9 Special Formats and Rules§
9.1 Ira - Learn to Play Format§
A Player's Ira - Learn to Play card-pool comprises the following cards:
| # | Card |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ira, Crimson Haze |
| 1 | Edge of Autumn |
| 3 | Whirling Mist Blossom (yel) |
| 3 | Salt the Wound (yel) |
| 3 | Bittering Thorns (yel) |
| 3 | Torrent of Tempo (red) |
| 3 | Flying Kick (red) |
| 3 | Head Jab (blu) |
| 3 | Scar for a Scar (red) |
| 3 | Brutal Assault (blu) |
| 3 | Lunging Press (blu) |
| 3 | Springboard Somersault (yel) |
A Player must start the game with exactly of 30 cards in their deck.
9.2 Team Format§
Team formats have teams of Players competing against each other, with each team winning or losing together.
A team comprises three members. During registration, each member of the team is assigned a Player position within the team: A, B, and C. Players may not swap their position in the team after registration. During the tournament, when two teams are paired in a round, each Player plays a match against the Player in the opposing team with the same Player position (e.g. Players A from each team plays a game against each other, and the same with Players B and Players C). Registering a team member without intending for them to play is considered Fraud.
Members of the same team may communicate freely with each other during the match; however, the Player seated for their game has the final say on decisions, and moves any of the game pieces, in their own game. Note-taking and slow-play policies still apply. Players are not penalized for providing strategic outside assistance when talking to their teammates in a game they are not otherwise involved in, but can still be penalized for taking prohibited notes. Players must still play at a reasonable pace, even if they are in discussion with team members; the Player of a game is responsible for ensuring that they proceed with the game at a reasonable pace.[5.7]
If a Player must leave their seat during the match, they should call a Judge who can ensure that they do not gain or confer the private information of a Player on the opposing team. If a team member leaves their seat otherwise, they are prohibited from communicating with their teammates in any capacity for the remainder of that match, as if they were a typical spectator.
The first team to win two games wins the match. If a team wins the match and a game is still in progress, that game immediately ends. If the round ends, the current games are completed, and neither team has two game wins, the team with the most games won is the winner of the match, otherwise, the match is a draw.
If one member of a team is unable to play (e.g. dropped from the tournament, or disqualified), the Player is considered to have forfeited their game and the remaining members may still play the remaining games of the match. If two or more members of a team are unable to play, the team forfeits their match and should be dropped from the tournament.
9.2.1 Team Constructed§
Team constructed can be based on any constructed format.[7] A team format can comprise a single format (e.g. all three Players are playing classic constructed) or a mix of formats (e.g. Player A plays classic constructed, Player B plays blitz, and Player C plays living legend).
Each Player registers their decklist based on the constructed format they will play. Players on the same team may not register decklists with the same hero. Players may register different heroes, even if they have the same moniker (e.g. Player A can register Bravo, Showstopper, and Player B can register Bravo, Star of the Show).
9.2.2 Team Sealed Deck§
Team sealed deck is based on the sealed deck format.[8.1]
Each team opens their booster packs, and each team member registers cards opened from those packs. Card-pools are registered per Player. A card cannot be registered by more than one team member, and cards cannot be exchanged between team members after they have been registered.
It is recommended that each team is given 8 packs. Set-specific rules may apply.[A.7]
9.2.3 Team Booster Draft§
Team booster draft is based on the booster draft format.[8.2]
Teams draft for each round that they will play. Each draft pod comprises the two team teams playing against each other that round. During the draft, Players who will be playing against each other are seated directly across from one another as shown in the following diagram. Clockwise, the Players should be: A1, B2, C1, A2, B1, C2.
During the draft, standard draft procedures apply. Players may not communicate in any way that could influence Players participating in the draft, including Players on the same team.
Players register the cards that they draft themselves. Drafted cards cannot be exchanged between team members.
Set-specific rules may apply.[A.7]
9.3 Ultimate Pit Fight§
Ultimate Pit Fight follows the same format rules as Blitz[7.3], with the following changes:
- Matches typically comprise 4 Players, but can support any number.
- A Player may only target heroes and objects controlled by those heroes to their immediate left or right (for attacks, or with effects that say "target"), with the following exceptions:
- If an effect explicitly allows a Player to target any hero/opponent, they may target any hero in the game (e.g. Evo Tekloscope) - effects that say "any target" are not excepted from the rule.
- If an effect explicitly targets 2 or more heroes, a Player may target any hero in the game (e.g. Apocalypse Automaton) - separate effects that target 1 hero each are not excepted from the rule.
- If an effect allows the Player to change the target of an attack/effect, they may choose any legal target for the attack/effect, not just the heroes to the left or right of its controller (e.g. Taipanis).
- When a Player attacks a hero (or an object controlled by that hero), the combat chain is focused on that hero. The Player can not target another hero (or object controlled by another hero) with new attacks on the same combat chain - they must close the combat chain first.
- If an effect requires a Player to choose an object as the target of an attack and that object is not controlled by the focused hero, the Player must close the combat chain before making their next attack (e.g. Arc Light Sentinel).
- If an effect allows the Player to change the target of an attack, you may target any legal target, not just the focused hero (or their objects).