Definitions

201.
Competition Types: Riftbound competitions come in three types.
1. 201.1.
  Premier: A competition that is run by Riot Games or an official competition organizer and has a unique name and features.
2. 201.2.
  Qualifier: Any competition where rewards include access or advantages for premier events. (Premier events can themselves be qualifiers.)
3. 201.3.
  Local: Any competition that is neither premier nor qualifier.

202.

Tournament Modes

202.1.
Competition Formats:
1. 202.1.a.
  Limited: A limited competition is one where all product needed for play is provided during the competition.
  moved from 202.1
2. 202.1.b.
  Constructed: A constructed competition is one where players compete using decks they prepare beforehand.
  moved from 202.2
3. 202.1.c.
  See 600. for more information on Competition Formats.
  new
202.2.
Round Structures:
1. 202.2.a.
  Swiss: A competition or component of a competition where players are paired each round against players they haven’t already played in the competition who, if possible, share the same current record.
  new
  1. 202.2.a.1.
    Power Pairing: When the final round of a swiss competition is paired in exact order of the current standings of the competition. For example: Seed 1 plays against seed 2, seed 3 plays against seed 4, etc.
    new
2. 202.2.b.
  Playoff: A competition or component of a competition where players are initially paired based on their standing and are subsequently eliminated by losses.
  moved from 202.4
202.3.
Multiple: Some competitions may consist of multiple formats and/or structures within the same competition.

203.

Units of Play

203.1.
Game: A Riftbound game is defined in the Core Rules.
203.2.
Match: A Riftbound match is defined in the Core Rules.

204.
Competition Roles: Every attendee at a competition has at least one of the following roles.
1. 204.1.
  Official roles: Roles 3-6 are considered competition officials for the purpose of this document.
  1. 204.1.a.
    Multiple: Any individual can act in any combination of official roles.
2. 204.2.
  Judge roles: Roles 4-5 are considered judges for the purpose of this document.
  1. 204.2.a.
    Judges equally serve as both rules arbiters and ambassadors of a healthy and welcoming environment for all players.
3. 204.3.
  Competition Organizer (CO): The CO is responsible for all competition logistics, including:
  1. 204.3.a.
    Sanctioning the event by registering it with Riot Games or its official partners.
  2. 204.3.b.
    Providing a site for the event (the venue) that meets the competition’s needs, including providing sufficient space and amenities for the expected attendance.
  3. 204.3.c.
    Promoting the event before it begins.
  4. 204.3.d.
    Staffing the event with the necessary tournament officials and support.
  5. 204.3.e.
    Providing all materials necessary to operate the event.
  6. 204.3.f.
    Reporting the event results.
  7. 204.3.g.
    Maintaining records of the event results (by game and match) for a minimum period of 3 months for the purpose of appeals. See 413 for more information on appeals.
4. 204.4.
  Head Judge: All sanctioned competitions require a Head Judge. The Head Judge is the final authority on competition rules and regulations, and their responsibilities include:
  1. 204.4.a.
    Ensuring that rules, procedures and regulations are followed.
  2. 204.4.b.
    Ensuring that all game or policy violations are dealt with and any appropriate corrective action taken.
  3. 204.4.c.
    Responding to floor judges who bring matters to their attention.
  4. 204.4.d.
    Coordinating and delegating responsibilities to floor judges as necessary.
  5. 204.4.e.
    Determining corrective action for errors or violations of the scorekeeper or floor judges.
  6. 204.4.f.
    The head judge has ultimate discretion if situations arise where the written rules are unclear or inadequate.
5. 204.5.
  Floor Judge: Floor judges respond to players and spectators who have questions about rules and regulations, and/or need judgment on the same, and their responsibilities include:
  1. 204.5.a.
    Answering questions about rules, interactions among cards, providing Watcher wordings, or derived game state.
    1. 204.5.a.1.
      At high OPL, judges may not answer direct questions about the results of game actions a player has not yet taken. In these situations, players must ask questions about the rules. Examples:
      1. 204.5.a.1.a.
        Inappropriate question: “If I attack and conquer this battlefield with my Tryndamere, Barbarian, will I score the winning point?”
      2. 204.5.a.1.b.
        Appropriate question: “Can point scoring abilities like Tryndamere’s score you the winning point?”
      3. 204.5.a.1.c.
        Judges may ask players to rephrase their questions to be appropriate where possible.
  2. 204.5.b.
    Provide rulings related to game and policy violations brought to their attention.
  3. 204.5.c.
    Assist with translation if able.
  4. 204.5.d.
    Assist players in technically precise play (at low OPL). (This should generally not include strategic advice.)
6. 204.6.
  Scorekeeper: All sanctioned competitions require a scorekeeper. Scorekeepers are responsible for correct competition logistics as it relates to games and game records, including:
  1. 204.6.a.
    Generating each round of the competition and necessary data to proceed with that round (e.g. match pairings).
  2. 204.6.b.
    Generating standings in the competition before the last round of the competition (in Swiss competitions).
  3. 204.6.c.
    Generating standings in the competition after the last round of the competition (in Swiss competitions).
  4. 204.6.d.
    Solving scorekeeping problems with a-c above in conjunction with the Head Judge.
  5. 204.6.e.
    Reporting on the competition afterward and including all necessary data.
7. 204.7.
  Player
  1. 204.7.a.
    Any non-official participant of the competition is a player.
  2. 204.7.b.
    Players have responsibilities, including:
    1. 204.7.b.1.
      Behaving respectfully to all attendees of the competition, including officials and spectators.
    2. 204.7.b.2.
      Maintaining clear game state.
    3. 204.7.b.3.
      Complying with all processes and procedures of the competition, including announcements and time limits.
    4. 204.7.b.4.
      Calling to the attention of a judge any rules or policy violation in their matches.
    5. 204.7.b.5.
      Calling to the attention of a judge any error in their competition record as noted by the scorekeeper.
    6. 204.7.b.6.
      Reporting the result of their competition matches to an official in a timely manner.
    7. 204.7.b.7.
      Obeying eligibility rules.
    8. 204.7.b.8.
      Familiarizing themselves with this document and any addenda.
    9. 204.7.b.9.
      Presenting themselves physically for the competition for its duration.
  3. 204.7.c.
    Even if officials assist, the player remains ultimately responsible for the above.
  4. 204.7.d.
    Individual members of a team in a team competition are each individually responsible for the above.
    1. 204.7.d.1.
      Teammates are responsible for calling to the attention of a judge any rules or policy violations they observe in each others’ matches.
  5. 204.7.e.
    Violations of the above responsibilities may be subject to penalties, suspension, or revocation of that player’s eligibility.
8. 204.8.
  Spectator
  1. 204.8.a.
    Any person present at a competition but not in one of the above roles is a spectator.
  2. 204.8.b.
    A player who is at a competition but not currently playing a match is also a spectator.
  3. 204.8.c.
    Spectators have responsibilities, including:
    1. 204.8.c.1.
      Remaining silent during matches and anywhere else in the venue where silence is required.
    2. 204.8.c.2.
      At Casual and Competitive OPL, spectators can ask players to pause play while they alert a judge of a potential issue.
    3. 204.8.c.3.
      At Professional OPL, spectators can’t ask players to pause play, but they can still alert a judge of a potential issue.
  4. 204.8.d.
    Spectator are prohibited from the following:
    1. 204.8.d.1.
      Personally indicating rules or policy violations to players.
    2. 204.8.d.2.
      Providing strategic advice to players.
    3. 204.8.d.3.
      At Professional OPL, spectators may not ask players to pause play while they call a matter to a judge’s attention.
  5. 204.8.e.
    Players may request to a judge that a spectator not observe their match, at that judge’s discretion.
    1. 204.8.e.1.
      Players can’t request this for strategic reasons.
    2. 204.8.e.2.
      At non-local competitions, there may be additional rules for spectator behavior and presence.
  6. 204.8.f.
    Competition officials may instruct that a spectator not observe a match.
205.
Organized Play Level (OPL): OPL is shorthand that helps communicate expectations to players and judges.
1. 205.1.
  The purpose of OPL is to define how strictly to treat deviations from rules, policy, and procedures as violations and what penalty those violations warrant.
2. 205.2.
  Casual (low): Most competitions are casual and are focused on fun and social interaction, not rules enforcement.
  1. 205.2.a.
    Players are expected to know most of the rules as defined in the Core Rules.
  2. 205.2.b.
    Players are responsible for playing according to the rules in the Core Rules and this document, but:
    1. 205.2.b.1.
      The focus of judges and competition officials is on education and sportsmanship.
    2. 205.2.b.2.
      There is no priority placed on technically precise play.
  3. 205.2.c.
    Generally, violations at this level have lower penalties which are covered below in section 700.
3. 205.3.
  Competitive (high): These competitions have significant rewards, which may include invitations or advantages at the Professional level.
  1. 205.3.a.
    Players are expected to know the rules as defined in the Core Rules and this document.
  2. 205.3.b.
    All attendees are expected to maintain the integrity of the competition, while recognizing that some players may not be used to playing at the highest and most technically precise level of play.
  3. 205.3.c.
    Generally, violations at this level have stricter penalties which are covered below in section 700.
4. 205.4.
  Professional (high): These competitions have significant rewards and prestige.
  1. 205.4.a.
    Players are expected to know the rules as defined in the Core Rules and this document completely.
  2. 205.4.b.
    All attendees are expected to maintain the integrity of the competition and the highest standard of behavior and technically precise play.
  3. 205.4.c.
    Generally, violations at this level have the strictest penalties which are covered below in section 700.
206.
Round Cycle: A round cycle is the duration (in turns) that contains the standard turn for all players.
1. 206.1.
  Additional turns do not affect the round cycle.