Fair questions, straight answers.
Everything you might want to know before opening your first pack.
Is this real money?
No. CARDSTACK is a demo. The credits in your balance are simulated, the twelve assets are fictional brands, and nothing you do here touches real funds or real tokens.
Are the published odds actually used?
Yes. The same odds tables shown on every pack and on the Odds page are the exact weights the opening engine draws against — regular slots roll 72/22/5.5/0.5, chase slots 55/32/11/2. No hidden weights, no pity timers, no silent adjustments.
Where do my cards go after I open a pack?
Every card is delivered to your collection the moment you pay for the pack — the reveal animation is theater on top. Your collection lives in your browser (localStorage) on this demo build.
What is the chase card?
The last card (or two, on the Alpha Pack) of every pack. It rolls on a separate, better odds table — the same value bands as regular cards, but a much higher chance of Rare, Epic, and Mythic.
Why is the average contents below the pack price?
Because that's how packs work. The gap between price and average contents is the entertainment cost — it pays for the reveal, the chase, and the collection. Expected value is negative by design and published openly. Packs are not an investment.
What do the value bands mean?
Every rarity has a published USD value band, e.g. Core mythics are $7.50–$20.00. The engine samples inside the band with a low-end bias, so most pulls land near the bottom of their band while a lucky few run deep. Pack totals are also capped.
Can I withdraw or sell my cards?
Not on this demo build — there is nothing real to withdraw. A production version would deliver cards on-chain to your wallet, where you could hold or trade them. This build keeps everything in-browser.
What happens if I run out of demo credits?
Press the +$100 button in the header — your balance refills instantly. There's no purchase, no signup, and no limit.
Still curious? The odds page shows every weight, the simulated stats, and the methodology.