After hosting Blast Closed Playtest Phase 1 back in April this year, the developers of web3 trading card game and ecosystem Cross The Ages (CTA) are back with Phase 2, bringing new features to test and enjoy for a limited time while competing for an exclusive card.

What’s New in Cross The Ages’ Blast Closed Playtest Phase 2?

As with the previous phase, this one too focuses on improving the core gameplay experience, but it also brings with it a number of new features, graphical changes, and balancing adjustments, with “secondary” elements such as menus, effects, and animations not included, but set to be added at some point in a future playtest.

That being said, there are 2 new Blasts to use in this test phase: Hack and Gravitational Wave. Next to the new special attacks, there is now a new way to edit your deck, and you will now be able to mix 3 different Blast levels for your deck. New gameplay changes have been made as well, including the addition of +500 Energy points for each turn. Field card duration is now fixed at 3 turns, and the first card that is played in the first turn is now actually immune to captures. In order to emphasize control takeover, cards are now displayed without borders, while spectator mode is available once again in custom mode for anyone looking to learn from skilled card players or simply to watch their friends destroy each other. Sounds and background music have been added in, and you will now also see a textual value next to the avatar displaying the amount of lost HP when the avatar suffers damage. You will now be able to click on your opponent’s energy bar if you want to see their Blast descriptions, potentially helping you better plan out your strategy.

The goal is the same as in the previous playtest, and that is to play PvP matches where you simply have to bring your opponent's health to zero. This time around, the addition of 2 new Blasts means you get to use and test out all 4 game-changing special attacks, making this phase a great chance to compare them all and possibly find which one works best for you.

During this playtest, anyone can win an exclusive card called Palmer - The Transcended (Alternate Version) by simply playing at least 5 duels. Matches in both custom and ranked modes count, with the special card set to be airdropped at the end of the playtest on June 30. The grade and foil you get is said to be random, while the numbering for this new card is set to take place on July 7 at 8 AM UTC.

How to Participate in CTA Blast Closed Playtest Phase 2

To participate in CTA’s Blast Closed Playtest Phase 2, you need to have a valid KYC account and own a Mint Pass on an account associated with the verified KYC one. The selected account will receive an email containing a unique access code for the Epic Games Store version. Download links for the Play Store and App Store will be included in the email as well for anyone wanting to play on Android or iOS. The CTA launcher will no longer be supported, so all future updates and phases will take place on the aforementioned 3 platforms.

The playtest starts on June 25 at 8 AM UTC and will end on June 30 at 8 AM UTC. You can find the Mint Pass in the game’s own marketplace, with the cheapest one being the Red Mint Pass, which is available on Immutable X for the floor price of $40.28 USDC at the time of writing.

Animoca Brands recently partnered with Cross The Ages to support the project by buying CTA tokens from the open market while committing to help the team with the launch of Arise.