THE GUIDE
[ MASTER THE UNDERGROUND ]
OVERVIEW
WELCOME TO THE UNDERGROUND
WHAT IS RATWAY
RATWAY is an on-chain underground racing syndicate where you mint, train, breed, and race genetically unique rats. Each rat is an NFT with distinct stats, bloodlines, and traits that determine their racing performance.
The metagame rewards strategic thinking: choosing the right rats for the right races, optimizing training regimens, and breeding for specific genetic advantages.
CORE LOOP
- 01.MINT or BREED rats to build your stable
- 02.TRAIN your rats to improve their stats
- 03.RACE against other players for prizes
- 04.BREED champions to create elite offspring
- 05.CLIMB the leaderboards and earn rewards
- 06.TRADE your rats on OpenSea
TIP: Success in RATWAY comes from understanding the interplay between bloodlines, traits, and race conditions. Read each section carefully to develop winning strategies.
MINTING
ACQUIRE NEW RATS
HOW MINTING WORKS
Minting creates a brand new Generation 0 rat with randomly generated genetics. Each minted rat receives a unique combination of base stats, bloodline, and traits.
The minting process uses verifiable randomness to ensure fair distribution of rare bloodlines and traits. No two minted rats are identical.
COST
1,000
MCADE / mint (~$8)
GENERATION
GEN 0
Base gen
TRAITS
1-3
Slots
NOTE: Minted rats start at Level 1 with base stats determined by their bloodline. Rarer bloodlines have higher stat potential but are harder to obtain.
STATS
CORE ATTRIBUTES
SPEED
Raw velocity and acceleration. Higher speed means faster segment completion times.
BEST FOR: Neon Strip, straightaways
STAMINA
Endurance and fatigue resistance. High stamina rats maintain performance across longer races.
BEST FOR: The Long Haul, marathons
AGILITY
Maneuverability and reflexes. Agile rats excel at navigating obstacles and tight corners.
BEST FOR: Industrial Maze, corners
STAT SCALING
Stats range from 0-100. The effective impact follows a curve where the difference between 70 and 80 is more significant than between 20 and 30. Elite racers typically have their primary stat above 75.
BLOODLINES
GENETIC HERITAGE
BLOODLINE SYSTEM
Every rat belongs to a bloodline that defines their genetic potential and racing style. Bloodlines affect base stat ranges, performance multipliers, and provide unique perks that activate under specific conditions.
Rarer bloodlines are not always better—each excels in different scenarios. Strategic players build stables with diverse bloodlines to handle any race condition.
| BLOODLINE | RARITY | MULTIPLIER | STYLE | PERK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speed Demon | 5% | x1.12 | Pure speed, consistent performance | LEADER BOOST |
| Underground Elite | 10% | x1.08 | Tactical specialist, dominates mid-race | MIDRACE SURGE |
| Sewer Dweller | 15% | x1.02 | Chaos agent, unpredictable with huge upside | UNDERDOG SURGE |
| Street Runner | 20% | x1.06 | Explosive starts, early game dominance | FIRST SEGMENT KING |
| City Slicker | 25% | x1.04 | Balanced and reliable, rewards smart stat builds | BALANCE BONUS |
| Alley Cat | 25% | x1.03 | Comeback specialist, thrives under pressure | COMEBACK KING |
Speed Demon
5% RARITYPure speed, consistent performance
Underground Elite
10% RARITYTactical specialist, dominates mid-race
Sewer Dweller
15% RARITYChaos agent, unpredictable with huge upside
HYBRID ELITE
The legendary Hybrid Elite bloodline cannot be minted—it can only be created through optimal crossbreeding of compatible bloodlines. These rats exhibit peak hybrid vigor with adaptive perks that work in any race condition.
TRAITS
GENETIC MODIFIERS
TRAIT SYSTEM
Traits are genetic modifiers that affect race performance. Each rat can have 1-4 trait slots depending on generation and breeding quality. Traits can be positive, negative, or situational.
Traits have dominance values that affect inheritance probability during breeding. Some traits cannot be bred out once acquired.
POSITIVE TRAITS
Early Bird
15%Explosive starts, dominates the first segment
The Closer
15%Finds another gear in the final stretch
Iron Will
12%Reduced fatigue throughout the race
Draft King
18%Gains speed when running behind others
Clutch Gene
10%Performs better in close races
Rain Runner
8%Thrives in wet weather conditions
Storm Chaser
5%Excels in stormy, chaotic conditions
Sun Seeker
10%Performs best in clear, sunny weather
Fog Navigator
7%Navigates through fog with ease
Snow Runner
6%Adapted to snowy conditions
NEGATIVE TRAITS
Slow Starter
20%Takes time to get going
Glass Cannon
15%High variance - can win big or fail spectacularly
Fades Late
18%Loses steam in the final segments
SITUATIONAL TRAITS
Underdog
12%Thrives when in last place
Alpha
10%Dominant when leading, consistent performance
WARNING: The INBRED trait is a permanent negative trait that occurs from breeding closely related rats. It cannot be removed and severely impacts performance. Avoid breeding rats that share recent ancestors.
TRAINING
STAT DEVELOPMENT
TRAINING SYSTEM
Training allows you to improve your rat's stats beyond their base values. When you stake a rat for training, they enter a focused regimen that develops their Speed, Stamina, and Agility based on your chosen focus and duration.
Training does NOT increase a rat's level—levels are only gained through racing XP. However, stat gains from training are capped by the rat's current level.
TRAINING TIERS
| TIER | DURATION | GAIN | FATIGUE | COST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick | 1 hour | +1.0 | 50% | ×1.0 |
| Standard | 4 hours | +3.0 | 60% | ×1.0 |
| Intensive | 12 hours | +6.5 | 72% | ×1.2 |
| Boot Camp | 24 hours | +11.0 | 82% | ×1.5 |
| Deep | 48 hours | +18.0 | 92% | ×2.0 |
Cost by level: Lvl 1-4 = 10 MCADE, Lvl 5-9 = 10 MCADE, Lvl 10-19 = 10 MCADE, Lvl 20+ = 10 MCADE. Tier multipliers apply.
FOCUS MODES
| FOCUS | SPEED | STAMINA | AGILITY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced | 33% | 33% | 34% |
| Speed | 55% | 25% | 20% |
| Stamina | 20% | 55% | 25% |
| Agility | 25% | 20% | 55% |
| Specialist | 80% | 12% | 8% |
LEVEL CEILING
Maximum trainable stats are capped by level. A Level 1 rat caps at ~59 per stat, while a Level 50 rat can reach ~87. This ensures leveling remains valuable.
DIMINISHING RETURNS
As stats approach their ceiling, training efficiency decreases. A rat with 80 Speed gains less than one with 60 Speed from the same session.
LUCK EVENTS
Training sessions can trigger luck events: Lucky Sessions (+50% gains), Super Lucky (+100%), Breakthroughs (exceed ceiling), and Discoveries (bonus rewards).
EXIT FATIGUE: Rats are fatigued after training. Fatigued rats race at reduced effectiveness. Wait for recovery before entering competitive races, or use training as downtime between race seasons.
BREEDING
GENETIC ENGINEERING
BREEDING SYSTEM
Breeding combines the genetics of two parent rats to create offspring with inherited traits and stats. The child's potential is influenced by both parents' bloodlines, their compatibility, and random mutation chances.
Strategic breeding is key to creating elite racers. Understanding bloodline compatibility and trait inheritance can produce offspring that exceed both parents.
INHERITANCE RULES
- STATSChild stats are averaged from parents with variance, plus potential mutation bonuses
- BLOODLINEHigher dominance bloodline more likely to pass. Compatible pairs may produce Hybrid Elite
- TRAITSTraits inherit based on dominance values. High dominance traits are harder to breed out
- GENERATIONChild generation = max(parent1, parent2) + 1
BREEDING QUALITY
Breeding quality affects mutation chances, stat variance, and trait slot inheritance. Higher quality breeding produces more consistent, higher-potential offspring.
POSITIVE MUTATIONS
High quality breeding can trigger positive mutations: stat boosts, legendary traits, or the coveted Hybrid Elite bloodline. Mutation chance increases with breeding quality.
INBREEDING PENALTY
Breeding rats that share recent ancestors triggers inbreeding detection. This reduces breeding quality and can result in the permanent INBRED trait with severe stat penalties.
BREEDING LIMITS & COSTS
5
Max breeds per rat
24h
Cooldown period
10
MCADE cost
LVL 1
Min level to breed
RACING
COMPETITIVE GAMEPLAY
RACE MECHANICS
Races are simulated in 5 segments. Each segment, your rat's performance is calculated based on stats, traits, bloodline perks, fatigue level, and environmental conditions. The simulation includes controlled randomness to keep outcomes exciting while rewarding better-built rats.
Races support multiple entry tokens: RACE, MCADE, or USDC. You can also enter multiple rats in a single transaction for convenience.
RACE FLOW
START
Explosive start traits activate
ACCELERATION
Speed stats most impactful
MIDRACE
Stamina becomes critical
CHALLENGE
Agility for obstacles
SPRINT
Final push, closer traits activate
PERFORMANCE FACTORS
LEVEL BRACKETS
Races are bracketed by level to ensure fair competition. When creating a race, choose a bracket or select "Open" to allow any level.
AUTO-START
Races automatically start when 6 participants have entered. No waiting—once full, the race begins immediately and results are calculated.
XP REWARDS
1st: 100 XP, 2nd: 75 XP, 3rd: 60 XP, 4th: 45 XP, 5th: 35 XP, 6th: 25 XP. XP is the only way to level up your rats.
PRIZE DISTRIBUTION
10-20% of MCADE entries burned (creator selectable), 10% to race creator. Remaining pool split: Top3 (50/30/20%), Top2 (70/30%), or Winner-takes-all.
MULTI-ENTRY: You can enter multiple rats in a single transaction! Select up to 6 rats (or however many slots remain) and enter them all at once—saves gas and time.
CREATE RACES: Anyone can create races! Set your MCADE entry fee (100-10,000), choose a burn rate (10-20%), select a level bracket, and pick the prize split. You earn 10% of the prize pool as creator.
TRACKS
RACING VENUES
TRACK SYSTEM
Each track has unique characteristics that affect which stats matter most. Some tracks favor pure speed, others reward stamina or agility. Strategic players match their rats to tracks where they excel.
The Gutter
LVL 1+The classic underground racing circuit. Balanced terrain favors all-around racers.
SPEED
x1.0
STAMINA
x1.0
AGILITY
x1.0
LUCK
x1.0
Neon Strip
COMING SOONLVL 5+High-speed straightaway through the neon district. Pure speed dominates here.
SPEED
x1.4
STAMINA
x0.7
AGILITY
x0.8
LUCK
x1.1
Industrial Maze
COMING SOONLVL 10+Twisting corridors and tight corners. Agility and strategy are key.
SPEED
x0.7
STAMINA
x1.0
AGILITY
x1.5
LUCK
x0.8
The Long Haul
COMING SOONLVL 15+Marathon distance through the deep sewers. Only the fit survive.
SPEED
x0.8
STAMINA
x1.5
AGILITY
x0.9
LUCK
x0.8
Chaos Circuit
COMING SOONLVL 20+Unpredictable obstacles and random events. Luck is your best friend.
SPEED
x0.9
STAMINA
x0.9
AGILITY
x1.1
LUCK
x1.5
RACE CONDITIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT
Every race has randomized environmental conditions that affect how traits perform. A rat with the "Rain Dancer" trait thrives in rain, while "Night Owl" excels after dark. Understanding conditions helps you pick the right rat for each race.
WEATHER
TIME OF DAY
SURFACE
TIP: Check race conditions before entering! The conditions are shown in the race entry modal. Match your rat's traits to the conditions for maximum advantage.
RETIREMENT
IMMORTALIZE YOUR CHAMPIONS
RETIREMENT SYSTEM
Rats level 20 or higher can be retired (burned) in exchange for MCADE tokens. Retirement rewards are based on your rat's achievements: level, wins, stats, and rare traits. Retired rats become "Legendary Parents"—their legacy persists in breeding bonuses.
REWARD FORMULA
EXAMPLE PAYOUTS
LVL 20
Minimum level to retire
BURNED
Rat NFT is permanently destroyed
LEGACY
Becomes Legendary Parent for breeding
RARE TRAITS (5 MCADE bonus each)
WARNING: Retirement is PERMANENT. Your rat is burned and cannot be recovered. Make sure you've gotten full value from your rat before retiring. Cannot retire while training or in an active race.
DAILY OPS
DAILY MISSION SYSTEM
OVERVIEW
Daily Ops are your daily objectives in RATWAY. Complete them to earn MCADE tokens, build streaks for multiplied rewards, and stay engaged with the underground racing scene. New missions appear at 00:00 UTC each day.
HOW IT WORKS
Each day you receive 4 missions: 2 easy, 1 medium, 1 hard
Complete objectives by playing normally: racing, training, breeding
Claim rewards individually as you complete each mission
Complete ALL 4 to unlock the daily bonus with streak multiplier
ACCESSING MISSIONS
Tap the notification bell in the top navigation to open the Command Center. Switch to the DAILY OPS tab to view your current missions, progress, and claimable rewards.
The bell icon shows a badge when you have claimable rewards waiting. After a race, the results modal will also indicate if any missions were updated by your performance.
MISSION TYPES
RACE COUNT
Enter a certain number of races
e.g. Race 3 times
RACE WIN
Win races outright (1st place only)
e.g. Win 1 race
PODIUM
Finish in top 3 positions
e.g. Finish top 3 twice
START TRAINING
Put rats into training
e.g. Start training a rat
COMPLETE TRAINING
Finish training sessions with gains
e.g. Complete a training session
BREED
Successfully breed new rats
e.g. Breed a new rat
UNDERDOG
Win as the lowest-level rat in race
e.g. Win as underdog
HOT STREAK
Win consecutive races in a day
e.g. Win 2 in a row
DIFFICULTY & REWARDS
STREAK SYSTEM
Complete ALL 4 daily missions to maintain your streak. The bonus multiplier increases at certain thresholds:
Missing a day resets your streak to 0. Your longest streak is saved forever.
BONUS REWARDS
Daily Ops are BONUSES for active players, not a primary income source. The rewards supplement your race winnings and offset some activity costs.
XP BONUSES
Some missions include XP bonus rewards. When claimed, your next race XP is multiplied for all participating rats. Great for leveling.
RESET TIME
All missions reset at 00:00 UTC. Unclaimed rewards are lost. Plan your gaming sessions around this to maximize your daily returns.
FAIR PLAY PROTECTIONS
[!] Transfer Cooldown
Rats can't contribute to missions for 24h after being transferred. No "pass the rat" farming.
[!] Mint Grace Period
Newly minted rats must wait 24h before contributing to missions.
[!] Self-Racing Prevention
Races require at least 2 unique owners to count for missions. Max 2 rats per owner per race.
[!] Daily Rat Cap
Each rat can only contribute to missions once per day across ALL wallets.
PRO TIPS
[>] Check missions before starting your session to plan efficiently
[>] Easy missions complete naturally just by playing
[>] Hard missions often require specific focus - prioritize based on your rats
[>] The underdog mission is easier with lower-level rats in open brackets
[>] Win streak missions reset on any loss - focus when attempting
[>] Streak multipliers make completing ALL missions much more valuable
ECONOMY
TOKEN SYSTEM
MCADE ECONOMY
RATWAY uses MCADE (Metacade token) as its primary currency for all in-game activities: minting, breeding, training, and racing. Race creators can select a burn rate of 10-20% on entries to increase deflationary pressure.
The economy is designed to be sustainable—active players who race competitively can profit, while passive farming is not viable.
TOKEN SINKS (COSTS)
TOKEN SOURCES (INCOME)
Note: 10-20% of race entries are burned (creator selectable). Racing is the primary income source—missions and retirement are supplemental.
RACE PRIZE DISTRIBUTION (MCADE ONLY)
ECONOMIC DESIGN
DEFLATIONARY
10-20% burn on race entries ensures MCADE supply decreases over time.
SKILL-REWARDED
Racing is zero-sum—your winnings come from opponents' entries. Better rats = profit.
ANTI-FARM
Daily Ops require spending (races, training, breeding). Net profit comes from winning.
GET MCADE: MCADE is available on Aerodrome (Base). Click your balance in the navigation to swap directly.
STRATEGY
ADVANCED TACTICS
STABLE COMPOSITION
Build a diverse stable. Include specialists for different track types: speed-focused rats for Neon Strip, stamina tanks for The Long Haul, and agile rats for Industrial Maze. Versatility wins long-term.
BREEDING STRATEGY
Don't breed randomly. Plan breeding pairs based on complementary bloodlines and desired trait inheritance. Track family trees to avoid inbreeding penalties. Aim for high compatibility scores.
TRAINING OPTIMIZATION
Train rats during downtime between races. Use focused training to shore up weaknesses or maximize strengths depending on intended race strategy. Watch fatigue levels before race day.
RACE SELECTION
Match your rats to races where they excel. A Street Runner bloodline rat should target short sprint races, while Alley Cats can exploit comeback situations in larger fields.
PRO TIPS
READY TO RACE?
Head to the SHOP to mint your first rat, or browse the RACES to spectate and learn from the competition. The underground awaits.