Anichess will mint its Genesis Ethernals collection tomorrow for top contributors and early players. With only 960 NFTs available, the drop offers holders access to token rewards, exclusive staking, and gameplay perks. The mint is free, with users covering only gas fees.
Anichess will mint its first NFT collection, Genesis Ethernals, on July 3. This drop is dedicated to the game’s most loyal players and early contributors. The mint will be free, with participants only needing to cover Ethereum gas fees. With just 960 NFTs in total, Ethernals are a limited-access gateway to the heart of the Anichess ecosystem.
Built as a tribute to strategic mastery and community engagement, Genesis Ethernals are designed to reward players who helped shape the game’s early foundation. A wallet eligibility checker will go live soon, and those who qualify will get to mint directly from Anichess.com. Others can try to enter via the Premint raffle.
What Makes Genesis Ethernals Unique
According to the team, Ethernals are more than just digital art. They represent status, legacy, and access. Holders of these NFTs will get exclusive perks that place them at the core of the game’s future.
Some of these benefits include $C token airdrops, access to a private staking pool, and in-game boosts that are unavailable to non-holders. These NFTs also grant players “Ethernal” status, a recognition of their role in Anichess’ story.
Each Ethernal draws its theme and identity from the six ancient tribes of Mystra, the homeland of Anichess. These tribes include the Mountain Folk, Volcanic People, Storm Citizens, River Dwellers, Time Tinkerers, and Shadow People. Each tribe has a distinct personality and lore, giving the NFTs deep story connections within the Anichess universe.
Mint Details
The mint opens on July 3 and will run for 24 hours. It is open only to allowlisted wallets. Each address may claim one Ethernal, and the mint is free aside from network fees, which are set to be around $1. The reveal will happen sometime after the mint is complete.
Anichess has taken steps to ensure the process is secure and fair. Users must mint through the official Anichess site and verify their eligibility beforehand. Those who are new to the community still have a chance to join by signing up through the Premint raffle.
Ethernals in the Checkmate Ecosystem
The Genesis Ethernals are a key part of what Anichess calls the Checkmate Ecosystem. This system centers on $C, the platform’s upcoming utility token. Holding an Ethernal NFT puts players first in line for a $C airdrop, and it also unlocks special staking rewards tied to the token.
Ethernals give access to exclusive features that will grow as the ecosystem expands. These include perks in future game modes, token-based governance, and early access to new content. As the Anichess platform matures, Ethernal holders will be among the most rewarded and recognized community members.
Anichess at a Glance
Anichess is a free to play chess game built by Animoca Brands in partnership with Chess.com and Magnus Carlsen’s Play Magnus Group. It brings a fantasy twist to traditional chess by combining classic board strategy with magical spells and anime-inspired storytelling.
The game keeps key chess rules like castling, pawn promotion, and en passant. But players also generate mana, which they can use to cast spells each turn. These spells change the flow of the match and allow for unique plays that go beyond standard chess moves. Examples include powerful moves like “Queen Time” or sneaky tricks like “Juke.”
Game modes include Quick Match, Ranked Match with Glicko-2 rating, Friend Match, and Bot Match. The spell system adds depth and replayability, and players can also unlock cosmetic upgrades as they go.
Growth and Community
Since launching in public alpha in October 2024, Anichess has built a large and active user base. Over 1 million players have taken part in daily campaigns. More than 300,000 have battled in PvP, with 20+ minutes average Day 1 session time.
The Discord community has grown to around 40,000 members. Anichess has also made regional moves, expanding through partnerships like the one with Yield Guild Games in Southeast Asia.
World-class grandmasters Magnus Carlsen, Anish Giri, and Eric Hansen have all contributed to the game’s development, giving it a mix of real chess expertise and web3 gameplay.
Blockchain Integration and M8 Points
In April 2025, Anichess introduced M8, an on-chain points system built on Base. Players earn M8 points by completing matches. Points are awarded daily and can stack up across the week. They are used to unlock spells, cosmetics, lootboxes, and Gambit mode access.
M8 has become the core of the Anichess reward system. It ties directly into player progression, and in the future, it will connect with $C. The system is designed to be fair, simple, and fully on-chain, making it a strong fit for web3 gaming.
Competitive Play in Season 4
On May 30, Anichess launched Season 4, titled “Ranked & Reckless.” The season includes a full leaderboard reset and a $10K prize pool in $C tokens for the top 64 players. Rankings are based on both rating and M8 point totals. Players can earn between 150 and 800 M8 points per day depending on match performance and tier.
The top players at the end of the season will move into the playoffs. There, they’ll battle for the biggest rewards and secure their place among Anichess’ elite competitors. The competition structure is built to support both new players and returning veterans.
A Moment for Strategy and Recognition
With that, the Genesis Ethernals mint is designed to acknowledge active involvement within the Anichess community. According to the team, eligibility is based on in-game activity, early participation, and community contribution. The collection will consist of 960 NFTs and will not be expanded after the mint.
Source: https://playtoearn.com/
