Fights will be in a format of Bo3. Grand Finals will be first to 5 wins.

This should go without saying, but if you're on the Blue Acolyte Global Blocklist, you cannot join the tournament. We all use BA and won't be able to connect to you.

Absolutely no use of cheat engine during your fights this will be an instant DQ.

Absolutely no speeding of any sort, no increasing of FPS to beyond 60 fps.

Joby's noodly rules:

Maximum soul level is 155. Soul Memory ~2 million
Ring of Thorns and Engraved Gauntlets are banned
healing is banned
(no regenerative effects or healing through spells or non-weapon equipment. Butcher knife, as well as healing through Eleum Loyce are allowed.)
RC and QA are banned!
Sanctum Gauntlets are banned.
ALL Weapon-buffing spells and consumables, as well as Sacred Oath, are banned. Weapons can still self-buff, and other non-regenerative body-buffs are allowed.

(Reasoning: the correct way to play against buffs is to run away until they run out, which is not compelling gameplay for either player or spectator.)

(Note: Your opponent does not have to respect your buff. They may attack you freely.)

Some shields are banned

(The banned shields are as follows: ALL Greatshields, Drangleic Shield, King's Shield, Black Dragon Shield, Defender's Shield, Old Knight Shield, Royal Kite) update 2/19: Drakekeeper Shield is banned too.)

Poise above 120 is not allowed.

Certain backstab protection pieces are banned

(includes Jester's Robes, and Gower's Ring of Protection. Ironclad and Old Ironclad Armor are allowed.)

Poppins builds are allowed:

At vigor values of 6 or less, the following become unbanned for you:

All healing and regenerative effects

Gower's Ring of Protection

Mirror Knight Shield

These rules serve as a more "relaxed" version of other current and past rulesets. It is not an attempt at objective skill maximization nor reducing passivity or boredom, but simply an option to allow more things into the competitive realm with the previous rulesets as a base and with widening the competitive scope in mind.

Update: 2/12 7:20 pm

These things are allowed (as brought up by contestants):

weapon swapping - it is completely allowed and you can swap at any time.

*UPDATE 2/18 8:32am* character swapping / Character Respeccing - No respeccing within the same set. NO character swapping within the same set. If you die, put your sign down RIGHT AWAY!

However, Character swapping or respeccing is allowed after your set to prepare for the next fight

attunement glitch - it is allowed (except with the spell "outcry". The arena is too small to facilitate this.

Update 2/13: Roll Punch is banned

Yorgh’s Ring has been banned

Update 2/16: IBS (instant backstab) has been banned. We will try another tournament in the future with this unlocked. Sorry IBS’rs!

Update 2/18: AGL will be capped at 105!

And hey, Noodles, Rad here, host of the tournament:

Ego check yourself at the door! Please NO drama. Absolutely no racism, transphobia, or anti-ukrainian sentiment. If you are in the tournament and happen to do any one of these you will be immediately DQ'd and there will be a highly probable chance you'll be banned from my channel.

Remember friends, it's just a game. Everyone loses matches. Tournaments are hard because people really prepare and get fired up beforehand--anyone could lose to anyone. That's the volatility of DS2 and that's why we love it. Let's remember to have fun. Losing in tournament doesn't mean you're a bad player. You're actually far more brave than someone else who didn't even join. We do this for the love of DS2, so let's remember again it's just a game and to have fun!