NEW RACE GUIDE (AI SPONSORED)

RACE HAS BEEN UPDATED, and if you're jumping in for the first time, here's everything you need to know. The Qualifier Round: Every game starts with 20 players. Before the real competition begins, everyone plays a mini game as a qualifier round. The two players with the lowest scores are eliminated right away, trimming the field down to 18. Pairing Up: Once the qualifier is over, the remaining 18 players are randomly paired into teams of two. From this point on, you and your teammate will rise or fall together. Power-Ups: Power-ups are a huge part of the strategy in Shops. You'll select your first power-up on Day 1, then collect an additional one every two to three days until you're holding three by the end of the game. Choose wisely — the right combination can carry you to the finals. Here's what each power-up does: - Colfector — Earn 10% interest on your current money at the start of each round. A solid pick if you want your cash to snowball over time. - Inspiration — Gain 10% of your teammate's score each round before transportation is applied. Great when your partner is a strong performer. - Helicopter — Unlocks a helicopter transportation option that gives you a 65% score boost for $65. Expensive, but a massive swing when it counts. - Miracle — Gain a 40% score boost in luck-based competitions (Lucky Drop and Deal), excluding the round you pick it up. If the game throws you into luck-based events often, this pays off big. - Dimitra's Stilettos — Earn $10 every time you choose to walk or skip transportation entirely. A quiet money-maker for players who like to save. - Reckless Joyride — All transportation modes cost 15% less. Pairs well with aggressive transportation strategies since you're spending less across the board. - Headstart — Gain a 1% score bonus for every active player still in the game, including yourself. This one is strongest early when the lobby is full, and fades as eliminations thin the field. - Opportunities — Item rerolls drop from $6 to $3, and you immediately pocket $25 when you pick it up. Useful if you like to reroll for better items without burning through your cash. - Hubris — Earn $20 every time your team finishes in 1st place. High risk, high reward — if you and your partner are consistently topping the leaderboard, this adds up fast. Eliminations: At regular intervals, the lowest-scoring team is eliminated. Keep an eye out for double elimination rounds, which can happen randomly — when they hit, the bottom two teams are sent home instead of one. The Final Two: Unlike some other Kovaze game modes, Race doesn't end with a final three. The competition runs all the way down to a final two, where the last pair standing takes the win. Tips for New Players: Pick power-ups that complement each other. For example, pairing Reckless Joyride with Helicopter lets you access big score boosts at a discount. Or stack Colfector with Dimitra's Stilettos to build a cash reserve that grows on its own. Pay attention to your teammate's strengths. If they consistently score high, Inspiration becomes one of the best power-ups in the game. And don't sleep on double eliminations. Playing it safe in the middle of the pack might not be enough when two teams go home at once.