How to Download and Play Axie Infinity in 2022: The Ultimate 2800+ Word Guide

If you‘re looking to get into the world of NFT gaming, there‘s a good chance you‘ve heard about Axie Infinity. As the largest NFT game on the market right now, Axie has exploded in popularity over the past couple years.

With over 2.8 million daily active users as of January 2022, Axie Infinity has become a cultural phenomenon and an avenue to earn real income for players, especially in developing nations.

But while the game has complex mechanics and deep lore, getting started with Axie can be intimidating. There are many steps you need to complete before you can start playing.

That‘s why I‘ve put together this ultimate 2800+ word guide walking you step-by-step through everything you need to know to download and play Axie Infinity in 2022.

By the end, you‘ll be able to jump into the game with confidence.

Let‘s get started!

Chapter 1: What is Axie Infinity and Why Play?

Before we get into the technical steps, let‘s first go over what exactly Axie Infinity is and why you might want to play.

What is Axie Infinity?

Axie Infinity is a digital pet universe built on the Ethereum blockchain where players can collect, breed, raise, battle, and trade fantasy creatures called Axies.

Often compared to Pokémon, Axie takes those basic mechanics of collecting, battling, and trading creatures but integrates blockchain technology and NFTs.

Each Axie is a unique NFT with different attributes and rarity levels. Top Axies can sell for over $100,000!

The Axie universe also contains land plots, items, and other NFTs. But the core gameplay revolves around using a team of 3 Axies to battle PvE or other players.

Winning battles earns two forms of currency:

SLP (Small Love Potion) – This is an ERC-20 token that can be exchanged for real money or used for breeding. Players primarily earn SLP from daily quests, adventures, and PvP arena battles.
AXS (Axie Infinity Shards) – This is an ERC-20 governance token used for staking and voting. Players have chances to earn small amounts of AXS from breeding and PvP.

This combination of fun gameplay, real income potential, and community has contributed to Axie‘s meteoric rise.

Why Play Axie Infinity?

Here are some of the top reasons people get into Axie Infinity:

Earn Income – Depending on skill, dedicated Axie players can make over $1000 per month by breeding, battling, and selling NFTs. This provides life-changing income especially in developing regions.
Crypto Rewards – You can earn valuable cryptocurrencies like SLP and AXS from playing. Even small amounts today could grow tremendously in value.
Become a Manager – You can earn by renting Axies to other players and taking a cut of their earnings. This creates opportunities like streaming income.
Treasured Assets – Some rare Axies and lands are extremely valuable as NFTs. Owning scarce digital assets is part of the appeal.
Competitive Battles – Battling other skilled players on the leaderboard ladder is challenging and intense. The PvP gameplay is very competitive.
Community – Axie has fostered an enormous global community. Many find friendship and connection through this shared virtual world.
Fun Gameplay Loop – At its core, Axie is fun to play! Collecting and battling Axies never gets old.

Now that you understand the appeal of Axie Infinity, let‘s go over everything you need to know to get started.

Chapter 2: Requirements to Play Axie Infinity

Before you can start your adventure, there are a few requirements and items you will need:

A device to play on – Axie supports PC/Mac, iOS, and Android. iOS requires TestFlight access.
A Ronin Wallet – This Ethereum sidechain wallet lets you store Axies and SLP tokens.
A MetaMask wallet – Needed to purchase ETH for gas fees.
At least 3 Axies – You need a team of 3 Axies, which will cost around 0.1 ETH.
Small amounts of ETH – For gas fees when making transactions on Ronin and Ethereum.

Don‘t worry if some of those terms sound confusing! I‘ll explain how to set up each item step-by-step in this guide.

Just know that you will need a device to play on, two different crypto wallets, at least 0.1 ETH to purchase 3 starter Axies, and a little extra ETH for transaction fees.

Now let‘s get into the step-by-step process!

Chapter 3: Step-by-Step Guide to Download and Play Axie Infinity

Follow these steps carefully, and you‘ll be exploring the world of Axie Infinity in no time!

Step 1: Install the MetaMask Wallet

Since Axie Infinity uses blockchain technology, you‘ll first need to install a cryptocurrency wallet.

For Axie, I recommend MetaMask since it easily connects with decentralized apps and has great Ethereum support.

Here is how to install MetaMask:

Go to metamask.io on your browser and click "Download".
Add the MetaMask extension to Google Chrome or your preferred browser.
Click "Get Started" and accept the Terms of Use.
Create a secure password and keep it private. Never share this password!
You‘ll get a "seed phrase" which you‘ll need to save offline in a safe place. This phrase grants access to your wallet.
Confirm your seed phrase by selecting the words in order.

Once complete, you will have a MetaMask wallet set up and ready to use with a secure password and recovery phrase for access.

Important: Never share your password or seed phrase with anyone! This would give them full access to your funds.

Step 2: Fund Your MetaMask Wallet with ETH

To interact with Ethereum-based apps like Axie Infinity, you‘ll need ETH in your wallet to pay "gas fees" which fund transactions.

Here are some options to get ETH into your MetaMask wallet:

Buy ETH – You can purchase ETH directly in MetaMask or on an exchange like Coinbase. You‘ll need to transfer it into MetaMask after.
Use a Faucet – For small amounts of ETH, you can use a faucet like EthDrop which will drip a little ETH over time.

I recommend having at least 0.02 ETH in MetaMask which should give you enough for making transactions. But you‘re aiming for around 0.1 ETH eventually to purchase your Axies.

As of writing, 0.1 ETH is about $160 USD. The price fluctuates often.

Step 3: Install the Ronin Wallet

In addition to MetaMask, you‘ll also need to install the Ronin Wallet browser extension.

Ronin is an Ethereum sidechain built specifically for Axie Infinity. It allows for fast, cheap transactions so you can play efficiently.

Follow these steps to install Ronin Wallet:

Go to the Ronin Wallet extension page.
Click "Add to Chrome" to add Ronin Wallet to your browser.
Pin the extension for easy access and click "Let‘s get set up!"
Create a secure password and recovery phrase like you did for MetaMask. Never share these!

Once installed, you now have a Ronin Wallet set up. This is where you will store your Axies.

Step 4: Deposit ETH From MetaMask to Ronin

To purchase Axies on Ronin, you first need to deposit ETH into your Ronin Wallet from MetaMask.

Follow these steps:

Go to the Ronin Bridge here.
Connect your Ronin Wallet by clicking "Connect Wallet" and selecting Ronin.
Under "Ethereum to Ronin," enter your ETH deposit amount (I recommend around 0.1 ETH to start).
Click "Transfer." Your MetaMask will open to confirm the transaction.
Wait 10-30 minutes for the transfer to process before your ETH arrives in Ronin.

Now you have ETH in your Ronin Wallet ready for buying Axies!

Step 5: Get Your Ronin Wallet Address

To receive Axies, you‘ll need to share your unique Ronin wallet address with the Axie seller.

To find your address:

Open the Ronin Wallet browser extension.
Click the account icon in the top right.
Click "Copy Address" to copy your wallet address.
Share this address with the seller when purchasing Axies.

Step 6: Purchase Your Starter Axies Team

Now for the fun part – buying your starter Axies so you can start playing!

You‘ll need a minimum of 3 Axies to start. I highly recommend buying from the official Axie Marketplace where prices are fixed.

Here are some tips for choosing your first Axies:

Set a budget – Try to keep costs under 0.1 ETH if possible. Beginner Axies range from $100-$300 each.
Pick simple Axies – As a new player, you want Axies with basic cards and stats that are easy to learn.
Research parts – Pay attention to body parts. Axies with "risky" or "fragile" traits tend to underperform.
Find a balanced team – You want a tank, damage dealer, and support type Axie for balance.

Once you‘ve chosen your 3 starter Axies, purchase them by clicking "Buy Now" and entering your Ronin address at checkout.

The total cost will be deducted from your Ronin Wallet, and now you own your Axies!

Step 7: Download and Install the Game

You‘re so close to playing! Now it‘s time to download and install the game client:

For PC/Mac:

Go to axieinfinity.com and click "Play Now".
Choose to download the "Mavis Hub" launcher for your OS.
Open the downloaded file and install Mavis Hub.
Open Mavis Hub, click "New Account" and log in using your Ronin Wallet.
Click "Install" on the Axie Infinity panel.

For iOS:

Join the Axie TestFlight beta program here.
Download TestFlight from the App Store if you don‘t have it.
Open TestFlight and tap "Accept" to join the Axie beta.
The Axie app will install directly through TestFlight.

For Android:

Join the Axie Android alpha here.
Wait for an email invite (check often!).
Once invited, install Axie from the Google Play Store.

Step 8: Sync Your Axies In-Game

Once installed, launch Axie Infinity. You now need to sync your Axies to see them in-game.

In the main menu, click the Axies icon.
Click the blue "Sync Axies" button.
Confirm the action in your Ronin Wallet extension.
Wait a few minutes for the sync to complete, then your Axies will appear!

Step 9: Complete the New Player Tutorial

I highly recommend completing the full in-game tutorial before playing. It teaches:

How to earn SLP tokens through Adventure and daily quests.
The basics of battling in Arena PvP mode.
How to breed Axies to get new offspring.

Completing the tutorial takes 30-60 minutes but will prepare you to start earning and progressing!

Step 10: Start Your Axie Adventure!

That‘s it – you‘re now ready to start playing Axie Infinity!

Here are some things you can do next in the game:

Complete daily quests to earn SLP currency.
Fight other players in Arena mode and climb the leaderboard.
Breed Axies and try getting rare or valuable offspring to sell.
Furnish and develop your own plot of Lunacia land.
Participate in community events to earn limited NFTs and prizes.
Check out the community Discord to find scholarship opportunities.
And in the future, explore the rest of the Axie universe as it expands!

Have fun, and welcome to the world of Axie Infinity! Let me know if you have any other questions.

Chapter 4: Next Steps and Additional Tips

Now that you know how to get set up and play, here are some next steps and additional tips:

Apply for a Scholarship if You Need Help with Costs

The upfront cost of purchasing Axies can be prohibitive. But you can apply for a scholarship where someone else will provide Axies and you split earnings.

Check out platforms like Yield Guild Games, GuildFi, and Project Quantum which provide scholarships at scale.

Also try networking on Axie Twitter/Discord to find individual scholarship managers. This lets you play the game and earn without investing your own money.

Learn Advanced Strategies to Maximize Earnings

Once comfortable with the basics, you‘ll want to learn advanced strategies involving optimal team builds, buff/debuff stacking, energy management, and more to maximize your SLP and AXS earnings.

Join Axie Discord channels, follow top players on Twitter, and study Arena leaderboard teams to step up your game knowledge. Small optimizations will dramatically increase your profits.

Speculate on Valuable Axies and Lands

As interest grows, the prices of scarce Axies and valuable Lunacia land plots will likely continue rising. Try sniping undervalued assets that you can sell in the future.

But research carefully, buying overhyped or artificially inflated assets is very risky. Look for rare Axies with useful genes for breeding and lands with gameplay utility.

Get Involved with the Community

The Axie community is passionate and thriving. Participate on Discord, Twitter, and real-life meetups. Join decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) to collaborate with other players.

Being an active community member will enhance your enjoyment of the game and open up new opportunities like scholarships.

Stake AXS for Rewards

If you earn AXS tokens from gameplay, consider staking them on Binance, Maiar Exchange, or the upcoming Katana DEX.

Staking provides passive income as you earn interest on your tokens over time while supporting the network.

Look Out for New Features and Expansions

Axie Infinity is still early with tons of potential. Exciting new features like multi-battle arenas, achievements, guilds, new modes, and expanded universe lore are in development.

Following the roadmap and announcements will keep you up-to-date on where Axie is heading next as the ecosystem matures.

And that covers my top tips for progressing even further in Axie Infinity!

Conclusion

If you‘ve made it this far – congratulations!

You now know everything you need from start to finish to download Axie Infinity and begin your adventure.

From setting up your Ronin and MetaMask wallets, purchasing your starter Axies, downloading the game, and completing the tutorial, I‘ve taken you through the entire process step-by-step.

While it may seem complicated at first, just follow along with each step carefully and you‘ll be exploring the world of Lunacia before you know it.

Axie Infinity is still just getting started, and now is a great time to get involved with this merging of NFT gaming, cryptocurrency, and community.

So go catch some Axies, test your skills in the Arena, and start shaping the future of gaming! Let me know if you have any other questions on your journey.

I wish you the best of luck on your adventure, and have fun!