing Leader’s health to zero or cause the opponent to run out of cards in their deck.
Cards come in six categories:
Leader: The central figure of a player’s deckGate: Governs how cards move and influences strategyEntity: Units that participate in combatWeapon: Cards used to strengthen Leaders or EntitiesSpell: One-time effectsIKZ: Resource cards used to pay for other cards
Additional mechanics include element types (Fire, Earth, Water, Lightning, Neutral) and tagged effects such as “Defender” or “When Attacked.”
Source: Azuki TCGWhat’s next for Azuki TCG?
The first official tournament for the Azuki TCG will be held on July 5, 2025 in Los Angeles, giving early players an opportunity to test the rules and mechanics in a competitive setting. The quick start guide provides a foundation for participants to prepare for this event.
A full public release of the game is expected later this year, though a specific launch date has not been confirmed. Additional updates are likely to follow the tournament, possibly including information on distribution, platform availability, and any digital features.
For more updates about Azuki TCG tournament, interested participants are encouraged to follow the official Azuki TCG account on Twitter/X or join the community on Discord.
