Revision Date: September 20, 2020
SEASON 8 RULESET
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. PRE-MATCH REGULATIONS ......................................................................................................................................... 2
1.
2.
3.
4.
MATCH PROCESS SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................................. 2
DECK SUBMISSION RULES ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2
REPEAT RULES....................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
ADDITIONAL RULES ................................................................................................................................................................................ 2
II. MATCH REGULATIONS ................................................................................................................................................. 3
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
TIMEKEEPING .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
WARNINGS AND SANCTIONS .................................................................................................................................................................. 3
DISCONNECTS & GLITCHES .................................................................................................................................................................... 3
DISQUALIFICATIONS ................................................................................................................................................................................ 3
DUEL ROOM & SCREENSHOTS ............................................................................................................................................................... 4
III. FORFEITURE, RESCHEDULING, WARNINGS & SUSPENSIONS........................................................................... 5
1.
2.
3.
4.
FORFEITURE & RULINGS ........................................................................................................................................................................ 5
RESCHEDULING ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
GAME & LEAGUE WARNINGS ................................................................................................................................................................. 5
PLAYER SUSPENSIONS .......................................................................................................................................................................... 5
IV. TRANSFER RULES ....................................................................................................................................................... 6
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
STRUCTURAL INFORMATION ................................................................................................................................................................... 6
GOVERNANCE OF ROLES ........................................................................................................................................................................ 6
TRANSFER PERIOD STRUCTURE............................................................................................................................................................. 6
RULES REGARDING OWNERS, MANAGERS, AND COACHES .................................................................................................................... 7
RULES REGARDING SEASON DUELISTS AND FREE AGENTS................................................................................................................... 7
V. IN-GAME CARDS, SKILLS, LIMITS, AND CONTENT LEGALITY ............................................................................ 8
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
MAIN BOXS, MINI BOXS, SELECTION BOXS, STRUCTURE DECKS, & STRUCTURE EX DECKS .......................................................... 8
EVENT CARDS, CHARACTER DROPS, & LEVEL-UP REWARDS .............................................................................................................. 9
SKILLS AND SKILL CHANGES ................................................................................................................................................................. 9
FORBIDDEN/LIMITED LIST ..................................................................................................................................................................... 9
OTHER CASES AND ADDITIONAL CONTENT............................................................................................................................................ 9
VI. PLAYOFFS STRUCTURE .............................................................................................................................................. 9
1.
2.
3.
4.
QUALIFICATION GUIDELINES ................................................................................................................................................................... 9
TIEBREAKERS ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 10
PAIRING METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................................................................................... 10
LEAGUE PRIZE POOL DISTRIBUTION ..................................................................................................................................................... 10
VII. TEAM WARS COMMISSIONERS ............................................................................................................................. 10
1.
2.
3.
ROLE BREAKDOWN ............................................................................................................................................................................... 10
PURPOSE ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 10
COMMISSIONER CLAUSE ........................................................................................................................................................................ 11
REVISION HISTORY........................................................................................................................................................... 11
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Revision Date: September 20, 2020
I. Pre-Match Regulations
1. Match Process Summary
a) Each team declares 5 players with 2 decks submitted for each player. Decks have no
restrictions on skill and archetype choices.
b) Both teams then declare both a starting player and the first deck in their deck channel.
c) Each game is a one-versus-one game where the loser will have their deck eliminated.
The winner must continue with their winning deck until it is eliminated. The loser
must either switch to their second declared deck or repeat their first deck.
d) Once a player has lost two duels the player is eliminated from the match. The team
must then choose to send the next player. This continues until there are no decks left
from either team. The team to lose all decks is declared the loser of the match.
2. Deck Submission Rules
a) All 10 decks must be submitted prior to the scheduled match start time. If at least one
deck is submitted after the scheduled match start time, the team will be given a Game
Warning. Furthermore, the total delays in deck submission will be subtracted from the
offending team’s match timer.
b) Cards that are not released in-game prior to the scheduled match time are not
permitted to be used for that match.
c) Players must also submit the Duelist ID of the account(s) they plan to use in the deck
submission channel. Duelist ID(s) must be submitted accordingly with each deck
image. Failure to adhere may result in a Game Warning.
3. Repeat Rules
a) If a player loses the first duel played with the first deck in their deck combo (resulting
in a record of 0-1), then that player is permitted to repeat the first deck if there are
team repeats available.
b) Each team is assigned two repeats, and therefore, can repeat 2 decks in total. The
character and skill must remain the same if a deck is repeated.
c) If the player chooses to repeat, the repeated deck will replace the player’s second
deck.
d) Repeats must be declared by teams in the match channel, and the team must announce
the repeat before entering the duel. Failure to do so will result in a game-loss/deckloss. Repeats will be confirmed and announced as official in the match channel by the
League Referee.
4. Additional Rules
a) If a player on the declared roster is not able to play their game, that team may
substitute that player. The substituted player, however, must use the declared decks
submitted by the player who is being replaced.
b) For a substitution to occur, both decks must be available.
c) If the substituting player is only able to play one of the two decks, then team will
receive a deck loss for the deck which is not able to be played. The player is not
permitted to repeat, since the player will not have a full deck pair.
d) A duel resulting in an in-game draw will result in a deck-loss of the current deck for
both teams.
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Revision Date: September 20, 2020
II. Match Regulations
1. Timekeeping
a) Each team is permitted a maximum 15-minute timer throughout a full match.
b) The 15-minute timer begins at the start time of the match.
c) The timer is paused for both teams only when both players for the upcoming duel are
at the table or if there is an active duel in progress.
d) The timer runs continuously during down-times between rounds.
2. Warnings and Sanctions
a) A Referee will find it appropriate to give warnings for excessive time-stalling by
issuing game warnings.
b) A team exceeding the 15-minutes timer will be dealt a game-loss/deck-loss. A new
timer of 3 minutes will be issued to that team.
c) Further delays extending longer than the 3-minute timer will result in an additional
game loss. Again, a new timer of 3 minutes will be issued to that team, and this step
will be repeated as necessary.
d) At any time, a Referee can deem certain delays to be extralegal given extenuating
circumstances in accordance with the opposition team.
3. Disconnects & Glitches
a) Both players must provide supporting evidence after the instance of a disconnect
(DC) of board states, including screenshot(s), duel logs and all other relevant
information pertaining to the state of the field, to prove the instance of a DC.
b) If a glitch occurs, both players must describe what their game client is experiencing,
optimally, including screenshots and or video replays as part of their supporting
evidence.
c) In the event of a disconnect, the disconnecting player will receive a game loss. The
Referee will determine one of two outcomes from the screenshots and information
provided:
i. If evidence concludes the disconnect to be definite, a Referee will see fit to
issue the result determined by the duel room.
ii. If the disconnect is indefinite, at the Referee’s discretion, frequent neardisconnects originating from a player will result in a game loss being given to
that player. Screenshots may be requested by the Referee to determine the
disconnecting player.
d) In the case of a glitch:
i. A restart will be issued on sufficient proof that both the game was stuck in a
non-playable state and the board state was not overwhelmingly favored by a
player.
ii. If a winning scenario is forfeited by a glitch, a Referee will see fit, given
sufficient evidence, to award a win to that player.
4. Disqualifications
a) A player entering a duel with the incorrect deck will receive a game-loss/deck-loss
for that duel and may receive retroactive game-losses upon investigation from the
match officials.
b) A player caught siding in/out cards will be dealt an immediate DQ (double gameloss) and retroactive game-losses upon investigation from the Head Referee.
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Revision Date: September 20, 2020
c) If a player does not provide screenshots on the request of a Referee or does not
provide full/incorrect screenshots, the player will first receive a game warning, and
then, on the second infarction, a game-loss/deck-loss.
d) If a disqualification in the final duel of a match is determined after the duel has been
completed but before the match result is finalized and posted in #match-results in the
Team Wars Discord server, the Referee and the Head Referees may deem the duel as
illegitimate, and instead, assign a game-loss/deck-loss where necessary.
e) Unsportsmanlike behavior towards the opposition will result in ejection from the
game and/or suspension from the league.
f) Abuse towards the Referees will result in ejection from the game and suspension
from the league.
5. Duel Room & Screenshots
a) Duel Rooms will be created on part of a Team Wars Referee.
b) Teams must adhere to the following set of Duel Room regulations:
i. Players must use a name that is clearly recognizable to their in-discord
names/alias when entering the Duel Room. Failure to do so will result in a
warning. A repeat offense (second infraction) will result in a Game Warning
given to that player.
ii. Only players who will play in the immediate upcoming duel are permitted to
join the Duel Room. Once eliminated, the player must leave the Duel Room. If
the player has not left the Duel Room table, a warning will be issued. A repeat
offense (second infarction) will result in a Game Warning given to that player.
If the player is not on the Duel Room table but is still in the Duel Room, a
Game Warning will be issued. If the winning player leaves the Duel Room
table, a Game Warning may be issued.
iii. Spectating by unapproved individuals is strictly forbidden. Matches found to
have errant numbers of spectators will result in a league warning followed by an
investigation into both teams.
iv. Teams must inform a Referee in the match channel if they plan to screenshare.
The Referee must always be present in the screenshare call and will be
“deafened” in the call. Communications between the Referee and the team will
be monitored. Any attempts of collusion, if confirmed, will be heavily punished
by the League.
c) Teams must adhere to the following set of screenshot regulations:
i. Players must provide screenshots on request of a Referee. Failure to do so will
result in a Game Warning.
ii. Attempting to obscure or not deliver full screenshots will also result in a Game
Warning.
iii. Players must submit additional screenshots, if deemed necessary, by request of a
match official.
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Revision Date: September 20, 2020
III. Forfeiture, Scheduling, Warnings & Suspensions
1. Forfeiture & Rulings
a) In the case of a forfeiture, both teams will be flagged, and an investigation will be
undertaken to determine the possibility of collusion. Positive traces of collusion found
to be evident will result in unprecedented punishment with the possibility of swift and
harsh punishment through immediate expulsion and ban for all associated players
from the league.
b) Forfeiture due to five no shows from a team for their match will result in the nonoffending team receiving a 'win by forfeiture', equating to 3 points and +10 RD. The
forfeiting team will receive a loss and therefore 0 point and -10 RD. Any possibility
of collusion will be heavily investigated, and harsh sanctions will result.
c) Teams that do not submit at minimum 3 players and 6 decks in their match roster
before the match deadline will receive a loss by forfeiture.
2. Scheduling and Rescheduling
a) If a match time cannot be confirmed by Thursday 11:59 PM EDT or an otherwise
stated deadline by a Head Referee, the Head Referees may force a match time.
b) Teams in mutual agreement that would like to reschedule a match must contact a
Referee and confirm a time which is at least 12 hours before the proposed match time.
3. Game & League Warnings
a) Game Warnings can be dealt for a title of actions listed under the Disqualifications
header in the Disconnects, Disqualifications & Glitches section of the Match Rules
b) A team accruing 2 Game Warning violations in a match will be punished with an
immediate game-loss. If only full deck pairings remain, the team will decide which
deck to withdraw. Otherwise, the player of the remaining deck of the current pair will
be assigned a game-loss/deck-loss.
c) League Warnings are actioned to teams for serious or repeated violations of
previously stated offences and are under the purview of the League’s Commissioners.
d) A team accruing 2 League Warning violations in a Season will be charged harsh
punishment, including but not limited to point deductions, handicaps up to revocation
of their legacy status, and expulsion from the league.
4. Player Suspensions
a) Upon sufficient evidence, players may be suspended at any time for the following
reasons: Unsportsmanlike Conduct, Intent to Deceive, Disrespect towards a Match
Official, & Cheating.
b) Any transfer requests regarding suspended players will be denied until the suspension
length has been completed.
c) Cases of confirmed rule-breaking in tournaments or leagues outside of Team Wars
will be reviewed by the Commissioners. If necessary, suspensions will be dealt to
rule-breaking players.
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Revision Date: September 20, 2020
IV. Transfer Rules
1. Structural Information
a) Team Owners have full rights to a team. Team Managers participate as
representatives of their teams in the form of league voting.
b) Team Owners are permitted to appoint themselves as the Team Manager of their
team. Thus, one Team Owner can be both the Team Owner and the Team Manager of
their team.
c) Team Owners are permitted to appoint themselves as the Team Coach of their team.
Thus, one Team Owner can be both the Team Owner and the Team Coach of their
team.
d) Team Owners cannot hold both the Team Manager and the Team Coach role at the
same time.
e) Team Owners are permitted to conduct transfers of all team members.
f) Team Managers are permitted to conduct transfers of all team members, except the
Team Owner.
g) Team Coaches are not permitted to conduct transfers.
2. Governance of Roles
a) Team Owners that are unresponsive for 7 days (168 hours) after a complaint made by
the Team Manager or Team Coach will lose Ownership of the team, and the Team
Manager will become the new Team Owner of the team. If the Team Owner holds the
Team Manager role at the time of the complaint, then the Team Coach will become
the new Team Owner of the team.
b) Team Managers that fail to vote in two successive votes may lose Team Manager
privileges and asked to be replaced.
c) Players must be removed through a proper request in the channel #transfer-requests in
the Team Wars Discord server.
d) If a player requests to be removed from the team, and both the Team Owner and/or
Team Manager fail to file the request within 24 hours, the player will be removed
from the team via decision of the League’s Commissioners.
3. Transfer Period Structure
a) Transfer Period Definitions
i.
Offseason Transfer Period begins upon the conclusion of Playoffs until Week
1.
ii. Season Transfer Period begins Week 1 and ends once the first match in Week
10 has started.
iii. Playoffs Transfer Period begins once the first match in Week 10 has started
and ends upon the conclusion of Playoffs.
b) Offseason Transfer Period
i. No restrictions on the addition of individuals or movement of roles within a
team.
c) Season Transfer Period
i. An unlimited number of non-Season 8 Duelist Free Agents can be signed by a
team throughout this period.
ii. Season 8 Duelists can be signed anytime during this period.
iii. Teams may sign a total of two Season 8 Duelists during this period.
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iv. Season 8 Duelists may only play on a maximum of two teams from the time the
Season has started until the end of playoffs.
v. After adding a player, teams must wait 7 days before removing them from the
team.
vi. Team Owners and Team managers may switch between the player and nonplayer status only twice. Two uses are granted total for Team Owners and
Managers.
vii. Team Coaches may switch between the player and non-player status only twice.
Two uses are granted total for Team Coaches, and this limit is separate from the
Team Owner/Manager limit.
d) Playoffs Transfer Period
i. An unlimited number of non-Season 8 Duelist Free Agents can be signed by a
team throughout this period.
ii. Teams may not sign Season 8 Duelists.
iii. Team Owners and Team managers may switch between the player and nonplayer status only twice. Two uses are granted total for Team Owners and
Managers. Uses from the Season Transfer Period will carry over to this transfer
period.
iv. Team Coaches may not switch between the player and non-player status.
4. Rules Regarding Owners, Managers, and Coaches
a) Team Owners can omit themselves from the player roster. During any transfer period,
Team Owners may switch between the player and non-player status only twice. For
example, if a Team Owner on the roster decides to omit themselves from the player
roster, then that will count as one use. If they add themselves back to the player
roster, that will complete two uses. This does not count towards the Season 8 Duelist
transfer limit.
b) Team Managers may be omitted from the player roster. If the Team Owner is already
omitted from the player roster, then the Team Manager will not be able to be omitted
as well. Thus, both the Team Owner and the Team Manager may not be omitted from
the player roster at one time. Any uses applied towards the Team Owner’s switch
from out or in the player roster are counted towards the Team Manager as well, and
vice-versa. This does not count towards the Season 8 Duelist transfer limit.
c) Team Coaches can be omitted from the player roster. During the duration of Season
Transfer Period, Team Coaches may switch between the player and non-player status
only twice. This limit is separate from the Owner/Manager Limit. This limit will not
apply if the Team Coach was on a different team prior to the switch from non-player
to player or vise-versa and will apply to the Season 8 Duelist limit instead. A Team
Coach can switch from a non-player to a player position only if that player did not
already have a Season 8 Duelist (S8 Duelist) role. If the S8 Duelist role is present, a
S8 Duelist Limit will be used. Transfers of the same individual from a non-player
coach to a player-coach the second time in one Season (when both Coach limits have
been used) will use up a Season 8 Duelist transfer limit.
5. Rules Regarding Season Duelists and Free Agents
a) An unlimited number of non- Season 8 Duelist Free Agents can be signed by a team
throughout the season.
b) Season 8 Duelists can only be signed during the Season Transfer Period.
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c) Teams must wait 7 days after adding a player before removing them from the team.
d) Teams may sign a total of 2 Season 8 Duelists combined during the specified transfer
periods.
e) Season 8 Duelists may only play on a maximum of two teams from the time the
Season has started until the end of playoffs.
V. In-Game Cards, Skills, Limits, and Content Legality
1. Main BOXs, Mini BOXs, Selection BOXs, Structure Decks, & Structure EX Decks
a) All new cards are legal upon release in-game.
b) Legality of cards with known bugs will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
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2. Event Cards, Character Drops, & Level-up Rewards
a) All new cards are legal upon release in-game.
b) Legality of cards with known bugs will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
3. Skills and Skill Changes
a) All new obtainable skills are legal upon release in-game.
b) Legality of skills that have changed will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
c) Legality of skills with known bugs will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
4. Forbidden/Limited List
a) The Forbidden/Limited List will be legal upon release for all subsequent matches.
b) Legality of cards with known bugs will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
5. Other Cases and Additional Content
a) All other cases and additional content will be reviewed on a case-by case basis by the
League’s Commissioners.
VI. Playoffs Structure
1. Qualification Guidelines
c) Four Division Champions will clinch Playoffs and will be granted a bye week.
d) Four Division Runner-Ups will clinch Playoffs but will not be granted a bye week.
e) Four Wild-Card Teams will clinch Playoffs but will not be granted a bye week.
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Revision Date: September 20, 2020
2. Tiebreakers
a) Divisional tiebreakers are Points, RD, H2H.
b) Should there still be a tie after the above tiebreakers, RW will be the next tiebreaker.
c) Wild-Card Teams will be determined by league-wide tiebreakers of Points, RD, &
H2H, in that order.
d) Should there still be a tie after Wild-Card tiebreakers, the two tying teams will play a
run-off match.
e) If there are more than two tying Wild-Card teams after tiebreakers, RW will be used
to determine the two best teams from the tied teams. Then, a run-off match will be
called.
3. Pairing Methodology
a) Division Champions will play the winner of the respective Round 1 winner.
b) Division Runner-Ups will play Wild-Card Teams.
c) Teams will be ranked within their respective groups - Division Champion, Division
Runner-Up, & Wild-Card.
d) These rankings will be determined by Points, RD, H2H, & RW, in that order.
e) Teams with the 1st seed in their respective groups will play the 4th seed of the other
group.
f) Teams with the 2nd seed in their respective groups will play the 3rd seed of the other
group.
g) Placement of Division Champions in the playoffs bracket is determined by group
seeding.
h) The 1st seed Division Champion plays the winner of 4th seed Division Runner-Up
and 1st seed Wild-Card.
i) The 2nd seed Division Champion plays the winner of 3rd seed Division Runner-Up
and 2nd seed Wild-Card
j) The 3rd seed Division Champion plays the winner of 2nd seed Division Runner-Up
and 3rd seed Wild-Card
k) The 4th seed Division Champion plays the winner of 1st seed Division Runner-Up
and 4th seed Wild-Card.
4. League Prize Pool Distribution
a) Both teams tied for third place will be awarded $160.00 in winnings.
b) First place will be awarded 70% of the prize pool.
c) Second place will be awarded 30% of the prize pool.
VII. Team Wars Commissioners
1. Role Breakdown
a) League Commissioners consist of: Head Referees, Broadcast Managers, Finance
Manager, Lead Analyst, Lead Graphics Artist, Lead Moderator, and Policy Manager
b) Two or more members of the same team cannot be a Commissioner.
2. Purpose
a) Commissioners exist to discuss, review, create, and amend rule(s) of Team Wars
which are inappropriate for a Team Manager vote.
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3. Commissioner Clause
a) Commissioners reserve the right to issue exceptions to any League rules by a vote.
Revision History
Revision Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Date
July 16, 2019
July 30, 2019
July 30, 2019
November 13, 2019
December 3, 2019
December 3, 2019
December 21, 2019
April 30, 2020
Author
Taaha
Taaha
Taaha
Taaha
Taaha
Taaha
Taaha
Taaha
Description
Creation
Added Section V
Added Table of Contents
Added S5 voted changes
Added Section VI
Added S6 voted changes
Typo corrections
Offseason rule updates
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Revision Date: September 20, 2020
9
10
11
April 30, 2020
May 2, 2020
September 20, 2020
Taaha
Taaha
Taaha
Added Section VII
Typo corrections
Updated for Season 8
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