Update for April 30, 2020: The current beta build of CryptoFights has several new features, including a tutorial, character skill tree, marketplace, and new worlds (maps) to fight on. We’ve updated this article with new sections to explain these features.
We’ve also provided new, more detailed information below on how to sign up for the beta.
CryptoFights is a blockchain-backed, fantasy combat game for Android that allows players to wager on fights. It is currently in closed beta, and there is no timetable for a public release.
However, some players have played the game, and many details of how CryptoFights works have been revealed over time.
This article will explain what we know so far about CryptoFights. We’ll explain the CryptoFights races, stats, battle actions, wagering system, anti-cheating protections, and more.
We’ll tell you everything you need to know to decide whether this game is worth beta testing or playing.
CryptoFights trailer and graphics
The developer of CryptoFights has released a trailer.
What it shows is a 3D arena similar to what is found in fighting games like Mortal Kombat 11 and Dragon Ball FighterZ, but with fantasy RPG characters using swords, staves, and bows instead of fists.
CryptoFights gameplay
The developer has provided some information about how the game will be played, and testers of the closed beta have provided further information. Here is what we know so far about CryptoFights gameplay.
Races
The game currently allows you to play three different races: human, dwarf, and elf. Humans get +1 to all stats, while dwarves get +2 to resistances and vitality. Elves get +10 to initiative and +2 to agility.
Players of tabletop Dungeons & Dragons will find these racial bonuses to be somewhat familiar. We can imagine there will be many players choosing to play dwarven fighter builds and elven thief builds, just as they often do in D&D.
Stats
All characters begin with 10 stat points they can distribute as they please. Every time a character earns an even-numbered experience level (2, 4, 6, etc.), he gains an additional stat point to spend.
Here are the stats used in the game:
Strength – Gives a bonus to hit and damage with brutal weapons (longswords, axes, etc.)
Agility – Gives a bonus to hit and damage with dextrous weapons (rapiers, crossbows, etc.) and increases the chance of successfully dodging
Vitality – Increases HP when new levels are attained
If you play a character and find that you don’t like it, you can create a new one. There is no limit to the number of characters that can be created.
Battles
Once your character is created, you can issue a challenge to duel other players. Or you can browse through the list of players that have issued challenges until you find one you want to fight.
At the beginning of a fight, both players roll for initiative. The player who wins this roll goes first. When it gets to your turn, you have a chance to make an attack roll.
If your roll is higher than your opponent’s AC, it hits. If it’s lower, it misses.
If your attack hits, you roll for damage.
In addition to these basic attack mechanics, you can also perform special actions during your turn. For example, if you are low on health, you can use your action to drink a health potion.
Depending on the type of weapon you have, you may also be able to use your action to perform an “improved attack” that will do significantly more damage than a normal attack.
Or if you fear that your opponent is about to do an improved attack of his own, you may decide to do a “defensive stance” to lessen the damage.
Winning at CryptoFights
If you reduce your opponent’s health to zero before he does the same to you, you win. The winning character receives experience points. Once enough experience points are accumulated, the character levels up and becomes more powerful.
However, experience levels are not the only thing that matters in terms of character power. Characters also need gear.
If a character doesn’t have enough gold to buy good equipment, he may be weaker than other characters of his same level.
This is where wagering comes in.
Wagering
A new character begins with a free set of starter gear. To get better gear, he will need to wager gold on fights and win these fights. If a character wins gold, he can spend it at vendors to acquire better weapons and armor.
Alternatively, you can spend your character’s gold on crypto collectibles from the game’s shop.
These collectibles are specifically designed to be melted and turned into Enjin Coin. Use this option if you have won a lot of battles and want to “cash out.”
The better pieces of gear are level restricted. So a player cannot simply buy the best weapons and armor to win at the game. Investing in the game does offer an advantage, but this is not an insurmountable advantage against players that have less money to spend.
Anti-cheating protection
Because of the wagering system in CryptoFights, the developer has created systems to thwart cheating and guarantee fair fights.
In CryptoFights, each player’s computer produces a random 256-bit number at the beginning of a battle. It then hashes this number to produce a second number. This number is hashed an additional time for each round of combat.
Both players’ hashes are verified by the blockchain nodes and then used to generate a “seed” number. This “seed” number is used for all die rolls within each turn.
This system prevents players from successfully altering the software and making up their own die rolls. It also prevents the developer from “rigging the dice.”
Since the die rolls are all determined on the blockchain, employees of the developer cannot use inside information to cheat in the game.
CryptoFights technology: dual blockchains
To handle both the wagering system and the trading of crypto collectibles, CryptoFights relies on a dual blockchain system.
The collectibles are minted using Enjin Coin, and transactions involving these digital objects take place on the Ethereum blockchain. But the fights themselves are handled using the Bitcoin SV blockchain.
Every CryptoFights collectible is created using a certain amount of Enjin Coin (ENJ). This ENJ is held in a smart contract for as long as the collectible exists. If a player wants to quit the game and cannot find a buyer for his collectible, he can “melt” the collectible.
This destroys the collectible and releases the ENJ from the contract to the owner’s ENJ wallet. In this way, a player can always be guaranteed a certain amount of ENJ for the collectibles he earns.
All wagers and fights in CryptoFights are handled by the Bitcoin SV Blockchain. The developers of CryptoFights believe that Bitcoin SV is the only blockchain fast enough to handle the speeds needed in modern games.
This choice is somewhat controversial in the blockchain community, due to the recent hash war between Bitcoin SV and Bitcoin ABC (also known as “Bitcoin Cash” or BCH). But this controversy has not changed the developer’s decision.
The developer originally intended to use an Ethereum sidechain solution similar to the Loom Network. But this plan has been scrapped.
Tutorial (new)
In previous builds, CryptoFights did not contain a tutorial. Players had to learn how to fight through trial and error.
Developers have now added a friendly NPC to the game to help new players get their bearings.
Bran the Brave is a wise, seasoned veteran of arena fighting. He teaches players all they need to know about basic gameplay mechanics and strategy.
Skill tree (new)
The new CryptoFights build takes character progression and customization further than previous ones did. Players can now put points into a skill tree that allows their characters to specialize in particular aspects of combat.
For example, a player can build a character into a strong warrior that excels at melee combat but isn’t very good at magic or vice-versa.
Marketplace and wallet upgrades (new)
CryptoFights now has a built-in marketplace that allows players to trade items or sell them for cash.
Players can browse a list of Wanted Items and Items for Sale, view details of an item (including its trading history), and put up multiple items for sale with the click of a button.
The game’s wallet interface has also been upgraded. Each player can use the game’s built-in wallet to view the entire history of every item he owns.
Additional worlds (new)
CryptoFights has several new worlds or maps that players can fight in. Here is a list of them.
Training Grounds
For new players just learning or veterans who want to test out new tactics, the Training Grounds is the place to go to kill training dummies.
The training dummies don’t fight back. Players can test out abilities and rotations for as long as they want, without having to worry about getting killed by real enemies.
The Training Grounds is open to all fighters.
Treasure Cave
The Treasure Cave is a special arena reserved for tournaments and other events. When these events are running, characters of any tier can enter it.
Marketplace
Tier 1 characters can choose to fight in the marketplace.
There are plenty of NPC spectators on this map. They are in the marketplace mostly to shop, but they have to chosen to stop and watch the fight.
Fighters should take care to put on a good show in the Marketplace. If a particular fighter is not trying hard enough or is judged to be doing a poor job, the spectators may boo him and throw food at him.
Wilderness Jungle
Tier 2 characters can enter the Wilderness Jungle to face greater challenges.
Legends say that the Wilderness Jungle contains ancient artifacts providing rare powers to its possessors. But in order to find these artifacts, a fighter must first defeat his opponents in battle.
Lava Inferno
Lava Inferno is a tier 3 world. Characters who enter this world will slowly begin to burn to death as the takes its toll on them.
The only way to survive the Lava Inferno is to either use fire-resistant gear or kill your opponent before the lava kills you.
Ice Ring
Characters begin to take cold damage the moment they enter the tier 4 Ice Ring map. Only strong cold resistance gear can allow a fighter to survive here.
Fighting Pit
Only the very best fighters will ever make it to the tier 5 Fighting Pit. Winners often receive Rare, Epic, or Legendary rewards for participating in Fighting Pit matches.
Getting into the closed beta (updated)
If you’re interested in beta testing CryptoFights, the good news is that it is now easier than ever to apply.
Just open a browser and navigate to the official Kronoverse community website.
Once there, create a new account using either your Google or Facebook ID or an email address.
After logging in, send a request to join the Closed Beta Testers group. You should hear back from them soon.
The CryptoFights beta does not run continuously. So if you join right after a test has finished, you may have to wait a few weeks for the next test to begin.
For updates on new tests, check the Closed Beta testers group or CryptoFights Telegram.
Conclusion
It’s too soon to know whether CryptoFights will be a fun game. Many changes are likely to be made between now and release.
Still, the use of a blockchain-backed wagering system is innovative, and there may be many players who will love this type of game.
We’ll be testing out the CryptoFights beta sometime within the next few weeks. We’ll let you know more once we’ve played the current build.
So check back to this article soon for updates.
