Spells

Anichess introduces a new concept called spells, which adds an interesting twist and depth to classic chess. Each spell has two attributes: one is the number of mana points required to cast the spell and the other is the maximum number of times the spell can be used per game. These attributes serve as the balancing mechanism for the game. Remember, you earn 1 mana every turn that you do not cast a spell.

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There are 12 spells available in Anichess Alpha

1. Parkour Mech: Permanently transform a piece (excluding King and Queen) into a Knight. Counts as a move. Cost: 3 Mana | Limit: 2 casts

2. Imposter: Swap a piece with an opponent’s piece of the same type, except for pawns and kings. The spell counts as one move. Cost: 5 Mana | Limit: 3 cast

3. Shot in the Dark: Turn a piece invisible for 1 turn (excluding the Queen). You may move it or leave it. If any piece enters or passes through its square, it is captured. Cost: 3 Mana | Limit: 2 casts

4. House Recruit: Permanently transform a piece (excluding King and Queen) into a Knight. Counts as a move. Cost: 3 Mana | Limit: 2 casts

5. Bis-Hop 2:0: Leap your bishop over one piece in its path. The spell can be cast to capture the first piece it encounters. Cost: 4 Mana | Limit: 3 cast

6. Queen Time: Allows a knight, bishop, or rook to move like a queen once during your turn. The piece can capture during this move (excluding king). Cost: 7 Mana | Limit: 1 cast

7. Slip: Move a pawn, knight, or rook diagonally to an adjacent square once during your turn, steal one Mana from opponent. It cannot be cast to capture a piece. Cost: 1 Mana | Limit: 5 casts

8. Juke: Move a Pawn, Knight, or Bishop vertically by 1 square (no capture). Steals 1 Mana from your opponent. Cost: 1 Mana | Limit: 6 casts

9. Shift: Move a Pawn, Knight, or Rook horizontally by 1 square (no capture). Steals 1 Mana from your opponent. Cost: 1 Mana | Limit: 6 casts

10. Pengu Dive: Teleport one of your pieces (excluding Pawns) to an empty square within a 5x5 area around it. Counts as a move. Cost: 3 Mana | Limit: 5 casts

11. Tactical Necessity: Sacrifice a piece to destroy an opponent's lower-rank piece (excluding the King). Counts as a move. Cost: 1 Mana | Limit: 5 casts

12. Pounce and Purr. Leap a piece to an adjacent empty square. Then, stun one opponent piece within one square of the landing spot (excluding King) for 1 turn. Cost: 4 Mana | Limit: 3 casts

After completing Scherif’s Introduction, players will start with 5 core spells unlocked: Slip, Parkour Mech, House Recruit, Bis-Hop and Imposter. The remaining spells can be unlocked by completing in-game missions.