Wildcard Launches First $5K Daily Tournament

Wildcard is officially stepping into competitive territory today, and it’s doing so in a big way. The Wildcard $5,000 Preseason Open marks the game’s first-ever Daily Tournament and the public debut of its competitive tournament system. Running for one day only, from 9 AM to midnight ET on December 19, this event gives players a full day to chase leaderboard glory and a share of the $5,000 prize pool.

For fans of competitive blockchain games and skill-based esports formats, this tournament is a fascinating glimpse into how Wildcard plans to blend accessibility, performance-based scoring, and meaningful rewards.

A New Kind of Tournament Format

Unlike traditional bracket-style competitions, the Wildcard Preseason Open removes eliminations entirely. There are no knockouts, no “one loss and you’re out” moments, and no rigid brackets to navigate.

Instead, every participant can queue into the Tournament Queue as many times as they want throughout the day. Each match generates a score based on performance, and only your single best match will count toward the final leaderboard.

This approach does two important things:

• It rewards peak performance rather than endurance.

• It gives players room to experiment, improve, and adapt throughout the day.

One exceptional game can be all it takes to place high.

How Performance-Based Scoring Works

At the heart of the Preseason Open is Wildcard’s performance-driven scoring system. Wins and losses matter far less than how you play.

Each match score is influenced by several factors, including:

• Champion KOs

• Capturing Wildcards

• Damage dealt with Champions and Summons

• Efficient mana usage

• Overall in-game decision-making

There are also bonus multipliers for standout plays, though these are not guaranteed and aren’t required to win.

Importantly, the system is designed to discourage farming. Longer matches don’t automatically earn higher scores, and repeated actions eventually face diminishing returns. The message is clear: quality beats quantity every time.

Who Can Enter the Wildcard Preseason Open?

The tournament is open to anyone who meets a few clear requirements:

• You must be 18 years or older

• You need at least 250 unlocked Summons in-game

This Summon requirement ensures fair competition by giving all players full deck-building flexibility, which is crucial in a game that blends card strategy with real-time combat.

For players who don’t yet meet the Summon threshold, Wildcard offers two options:

• The Season 0 Summon Bundle for $24.99, instantly unlocking all 269 Summons

• Participation in an official giveaway on Wildcard’s X account, where winners receive full Season 0 access

Both paths make it easy for motivated players to jump into the action.

Prize Pool Breakdown and Payout Details

The total prize pool for today’s tournament is $5,000 USD, distributed across the top 64 players:

• 1st–2nd: $500 each

• 3rd–4th: $400

• 5th–6th: $300

• 7th–8th: $200

• 9th–16th: $75

• 17th–32nd: $50

• 33rd–64th: $25

Payouts will appear in players’ Tournament Profiles at the end of the month, after results are verified. To claim rewards, players must link a Thousands account and complete KYC verification through Stripe.

Team Liquid Joins the Action Live

Adding extra excitement to the day, Wildcard has confirmed that Team Liquid players bobqinxd and Lourlo will be competing live throughout the tournament.

Their leaderboard climb will be streamed, giving fans a front-row seat to how top-tier players approach Wildcard’s scoring system. There’s even a chance you could match up against them in-game, making this event both a competitive challenge and a learning opportunity.

Inside Wildcard’s Upcoming Tournament Ecosystem

Today’s Preseason Open is more than a standalone event. It serves as a live test for Wildcard’s three-part tournament structure, officially launching in January 2026.

Players can expect:

• Wildcard Daily Tournaments:Running Wednesday to Friday, taking each player’s single best score per day.

• Wildcard Weekly Tournaments:Running Wednesday to Sunday, using the top five scores of the week. Weekend matches receive a 1.2× multiplier.

• Wildcard Creator Tournaments:Exclusive events for approved creators, featuring VOD submissions and a separate $2,000 weekly prize pool.

Tournament Queues will be inactive on Mondays and Tuesdays to allow for updates and maintenance.

What Is Wildcard, Exactly?

For newcomers, Wildcard is a 2v2 third-person arena battler that fuses fast-paced action combat with deep card-based strategy. Players select Champions, build Summon decks, and deploy creatures while actively fighting in real time.

Each Champion offers a unique playstyle, from support and control to aggressive damage roles. Summons act as a strategic extension, letting players shift momentum, defend objectives, or overwhelm opponents at key moments.

Wildcard entered Early Access on October 21, 2025, following a successful Steam Next Fest demo. That build introduced Lily, a versatile Champion capable of ranged healing and poison-based melee combat.

How Prizing and Accounts Are Managed

While Wildcard itself is a Web2 title, its tournament infrastructure is powered by Thousands, a platform designed for monetized competitions. Once verified, players can track lifetime earnings, placements, and performance history directly in-game.

This hybrid approach mirrors trends seen across competitive blockchain games, where transparent systems and structured rewards are becoming the standard.

Join the Wildcard Preseason Open Today

The Tournament Queue is live right now and will remain open until midnight ET. Whether you’re chasing the top spot or aiming for a strong single-game performance, today’s Preseason Open offers a rare chance to compete, learn, and earn.

Queue up, play your best match, and see how high you can climb on Wildcard’s first-ever tournament leaderboard.