Quick Take
- Ethernals mint is limited to top contributors with eligibility check ahead of July launch
- Collection draws from six tribes in Mystra, the narrative world of Anichess
- NFTs unlock perks in the Checkmate ecosystem, including staking and $C airdrops
Anichess is introducing the Ethernals, a limited-edition NFT collection set to mint in July, created to honor early players and contributors to the game’s evolving ecosystem. Only 960 of these genesis NFTs will be issued, with eligibility restricted to community members who helped shape the game during its early development.
Built by Animoca Brands in collaboration with Chess.com, Anichess blends traditional chess with spell mechanics and seasonal progression. Since launching in 2024, it has grown into a free-to-play strategy title with a player base that has surpassed one million. Ethernals mark the first official NFT release recognizing early involvement.
The mint will take place on Ethereum and will be free to claim, excluding gas fees. A wallet eligibility checker will go live before the drop. Minting will be allowlist-only for 24 hours, with one NFT per eligible wallet. No further supply will be added.
Join the PREMINT for a chance at getting an Ethernal NFT.
Each Ethernal is tied to one of six lore-based tribes from Mystra, the game’s narrative setting: Mountain Folk, Volcanic People, Storm Citizens, River Dwellers, Time Tinkerers, and Shadow People. These affiliations offer symbolic identity within the game and reinforce Anichess’s worldbuilding through distinct styles and archetypes.
Holders will receive benefits beyond aesthetics. Ethernals come with access to upcoming staking pools, in-game features, and future ecosystem perks. According to the team, they will also be included in token airdrops tied to the Checkmate ($C) economy.
The drop follows the launch of Season 4, which reset ratings and introduced a competitive phase with dual leaderboards: one for ranked skill and another for daily activity. The top 64 players by rating will qualify for playoffs featuring a $10,000 prize pool distributed in $C tokens.
Anichess’s model is built to support free-to-play access with optional blockchain integrations. Players can engage in spells-enhanced chess without NFTs or tokens, though on-chain features such as M8 points and leaderboard tracking enhance long-term progression.
Mint access for the Ethernals will be managed through the official site at anichess.com. Additional updates are expected through the project’s Discord and Twitter channels.
