In Brief:
- The Wildcard $5,000 Preseason Open tournament starts today, offering players a chance to compete by posting their highest single-game score from multiple attempts.
- Participants must be over 18 and possess at least 250 unlocked Summons, with alternative ways to meet this criterion through purchase or a giveaway.
- The top 64 players will share the $5,000 prize pool, with the highest earners receiving up to $500.
Today marks the debut of the Wildcard $5,000 Preseason Open, a significant event for the Wildcard gaming community as it introduces the game’s competitive tournament system. This one-day event, running from 9 AM to midnight ET, is open for participants to queue into the Tournament tab, engage in matches, and strive to achieve the highest score of the day, aiming to secure a slice of the $5,000 prize pool.
Unique Scoring Mechanism
The Wildcard Preseason Open distinguishes itself from other tournaments by focusing on performance-based scoring rather than wins and losses. Each match a player competes in contributes to a score, based on their in-game performance metrics such as Champion KOs, capturing Wildcards, and efficient mana use. The player’s position on the leaderboard will be determined by their highest score from a single game. This system is specifically designed to value quality over quantity, ensuring that even one exceptional game could be enough to secure a high leaderboard rank.
Open Eligibility and Entry Options
The tournament is accessible to anyone over the age of 18 who has unlocked at least 250 Summons, ensuring participants have ample strategic options available. For players needing additional Summons, the Season 0 Summon Bundle is currently available for $24.99, instantly unlocking 269 Summons and securing eligibility for the tournament. Alternatively, players have a chance to win full access to all Season 0 Summons through an official giveaway on Wildcard’s X account.
Prize Distribution
The prize pool is allocated across the top 64 players, with $500 going to both the first and second-place players. Other payouts range from $400 for third and fourth place to $25 for those ranking between 33rd and 64th. Winners can claim their earnings through their Tournament Profile after the results have been verified at the end of the month, subject to identity verification through Stripe and linking a Thousands account.
Upcoming Tournament Structure and Game Features
Starting in January 2026, Wildcard will introduce a 3-part structure featuring daily and weekly tournaments alongside exclusive creator competitions. The daily tournaments will evaluate players based on their best score of the day, while the weekly tournaments will assess the five best scores from each participant throughout the week, with weekend scores receiving a multiplier.
Gameplay Overview
Wildcard is a 2v2 third-person arena battler that melds real-time combat with strategic card play. Players choose from various Champions and build decks of Summons to assist in battle, requiring quick decision-making and effective resource management. The game, which entered Early Access following a demo phase, is characterized by its hybrid gameplay that combines elements of brawlers and strategic deck-building.
