Tournament Rulings
In addition to the full game rules, additional rules have been developed to aid the running of competitive level tournament play. All competitive level tournaments must use the full game rules in addition to the Tournament Rulings.
To make sure tournament level play is being played consistently, the Tournament Rules will be kept up to date on this page. Announcements about new or changed tournament rules will be made across social media profiles and the blog.
Tournament Running
1.1 – Official Events
Official events are tournaments that are recognised by Invasion TCG as they will be run in line with the game rules and these Tournament Rulings. As well as needing to be run in line with the game rules and Tournament Rulings, the event must also be completed with at least four players taking part. Only official tournaments will be eligible to earn players world ranking points.
1.2 – Event Judges
At least one Event Judge must be present at all official events. If there is only one Event Judge present, they shall also be considered as the Head Event Judge. To be considered an Event Judge or a Head Event Judge, a person must have completed the Event Judge Program and passed the Level 1 exam or higher.
1.3 – Qualifying Points
World Championship qualifying points are awarded to players in the following way, based on their finishing position after all rounds of a tournament have been completed: 1st: 25 points; 2nd: 20 points; 3rd: 15 points; 4th: 10 points; 5th+: 5 points.
1.4 – Swiss System
All tournaments will be played using the non-elimination Swiss System.
1.5 – Matches
Matches shall be played in a best of three game format whereby the first player to win two games out of three is declared the winner. Both players in unison must report the result of their match to an Event Judge as soon as the match has concluded.
1.6 - Pairings and Results
Pairings for matches will be decided by using the Tourney app (available on iPhone and iPad only) and then announced by an Event Judge to the players. Results will be recorded by an Event Judge using the app. At the end of the tournament, the full results and final standings will be announced to the players and then reported to Invasion TCG.
1.7 – Time Limits
Matches are limited to 45 minutes. If time is called while a game is still being played, the player who has the most life points remaining is declared the winner of that game. This ensures the game contributes to the match score.
1.8 – Player Deck List
All players taking part in an event must provide a written list of the cards they are playing in their deck at the event to an Event Judge or a Head Event Judge before the event begins. An Event Judge and/or Head Event Judge may check a player’s deck against their decklist at any point during a tournament.
1.9 – Card Sleeves and Play Mats
All players taking part in an event must use appropriately sized and opaque card sleeves in order to play. Players may choose to use a play mat, but they do not have to. No gaming accessories used by any player shall be permissible for use if it is deemed offensive by an Event Judge or a Head Event Judge.
1.10 – Player Agreement
All players taking part in a competitive level tournament are deemed to have agreed to the full game rules and these additional tournament rulings.
Game State
2.1 – Game State
Players taking part in a competitive level match are considered to be responsible for the state of the game on both sides of the field of play.
2.2 – Questionable or Confused Game States
Should a game state become confused or questionable for any reason – including a suspected breaking of the rules of the game – an Event Judge must be called. Players should not attempt to fix an issue themselves. An Event Judge will be able to investigate the situation and if needed, correct the game state by either reversing it to a point prior to it becoming confused, or declaring the game broken, and thus, void.
2.3 – Reversible Games
Should the Event Judge be able to correct the game state, they should do so. Players may receive a Rules Violation Warning in line with the Rules Violation Penalty Guide within the Tournament Rules.
2.4 – Void Games
If an Event Judge declares a game state broken beyond correction after investigation, and thus, void, they should label the game as a draw and allow players to move onto the next game in their match. A void game does not count as a win, a draw, or a loss for either player and does not contribute to an overall match score. Players may receive a Rules Violation Warning in line with the Rules Violation Penalty Guide within the Tournament Rules.
2.5 – Event Judge Decisions
Event Judge decisions are considered final during an event unless there is a Head Event Judge present. If there is a Head Event Judge at an event, a player may appeal a decision to them. Once a Head Event Judge has made a decision on a ruling, their decision is considered final.
2.6 – Appealing Decisions After an Event Ends
Players may appeal a decision directly to Invasion TCG after an event ends. If a player(s) wish to appeal a decision, they should visit the contact page and detail as much information as they feel relevant and possible. Should a player(s) appeal be upheld or denied by Invasion TCG, the player(s) will be informed of this within seven days and the action that will be taken as a result of the player(s) appeal.
Rules Violation Penalty Guide
3.1 – Rules Violation Warning
Players should be given a Rules Violation Warning by an Event Judge should they break the rules of the game. Typically, Invasion TCG encourages Event Judges and Head Event Judges to issue a caution – which does not carry a penalty – to players for minor breakings of the rules rather than formal Rules Violation Warnings. This applies unless the Event Judge and/or Head Event Judge feel the infraction was deliberate, it would be the second time a player would receive a caution for the same infraction, or there’s a mandatory penalty laid out in the Correcting Issues section of the Tournament Rules.
3.2 - Recording of Penalties
A player who is to be given a Caution or a Rules Violation Warning must be informed verbally by an Event Judge and/or Head Event Judge at the time they are given the penalty. The penalty and the fully explained reasoning for it must also be recorded by the Head Event Judge and sent to Invasion TCG via the contact page after the event ends.
3.3 – Multiple Rules Violation Warnings
Players who receive three Rules Violation Warnings for the same issue should be immediately disqualified from the event. Their future opponents in the event will be awarded a 2-0 win, but previous results will not be changed. If a player is disqualified during a match, their opponent shall be awarded a 2-0 win.
3.4 – Additional Rules Violation Warnings
A player may be given three Rules Violation Warnings in a single instance by a Head Event Judge – and thus a disqualification – for the following offenses: (a) Lying to an Event Judge and/or a Head Event Judge during an investigation; (b) Acting in an offensive and/or abusive way to a fellow player, Event Judge, Head Event Judge, or anyone present at the event; (c) Actions which are taken which are demonstrably deemed as cheating by a Head Event Judge.
Correcting Issues
4.1 – Issue Correction
There are a number of potential issues which may arise during gameplay and Event Judges and/or Head Event Judges should follow the below guide to correct them in coalition with the Rules Violation Penalty Guide. Each one should be treated as a Rules Violation.
4.2 – Drawing an Additional Card(s)
A player who draws more cards than they are allowed to should have to reveal the extra cards(s) and then place them back on the top of their deck face up. It should not be flipped back over until it is drawn by the player on the next time they draw a card. For the purposes of gameplay, this will not be treated as a 'reveal effect'.
4.3 - Drawing too Few Card(s)
A player who has drawn too few cards than they are supposed to have should draw the extra card(s) as soon as it is discovered they have drawn too few cards.
4.4 – Playing an Incorrect Number of Cards
If a player plays more cards than they are allowed to on their turn or their opponent’s turn, the card should be returned back to their hand without the effect resolving.
4.5 - Missed Mandatory Card Effects
Missed mandatory card effects should be triggered as soon as it is discovered they have been missed.
4.6 - Early Deck Recycle
A player who performs a deck recycle earlier than they are allowed under the game rules shall be given a game loss.
4.7 – Incorrect Number of Cards in a Deck
The offending player will be given a game loss and must then correct their deck in the presence of an Event Judge and/or Head Event Judge in line with their decklist provided at the beginning of the event. If they are unable to do so – they are allowed to borrow cards – the player will be disqualified from the event.
4.8 – Marked Cards Between Matches
Players must not have cards which are uniquely identifiable in any way from the back and/or side, or through the condition of their card sleeves. If a marked card(s) are discovered between matches at a tournament, the player must correct the issue in the presence of an Event Judge and/or Head Event Judge before they are allowed to play in their next match. If they are unable to do so – they are allowed to borrow cards and/or card sleeves – the player will be disqualified from the event.
4.9 - Marked Cards During a Match
Players must not have cards which are uniquely identifiable in any way from the back and/or side, or through the condition of their card sleeves. If a marked card(s) are discovered during a match, the offending player must correct the issue in the presence of an Event Judge and/or Head Event Judge. If they are unable to do so – they are allowed to borrow cards and/or card sleeves – the player will be disqualified from the event.
4.10 - Players Late to Matches
Players arriving at their scheduled match later than the scheduled time can have a disruptive effect on tournaments as a whole. Players must arrive on time for their matches. Any player arriving later than 10 minutes after a match is scheduled to begin will receive a match loss.
4.11 - Slow Play
Players should be allowed a reasonable amount of time to make decisions that affect the game. In a 45 minute, best of three-game format, players should be given up to 30 seconds to make a decision and take an action before their play be treated as a Rules Violation. Players who repeatedly take longer than 30 seconds to make a decision and take an action should be given a Rules Violation Warning.