Overview
Axie Infinity is developed by Vietnamese game studio Sky Mavis, with the first version of the title releasing back in March 2018. This was way before anyone considered blockchain as a suitable technology for gaming. At the time, it was a simple idle card battle game with Axies, very similar to what players are familiar to now but with skeleton features.
Axie Infinity: Origins is a fast-paced, card-based battler where players build teams of Axies and compete in PvE and PvP modes. The game focuses on strategic team-building, turn sequencing, and adaptive play. Origins originally launched as a successor to the classic Axie battle system and has since evolved into a seasonal competitive title with rotating runes, charms, eras, and metas. It also now welcomes new players with free starter Axies, so anyone can play without needing to buy NFTs.
The game has grown beyond just battles. The world of Lunacia continues to unfold through Land Gameplay, where players gather resources, upgrade structures, and fight Chimeras that threaten the environment. Between Origins, Land, and social ecosystem features like Axie personalization, players now have multiple ways to engage depending on their playstyle.
Gameplay and Features
Axie Infinity: Origins is a turn-based, card-battler where you build a team of three Axies and use their combined set of cards to outplay your opponent. Each Axie contributes four cards to your deck, so finding a team that works together is just as important as learning how to sequence your plays in battle. Every round, you draw cards and spend energy to make your moves, managing shields, damage windows, and tempo to gain the upper hand. Matches are fast and interactive thanks to sequential turns and the reset of cards and energy each round, keeping the flow of play active rather than slow or defensive.
Progression in Origins centers around Runes and Charms. These are items you equip to your Axies to change their stats, abilities, or playstyle, and they rotate each Season Era. Because the available runes and charms change throughout the season, the meta is constantly shifting, which encourages players to experiment instead of sticking to one lineup forever. This seasonal ladder system is where most of the competitive play happens, rewarding both consistent grinding and strategic adaptation.
Origins is also approachable for new players. Everyone starts with free Starter Axies, meaning you can learn the game, understand card mechanics, and test different strategies before deciding if you want to dive deeper with collectible Axies. Once players grasp how cards cycle and how specific class matchups work, they can begin adjusting their team to match their playstyle, whether that means slow, tanky sustain builds or fast-paced aggressive pressure. The game has enough flexibility that two players with the same classes can still play out a match very differently depending on how they build their decks and time their attacks.
Axie Classes
The 9 Axie classes are:
- Beast
- Bug
- Plant
- Dusk
- Bird
- Aquatic
- Dawn
- Mech
- Reptile
Beast, Aquatic, Plant, Bug, Reptile, and Bird were the original 6 classes in Axie Infinity's presale in 2018. As for Mech, Dusk, and Dawn, they are only obtained through breeding a specific combination of Axie classes.
- Dusk: Reptile and Aquatic
- Dawn: Plant and Bird
- Mech: Beast and Bug
Each Axie has 4 main stats; HP, Speed, Skill, and Morale. Depending on its class, certain stats are stronger while others are weaker. This leaves room for a plethora of possible team compositions.
On top of that, each group of Axie classes have a 15% damage buff or resistance towards another group. For simplicity, follow the below breakdown.
- Group 1: Beast, Bug, and Mech
- Group 2: Dusk, Plant, and Reptile
- Group 3: Aquatic, Dawn, and Bird
Once you memorize these groups, the following table may sound complicated at first but it will help you tremendously in climbing the ranked ladder as most casual players underestimate how big of a boost 15% damage can give you against certain matchp
- Group 1 deals 15% more damage and receives 15% less damage from Group 2
- Group 1 receives 15% more damage and deals 15% less damage from Group 3
- Group 2 deals 15% more damage and receives 15% less damage from Group 3
- Group 2 receives 15% more damage and deals 15% less damage from Group 1
- Group 3 deals 15% more damage and receives 15% less damage from Group 1
- Group 3 receives 15% more damage and deals 15% less damage from Group 2
Prepare for Battle
Once you form your team with the right synergies, you are ready to go. Each synergy caters to a different playstyle. Players can go with tankier builds who can sustain a lot of damage and whittle down their opponent's cards and health bar slowly or more aggressive builds intended to finish the game as fast as possible. This gives Axie Origins the depths it needs to keep every game's outcome more dependent on both player's outplaying each other with their action cards since certain team compositions are meant to counter the others.
Prior to jumping into PvP or PvE, you need to form your deck of action cards you want to take with you into battle. Each Axie comes with its own four unique cards, giving you twelve total actions to outplay your opponent to claim the win. The synergy between your three characters are incredibly important as well, with 9 classes to mix and match between to suit all playstyles.
Every round, players have to select the action cards they want to play for that designated turn and assign it to one of the Axies on the field. The recent Origins update changed the game slightly with sequential turns for a faste and more dynamic experience, while resetting energy and cards each turn to encourage a more aggressive all-out play style.
Latest Game Updates (2025)
Earlier in 2025, Axie Infinity: Origins continued to roll out new Seasons with shifting Rune and Charm pools across multiple Eras. Each Era introduced different crafting materials, card balance changes, and power curve adjustments, which helped keep the ranked ladder fresh and prevented any single team composition from dominating for too long. This seasonal rotation encouraged players to explore new builds instead of holding onto one lineup across the entire year. Starter Axies also received improvements to how they play and look, making it easier for new players to learn core mechanics without feeling overwhelmed.
How to get started with Axie Infinity Origins
Step 1: Install Mavis Hub
Mavis Hub is the platform for playing Axie Infinity: Origins. Install it to access the game.
Step 2: Choose Starter Axies
Select 3 free starter Axies to begin your adventure. These creatures will be your initial companions in the game.
Step 3: Learn the Basics
Familiarize yourself with the game's mechanics, including energy management, cards, and turn-based strategies. Understanding these elements is crucial for success in the game.
Step 4: Experiment with Battles
Start playing in Adventure mode to get a feel for the game, or challenge other players in the Arena to test your skills.
Step 5: Upgrade and Progress
As you progress, you'll have the opportunity to craft Runes & Charms and explore different strategies to enhance your gameplay.
The newly setup Axie Infinity website guides you through the entire process seamlessly to onboard you onto the game and make sure you have everything set up to get started. From there, you can venture onto PVE or PVP if you are feeling adventurous and start climbing the ranks.
