Competitive Squad revolves around organized matches played under strict rulesets. These events range from small scrims to major international tournaments with dozens of teams. This section covers how these competitions are structured, who runs them, what formats are common, and how rulesets are applied.
Competitive Squad features a wide range of event types, from informal scrims to large-scale tournaments. Each has its own structure and purpose:
Friendly, non-official matches between teams.
Used for training, testing tactics, and preparing for tournaments.
No prizes or strict admin enforcement (but still played seriously).
Mid-tier competitions hosted by communities or organizations.
Often feature seeding, bracket formats, and small rewards (skins, codes, Discord roles).
Ideal for newer or mid-tier teams.
High-stakes events with top-tier teams, full rulesets, and active moderation.
Often include:
Multiple divisions based on skill level.
Admin and caster teams.
Prize pools (e.g. skin packs, sponsor gifts, cash).
Stream coverage.
International Masters Tournament (IMT)
Clash of Nations (CoN)
Squad Championship Series (SCS)
Squad Arena (officially backed by OWI)
All teams play each other once.
Points awarded for wins/losses.
Top teams move on or win outright.
Balanced and fair, but time-intensive.
Lose once and you’re out.
Fast-paced, high pressure.
Great for showcasing top-level play.
Teams get a second chance in a “loser’s bracket.”
More forgiving than single elimination.
Often used in playoffs or finals.
Teams play others with similar records.
No teams are eliminated mid-season.
Excellent for large events with many teams and skill gaps.
Matches are scheduled between team representatives.
Organizers provide default dates or time windows.
Deadlines are enforced to keep brackets moving.
Organizers define which maps and factions are used.
Often rotated per week or round.
Factions are picked via coin toss, draft, or rule-based rotation.
Determined by coin toss, seeding, or rotation.
Some tournaments offer “winner chooses” or “higher seed chooses.”
Ticket Win: Win by reducing enemy to 0 tickets.
Ticket Differential: Used to break ties or rank teams.
Objective-Based: Some formats use flag captures or objectives for scoring.
Competitive matches are governed by community-defined rulesets. These cover:
Match conduct (player behavior, time limits, comms discipline)
Bans (glitching, ghosting, stream sniping, illegal weapons)
Roster rules (player IDs, substitutions, transfer deadlines)
Admin authority (dispute resolution, ticket penalties, forfeits)
Violations may result in:
Match replays
Ticket penalties (e.g. -100 tickets)
Disqualifications or bans
Tournaments often provide:
A public rulebook document (e.g. Google Docs or hosted on a wiki)
A support ticket system via Discord for appeals or questions
Neutral referees or observers in major events
Most tournaments encourage or directly support match coverage:
Commentate matches live on platforms like Twitch or YouTube.
Provide insights, background info, and hype for viewers.
Admin accounts or trusted volunteers use special in-game spectator tools.
Provides cinematic views of the action, often via multiple camera operators.
Some tournaments allow match replays to be recorded.
Used for content, rule enforcement, and community highlights.
Tournaments use dedicated, high-performance servers.
Password-protected and sometimes region-specific (EU/NA/APAC).
Only whitelisted players can join.
Teams submit full rosters prior to the event.
Lineups are verified before each match (via tools like Compelo or SquadComp).
Compelo.xyz: Automated scoring, stats tracking, roster tools.
SquadComp: Tournament listings and team profiles.
Custom Mods: For maps, uniforms, or experimental features (in Squad Arena, for example).
Tournaments aren’t just standalone events – they are core to the growth of the comp scene:
They provide goals for teams to train for.
They encourage content creation and fan engagement.
They act as an entry point for new players to discover high-level play.
They offer structure and visibility to the broader Squad community.
Most importantly, they allow the community to self-organize, evolve the meta, and create a sustainable environment for competitive play.
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