Season 4 League Rules.

Free participation

Participation is free. Voluntary financial support is separate from competition entry and does not purchase admission, placement or a competitive advantage.

League structure

• Master League — one group of up to 20 players.
• Diamond League — one group of up to 20 players.
• Golden League — one group of up to 20 players.
• Bronze League — one group of up to 20 players.

Each participant plays one duel match against every opponent in their group. With 20 players this produces 19 matches per participant; the actual number depends on the number of registered players in the league.

New players may be registered during the first few weeks of the season or may join as replacements for inactive players. If no place is available, they are placed in a queue. The group stage is optional for the previous season’s winner.

Applications and registration

Submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance or placement in the requested division. Final placement may be adjusted by the league administration following review or a calibration match. Regional and league capacity may limit acceptance even when an applicant is otherwise eligible.

Registration is available through the Registration Desk.

Applications may also be posted in the league’s Discord registration channel with a “+”.

Season 4 map pool

• DM-Rankin-DML
• DM-DE-Ironic-DML
• DM-1on1-Roughinery-DML
• DM-1on1-Lea-DML
• DM-1on1-Aerowalk-DML
• DM-1on1-Backspace-DML
• DM-UCMP-BloodRun-DML

Downloads and change notes are published in the Season 4 map archive. Credits and unresolved permissions are tracked separately in the Map Credits & Licensing register.

Match duration

Matches in Golden, Diamond and Master leagues last 15 minutes. Bronze League matches may use either 10 or 15 minutes; both durations are valid for Bronze.

Group matches and playoffs

Every group-stage match is best of three (BO3), meaning the first player to win two maps wins the match. Each map continues until one player wins.

If two players are tied on group-stage points for the final playoff qualification spot, an additional best-of-three (BO3) match determines which player advances.

A private agreement between players to concede an unplayed match does not award a win or points. Repeated attempts to schedule a match and unanswered messages do not award an automatic default win either. If the match has not started, neither player receives points merely because the opponent agrees to accept a loss. If the series has started and at least one map has been played, but the opponent fails to complete the series by the specified deadline, the organizer may award a default win to the other player. This requires an organizer ruling; one played map alone never produces an automatic default result.

The playoffs use double elimination. Playoff matches are BO3 except the Grand Final, which is BO5. The player arriving from the upper bracket starts the Grand Final at 1–0.

If a player qualifies for the playoffs but does not participate, the default is to exclude the player and void all of their match results. The tournament organizer may decide otherwise depending on the circumstances, especially where voiding the results would substantially affect the playoff field or seeding in Master League or Diamond League.

• The number of group-stage qualifiers is set and announced separately for each division. The highest-ranked players in the group take those places.
• The top three players after the playoffs are promoted to the higher league.
• The bottom three players in the group stage are relegated to the lower league.

Map ban and pick order

Match scheduling

The mid-season activity check takes place three weeks after the season starts. A player who has played fewer than five matches by that check may be removed or replaced by a more active player. The organizer applies this threshold flexibly, taking the circumstances of each case into account.

A player who stops participating may be removed even after playing five or more matches if their inactivity affects a competition with significant stakes or a key stage of the season, for example Master League playoffs with prize money. Otherwise, a player who has played at least five matches is not removed solely for failing to complete the full schedule. The separate rule on qualifying for the playoffs but not participating still applies.

Server selection

If players disagree about the server, the match is played on a tournament server selected to produce the smallest ping difference between the players.

Technical interruptions

If a disconnect, server failure or other technical interruption occurs, the affected players first try to agree whether the recorded result or victory stands or the affected match is replayed. If they cannot agree, the league organiser decides the outcome case by case, taking the circumstances and available evidence into account.

Result confirmation

After the match, the winner must upload screenshots of the final results to the relevant group chat in Discord. Demo recordings must be supplied when requested by the opponent or the organisers. A match stream may also confirm the result when the players and organisers have no questions about it.

Code of conduct

Participants must not cheat, manipulate results, harass other participants or staff, or disrupt league operations. The league may disqualify a participant for serious or repeated violations.

Broadcasts, publication and archives

Key Diamond and Master League group-stage matches will be streamed when possible. Players may notify the official caster or other casters in advance about the match time. All Diamond and Master League playoff matches are intended to be streamed, with a separate playoff schedule for those leagues.

Tournament matches may be streamed, recorded and included in public match archives. Player nicknames, scores and in-game footage may remain publicly available as part of the league’s historical record.

Age requirement

A participant must be at least 18 years old when submitting a registration application. By applying, the participant confirms that they are 18 or older. Duel Masters League does not request a date of birth or guardian information for this registration.

Rule changes

Material rule changes must receive a new version date and be communicated before they are applied. A change should not be described as binding retroactively unless the published rule and applicable law permit that treatment.

Privacy

Registration and public competition data are described in the Privacy Notice.