Guide to starting on Sorare

How to Get Started (The 2025 Onboarding)
 

When you register today, the onboarding process is much more interactive. You aren't just given a random deck; you'll participate in Rivals, a head-to-head mode that allows you to play for free and learn the scoring mechanics before spending a penny.
 

Expert Tip: If you use a referral link to sign up, you can currently unlock up to $150 / £150 in Market Credit after purchasing your first 5 cards on the auction market. This is a massive head-start for building your first competitive roster.
 

Card Scarcity: The Four Tiers
 

There are four levels of scarcity for cards that you can own and trade. Every player receives a specific number of cards per season:
 

1. Limited (Yellow): 1,000 per season. The entry-level "pro" card.

2. Rare (Red): 100 per season. Where the competition (and rewards) gets serious.

3. Super Rare (Blue): 10 per season. Highly exclusive with massive multipliers.

4. Unique (Black/Brown): 1 per season. The ultimate collector's item.
   
    

[BLANK GAP FOR IMAGE: Visual of the four card scarcities side-by-side]
 

Two Ways to Play: In-Season vs. Classic
 

This is the most important update for 2025. Sorare has split the game into two distinct "arms":
 

1. In-Season Competitions (5-a-Side)
 

This is where the Cash Prizes are. To compete here, you must use cards from the current football season.

• Format: 5-a-side (GK, DF, MD, FW, +1 Extra).

• Rewards: Straight cash payouts and "Hot Streaks."

• Hot Streaks: Instead of just beating other managers, you can win fixed cash amounts by hitting specific points targets in consecutive weeks.
   

2. Classic Competitions (7-a-Side / SO7)
 

Classic competitions allow you to use cards from any previous season. If you bought a J1 League card three years ago, it still has utility here.
 

• Format: 7-a-side (GK, 2 DF, 2 MD, 1 FW, +1 Extra).

• Rewards: New cards and "Essence."

• Why play Classic? It’s often cheaper to build a high-scoring team with older cards, and it’s the best way to "farm" Essence to craft new cards.
   

New Mechanics: Arena, Essence, and Sealing
 

The Arena
 

The Arena is a permanent, "always-on" game mode. Unlike the main Game Weeks that have strict deadlines, you can enter the Arena as soon as team sheets are announced. You play in small pools of 10 managers, making it much easier to win rewards like Essence.
 

Essence & Crafting
 

Essence is a new in-game currency earned through performance. Once you collect enough, you can "Craft" a card. This is now the primary way most managers grow their galleries without constantly depositing fresh cash.
 

Sealing (Vaulting)
 

Do you have cards for players who have retired or moved to leagues not covered by Opta? Instead of letting them sit idle, you can Seal them.

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• Sealing a card locks it permanently (you can't sell or play it).

• In return, you get a Reward Boost (up to 20%) that applies to all your future cash and essence winnings.

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[BLANK GAP FOR IMAGE: Screenshot of the Sealing/Vaulting interface and boost levels]

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Understanding the Scoring Matrix

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Player scores range from 0 to 100 and are split into two halves:

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1. Decisive Score: Big actions like goals, assists, or red cards. A goal guarantees a minimum score of 60.

2. All-Around Score: The "grind." Every pass, tackle, and duel win adds (or subtracts) small increments. This is where data-driven managers find their edge.

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The Captaincy: You choose one player as captain. Depending on the competition, they receive a 20% to 50% bonus to their score. Choosing the right captain is often the difference between a podium finish and a mid-table result.

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My Specialist Area: The J1 League (Japan)

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I’ve lived in Japan for years, and the J1 League remains one of the best places to find value on Sorare. While the language barrier and time difference (GMT+9) scare off many European managers, this creates a massive opportunity for us.

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Why Scout J1?

• High Utility: J1 players are eligible for Champion Asia, Contender, and Under 23 tournaments.

• Data Gaps: Information on injuries and transfers is harder to find in English, which is why I provide detailed scouting reports via my Patreon.

• The "Tanaka Effect": Japanese players are moving to Europe in record numbers. Buying them in the J1 League before they move to a "Champion Europe" league like the Bundesliga is a proven way to see card values skyrocket.

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I also love to find any kind of edge within games. Within Sorare there are so many ways to play from famining essence/hot streaks/trading. My speciality is niche areas and looking where others arent!

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[BLANK GAP FOR IMAGE: Photo of a J1 League match or J1 card examples]

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Ready to Start?

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Sorare is no longer just a weekend hobby; it's a 365-day-a-year strategy game. Whether you want to chase the $10,000 top prizes in the In-Season Premier League or build a dominant J1 League dynasty in the Classic tiers, there has never been a better time to start.

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