Devblog #2 – How Eslabong Works

Some players have asked:

What exactly do you do in Eslabong?

So today I wanted to explain the core gameplay loop and the systems

Control One Fighter

First of all, during battles, you directly control one mercenary in real time.

Move across the arena, choose your positioning, attack at the right moment and use abilities to win the fight. While you focus on your chosen fighter, the rest of your team is controlled by AI based on their class, role and tactics.

You can switch anytime who you are controlling in the battles. And this creates a unique mix of direct action and team-based strategy. You are never controlling an entire army, but your individual decisions can still change the outcome of the match.

A perfectly timed engage, casting a shield on an ally or eliminating a key enemy leader can decide the battle.

Build Your Club

Outside the arena, you take control of every aspect of your club’s growth.

You can buy and sell mercenaries on the market, scout hidden talent, replace underperforming veterans and build a roster that fits your preferred style of play. You can also set tactics or priorities for your fighters. Currently there are more than 25 different classes.

Facilities can also be upgraded over time, improving different areas of the organization such as training, recovery, scouting and long-term development. For example, if you upgrade your Training Hall, not only you will get better passive bonus XP, but also be able to use a Training service that provides 1 extra ability to a mercenary of your choice.

Every decision matters. A smart transfer, a better facility or the right tactical adjustment can be the difference between surviving the season or competing for trophies.

Seasons, Leagues and Cups

Each season is built around structured competition, similar to a football or sports league.

Teams face each other during the regular league season, where every match matters. Wins, draws and losses award different amounts of points, gold and renown, creating a constant race for the standings.

Midway through the season, clubs enter the Mid Season Cup, usually focused on smaller formats such as 2v2 or 3v3 battles.

Later comes the Chaos Cup, where four teams of three fighters clash in a more unpredictable tournament format.

Finally, the season ends with the Champions Cup, where the top eight clubs qualify for the final tournament and compete for the biggest title of the year.

Strong results throughout the season help grow your club, attract better mercenaries and unlock new opportunities. There are also special matches each season, like All-star matches or events to make every season unique.

No Two Seasons Are The Same

Regarding that "unique" feeling, every season creates new stories.

The mercenary market changes constantly, different fighters become available: there are lots of unique champions with strange and weird skills to hire. Clubs rise or collapse, and new opportunities appear depending on your results.

Some runs may focus on building a balanced team for long-term success. Others may revolve around a rare champion, a powerful class combination or an unexpected underdog squad.

Because rosters, opponents and outcomes keep changing, no two seasons play the same way.

Winning once is only the beginning — building a lasting dynasty is the real challenge.

What Comes Next

We are very close to a public playtest.

I am almost done with the tutorial, and after that I expect to send keys to discord members and people interested in checking it before the DEMO comes out next month.

Thank you for following the project.

If Eslabong sounds like your kind of game, please wishlist it on Steam and follow development to be notified when the playtest begins.

Franz.