Newbies Guide to Tournaments in Splinterlands

Hello, Splinterlands friends and family! 👋 Today, as part of the Splinterlands Community Engagement Challenge, we’re going to talk about 🏆 Tournaments. The idea is to explore whether you should join them, how to do it, and what tournaments to pick, etc.
Im a fairly experienced player when it comes to tournaments, I have played them since day one and continue to do so almost every day.

Introduction

Tournaments in Splinterlands offer a thrilling way to compete for rewards and test your strategies, but they can be daunting for newcomers. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get started from what are tournaments to which ones should you join.

First, let's analyze:

1. What are tournaments in Splinterlands?
2. Do they work like tournaments in every other game out there?

To answer these two questions, we first need to establish that due to the nature of Splinterlands—being an autobattler—tournaments are approached differently compared to most games. 🕹️ Splinterlands gives us a unique opportunity because most tournaments don't require us to be online at the time they are running, allowing us to participate whenever it's convenient. 🎯

An experienced player might object, saying that there are many different types of tournaments, and some are played in real-time.

That’s very true, and I'm not dismissing those tournaments altogether. However, it's important to note that the most profitable tournaments are not played in real-time. 💰

I. Type of Tournaments:

In the Splinterlands world, we have 3 types of tournaments.

1. Single Elimination (Live Tournaments) 🏆

Live tournaments have a specific start time and require players to check in before they begin. Once the tournament starts, matchups are formed automatically at the scheduled time, and you are presented with an opponent.

Depending on the tournament, you might face this opponent in a best-of-1, best-of-3, or best-of-5 matches. After defeating your opponent, you move up to the next round, where a new opponent will be drawn for you to face. 🥊

Once again, you must defeat your new opponent to advance. This process continues until you are either eliminated or win the tournament. After the tournament finishes, rewards are distributed based on your ranking.

2. Anytime Tournaments ⏳

Anytime tournaments are the most common type right now. They start at a scheduled time, provided that the minimum player requirements are met. These tournaments do not require check-ins but usually have stricter requirements for staked SPS or card power.

Note: Anytime tournaments will check your entry requirements twice—once when you sign up and again when the tournament starts. Keep this in mind because if you lose power or staked SPS after signing up but before the tournament begins, you won’t be able to participate. 🚫

Anytime tournaments generally consist of two rounds, each lasting around 24 hours. You must submit your team within that 24-hour window, or you will forfeit all your matches. If you qualify for Round 2, you’ll have another 24 hours to submit your teams against new opponents.

After both rounds are finished, your placement and rewards will be determined by the total number of wins, draws, and losses you’ve accumulated.

3. Sit-and-Go Tournaments 🎮

Either single elimination or anytime tournaments can also be Sit-and-Go tournaments. These tournaments start as soon as enough players have signed up or at the scheduled time. They usually feature a small group of participants and are quick to finish, making them perfect for players who want to jump in and compete without a long wait.

Ghost Tournaments 👻

Ghost tournaments are another tournament characteristic or variation that will allow you to use any card in the game as specified by the tournament's rules. For example, if it's a Wild Gold tournament, you will be able to use every card at the gold level.
Ghost tournaments are generally reserved for especial events or events where the entry fee is quite substantial since they don't really require any card ownership.

Tournament Format:

• Wild & Modern Format: Just like in ranked play, you’ll find tournaments in either the Modern or Wild format. Modern format restricts you to cards from the last two sets, while Wild format allows you to use any card in the game. ⚔️

• Specific Set Tournaments: Apart from being either Wild or Modern, tournaments can also restrict which sets are allowed. Sets are divided based on their release. When a card is released that cards belong to a certain set and will stay as part of that set for ever. The main core sets right now are Alpha, Beta, Untamed, Chaos Legion, and Rebellion. Some tournaments will impose restrictions based on these sets, which you can check by looking at the tournament's rules or by hovering over the icons corresponding to each set. The sets will also include any cards associated to it like promo, reward, or mini set cards.

• League Restrictions: Unlike ranked and similar to brawls, tournaments are divided by league. This means card levels are capped to the max level allowed by the tournament. For example, if a tournament only allows Gold League cards, any Rare card you have at level 8 will be automatically downgraded to level 6 for that tournament. 🏅

Private/Public Tournaments:

Tournaments are also classified as either private or public. Private tournaments require a password to enter and are typically reserved for a specific group. These are often used by guilds or streamers to create custom tournaments for their members. 🔐

Official Splinterlands DAO Sponsored Tournaments 🎯

When checking the tournament event page, you'll notice many tournaments with the "by @sps.tournaments" label. These are official Splinterlands tournaments. They usually require a certain amount of staked SPS and card power to enter. What makes these tournaments special is that they follow a fixed rotation, meaning they recur periodically. Additionally, the prize pool is generally larger than in other tournaments. 💰

These are the tournaments to focus on if you want to make a profit or test your skills against the best players! Other custom tournaments can be created by players, but keep in mind they may have different entry requirements or rules. For example, some streamers may require you to participate in their stream to claim the prize.

Frecuently Asked Questions ❓

1. Why Participate in Tournaments? 🏅

• Rewards: Tournaments offer another way for players to earn rewards. Similar to ranked battles, the better you perform, the more rewards you earn. 💰

• Experience: Competing against skilled players in tournaments is a great way to improve your gameplay and strategy.
• Community: There’s a dedicated tournament channel on Discord where you can share experiences, tips, and even make friends. It's also a great place to find a competitive guild! 🏰

2. What Tournaments Should I Join? 🤔

There are plenty of tournaments available daily, but not all are suitable for every player. To find the ones worth your time:

• Filter by League: Use filters to display tournaments for specific league levels, such as Novice or Bronze. 📊
• Entry Fees: Many tournaments require an entry fee. If you're unsure about your chances, or if you can't fully commit, it might be wise to skip that tournament. Keep in mind that entry fees aren’t refunded if you lose or forget to submit your teams. 💸
• Prize Pool: Larger prize pools attract more competitive players. If you're just starting, consider entering tournaments with smaller prize pools that may be less competitive. 🏆
• Low number of participants: Before a tournament starts you can check the number of participants and see if you have chances to win or not. Many times the numbers of participants is lower than the number of prizes so everyone that joins pretty much gets a prize. This is not a rare occurrence and happens quite often. The only thing that you need to keep in mind is that to be eligible for rewards you need to either win or draw a match otherwise you wont get a prize even if you rank in a prize spot.

3. How Can I Prepare Myself for a Tournament? 🎯

• Card Collection: Make sure your Summoners and Monsters are appropriately leveled for the league of the tournament. You can rent cards for tournaments, and since most tournaments last 48 hours, a single 48-hour rental should suffice. Pro tip: You can even rent cards while submitting your team, but this is risky as you'll need to use a 3rd party site while the battle counter is ticking! Only do this if you're confident with quick decisions. 🔄

• Practice Battles: Use the game’s practice feature to challenge others and warm up before a tournament. It's a great way to sharpen your skills without any pressure. 💪-
• Study the Rulesets: This game can feel overwhelming at first, but you'll get the hang of it over time. Tournaments are a great way to learn 🧠. If you plan to join, make sure you understand every ruleset and the best strategies associated with each. Mastering rulesets will give you a significant edge in competitive play!
• Know Your Opponent: Check previous tournament battles of your opponents to anticipate the strategies the players you face might use. You can also check the opponent card before starting the match. Studying your competition can give you an edge! 🔍

4. I Submitted All My Fights for the Tournament, Now What? 🕑

• Review Your Battles: Once both you and your opponent have submitted your teams, you can watch the battles. Analyze each match to understand what worked and what didn’t. This will help you improve for future tournaments. 📽️
• Join a Guild: Guilds are excellent for getting advice, resources, and practice opportunities. If you're serious about tournaments, joining a guild can help you become more competitive. 🤝

For more detailed information about tournament play, check out this support article and the related articles linked at the bottom. They'll walk you through everything you need to know! 📖

Conclusion 🎉

Tournaments in Splinterlands are a fantastic way to test your skills, grow your collection, and earn rewards. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, there’s a tournament format for everyone. By understanding the different types of tournaments, preparing your card collection, and improving your strategy, you’ll be well on your way to competing with the best. Don’t forget to engage with the community, join guilds, and continuously improve—tournaments are as much about learning as they are about winning. Good luck, and may your strategies lead you to victory! 🏅