Ape Squad: Rules

Tournament Information

Note: Tournament Rules are subject to change. Please join the official Discord server and check this page regularly to stay up to date.

Note: This event is operated independently. Embark Studios is not responsible for tournament operations or prize distribution.

Organization & Links

Prize Pool

  • 1st Place Team: 60%
  • 2nd Place Team: 30%
  • 3rd Place Team: 10%

Tournament Entry

  • To enter, please visit our tournaments page at apesquad.org/tournaments.
  • Ensure all fields are filled out correctly. Incomplete or incorrect submissions may be discarded.
  • After signing up, all team members must join the Ape Squad Discord to be assigned team roles.
  • Teams will be contacted via Discord prior to the tournament to confirm attendance.
  • The tournament is limited to 16, 32, or 64 slots per region. Teams signing up after slots are full will be placed on a reserve list.

Tournament Format

Day 1

  • Format: Standard 3v3, double-elimination bracket.
  • Winners / Losers Bracket: Best of 3 (Bo3).
  • Played until 16 teams remain

Top 16

  • Format:Top 16 restarts back in Winners Bracket, Standard 3v3, double-elimination bracket.
  • Winners / Losers Bracket: Best of 3 (Bo3).
  • Winners Grand Finals: Best of 3 (Bo3).
  • Bracket Reset: If required, a Best of 3 (Bo3) series will be played.

Map and Server Selection

Map Selection Process

Map bans will be used for all matches. Captains must submit picks/bans in the #🌎map-pick-bans channel in Discord.

Map Pool

  • Las Vegas
  • Monaco
  • Bernal
  • Skyway Stadium
  • Sys$Horizon
  • Fortune Stadium
  • Nozomi/Citadel
  • Fangwai City

Server Selection

  • EMEA Main Stage: Played on EU servers.
  • Americas Main Stage: Played on NA servers.

Score Reporting

After a full round, Captains must report scores in the #🏆score-report channel.

Please include:

  • Team Names
  • Score
  • Screenshots of results

Seeding

  • Procedure: RFI Rankings are used to seed the bracket when applicable. Random seeding is only to be used for unranked teams at the bottom of the seeding.

Gameplay Rules

ALL PLAYERS MUST RECORD OR STREAM THEIR GAMEPLAY. Failure to provide footage upon request may result in disqualification. (Record or Not at your own risk)

  • Banned Items: There are currently no banned classes or items.
  • Substitutions: Subs are allowed before the tournament begins. Inform a Tournament Organizer (TO) immediately.
  • Cheating & Exploits: Strictly prohibited. Teams found cheating will be disqualified. This includes third-party software, scripts, and in-game exploits.
    • See THE FINALS Fair Play Guidelines.
    • All players must adhere to THE FINALS Esports Global Rulebook, which governs player eligibility, team composition, and code of conduct.

Coaching

No Mid-Round Coaching

To maintain competitive integrity, coaches are strictly prohibited from communicating with players during active gameplay.

  • Voice Chat Restrictions: Coaches must be deafened or completely leave the team's voice channel (VC) while a match is in progress.
  • Allowed Communication: Coaches may only speak to, message, or strategize with their team between matches
  • Screen Sharing: Coaches may watch their team's screen shares, provided they remain entirely muted and deafened in the voice channel.

Failure to comply with these rules will be treated as unauthorized competitive assistance and may result in immediate forfeiture of the map or series.

Technical & Procedural Rules

Disconnects & Remakes

Each team is allotted one (1) technical remake per series. A remake can be requested if a player disconnects or crashes under the following condition:

  • The issue occurs before the first vault has been 50% opened.

After that point, the game must continue. Intentional disconnects are a serious offense and may result in forfeiture.

No-Shows & Check-in

  • Captains must check in via the private #✅check-in channel at least 60 minutes prior to the tournament.
  • Teams not checked in 30 minutes prior will be replaced by a reserve team.

Content Creation & Media Policy

We want to see your clips! Ape Squad maintains an open media policy to encourage players, streamers, and community members to share the action. You are encouraged to watch-party, record, and edit footage from the tournament, provided you adhere to the guidelines below.

Permitted Usage

  • Transformative Content: You are free to create and publish highlights, montages, news recaps, and short-form clips (TikTok/Shorts) using footage from the Official Ape Squad Broadcast.
  • Stream POV: Players are fully permitted to stream, record, and upload their own Point of View (POV) without restriction.
  • Monetization: You are allowed to monetize any content you create based on the tournament (e.g., YouTube ad revenue, Twitch bits), provided it follows the restrictions below.

Restrictions & Attribution

  • No Full Broadcast Uploads: You may not re-upload the official broadcast in its entirety or upload unedited full-match VODs to YouTube or other platforms. Content must be edited or transformative (e.g., highlights or commentary).
  • Credit Required: When using official broadcast footage, you must credit Ape Squad in the description, tag, or caption.
  • No Misrepresentation: You may not present content in a way that suggests you own the event or represent the Ape Squad brand officially.

Tournament Information

Note: Tournament Rules are subject to change. Please join the official Discord server and check this page regularly to stay up to date.

Organization & Links

Prize Pool Split between regions

  • 1st Place Team: 60%
  • 2nd Place Team: 30%
  • 3rd Place Team: 10%

Team Management & Substitutions

  • Captain Control: Team captains will have full control over their team's roster, logo, and team name.
  • Approval: All decisions regarding roster adjustments, team logos, and team names must be finalized by official Tournament Organizers (TOs) before going into effect.

Substitution Rules

  • Valid Reasons: Teams may replace a player or add a sub only in the event of a confirmed absence or inability to continue.
  • Player Eligibility: Replacement players must not have competed for any other team in the current tournament.
  • Admin Approval: All substitutions require admin (TO) approval before the new player is allowed to participate.

Map & Match Settings

  • Game Mode: Ranked Cashout.
  • Map Conditions: All maps must be played on Sunny weather and Day time variations.

Gameplay Rules & Conduct

ALL PLAYERS MUST RECORD OR STREAM THEIR GAMEPLAY. Failure to provide footage upon request may result in disqualification. (Record or Not at your own risk)

  • Banned Items: There are currently no banned classes or items.
  • Cheating & Exploits: Strictly prohibited. Teams found cheating will be disqualified. This includes third-party software, scripts, and in-game exploits.
    • See THE FINALS Fair Play Guidelines.
    • All players must adhere to THE FINALS Esports Global Rulebook, which governs player eligibility, team composition, and code of conduct.

Community Conduct & Eligibility

  • Community Space Eligibility: To compete, all players must maintain good standing within Ape Squad community spaces (e.g., the official Discord). Harassment, extreme toxicity, or being suspended/banned in the community server will result in immediate loss of tournament eligibility and possible team disqualification.

Coaching

No Mid-Round Coaching

To maintain competitive integrity, coaches are strictly prohibited from communicating with players during active gameplay.

  • Voice Chat Restrictions: Coaches must be deafened or completely leave the team's voice channel (VC) while a match is in progress.
  • Allowed Communication: Coaches may only speak to, message, or strategize with their team between matches.
  • Screen Sharing: Coaches may watch their team's screen shares, provided they remain entirely muted and deafened in the voice channel.

Failure to comply with these rules will be treated as unauthorized competitive assistance and may result in immediate forfeiture of the map or series.

Technical & Procedural Rules

Disconnects & Remakes

Each team is allotted one (1) technical remake per series. A remake can be requested if a player disconnects or crashes under the following condition:

  • The issue occurs before the first vault has been 50% opened.

After that point, the game must continue. Intentional disconnects are a serious offense and may result in forfeiture.

Check-in & Voice Channels

  • Captains must check in via the private #✅check-in channel at least 60 minutes prior to the tournament.
  • Teams not checked in 30 minutes prior will be replaced by a reserve team.
  • Voice Channels: All participating players must be in an official Ape Squad Discord voice channel during the event.

Content Creation & Media Policy

We want to see your clips! Ape Squad maintains an open media policy to encourage players, streamers, and community members to share the action. You are encouraged to watch-party, record, and edit footage from the tournament, provided you adhere to the guidelines below.

Permitted Usage

  • Transformative Content: You are free to create and publish highlights, montages, news recaps, and short-form clips (TikTok/Shorts) using footage from the Official Ape Squad Broadcast.
  • Stream POV: Players are fully permitted to stream, record, and upload their own Point of View (POV) without restriction.
  • Monetization: You are allowed to monetize any content you create based on the tournament (e.g., YouTube ad revenue, Twitch bits), provided it follows the restrictions below.

Restrictions & Attribution

  • No Full Broadcast Uploads: You may not re-upload the official broadcast in its entirety or upload unedited full-match VODs to YouTube or other platforms. Content must be edited or transformative (e.g., highlights or commentary).
  • Credit Required: When using official broadcast footage, you must credit Ape Squad in the description, tag, or caption.
  • No Misrepresentation: You may not present content in a way that suggests you own the event or represent the Ape Squad brand officially.

Point Break Rules

Please read the specific Attack/Defend rules carefully.

Match Flow & Scoring

  • Bracket: 16 Teams, Single Elimination.
  • Series Structure: Two games per match. Teams will take turns Attacking and Defending in Point Break.
  • Timer: Attackers have exactly 15 minutes to destroy objectives.
  • Hard Stop: After 15 minutes, the match ends immediately, regardless of remaining lives or objective health.
  • Scoring: 1 Point is awarded for each objective destroyed.
  • Map Selection: Each Team picks one map to veto and the games are played on the remaining map.
The Breaking Point (Tie-Breaker)

If both sides earn the same score after two games, the Breaking Point is reached.

  • Format: Each team selects ONE Champion to represent their squad.
  • Mode: 1v1 Team Deathmatch (Single Round).
  • Loadout: Any class and any gear is allowed.
  • Stakes: The winner of the 1v1 moves their team to the next stage. The loser is eliminated.

Restrictions & Fair Play

During a Point Break match, "anything goes" with one major exception regarding objective interaction.

  • Forbidden Exploits: Do not use exploits to prevent the objective from being armed or defused.
  • Specific Examples:
    • Moving objectives entirely out of the Attacker zone.
    • Utilizing equipment (like Barricades/Goo) in a glitched manner that removes the "Interact" prompt.
  • Penalty: Violating these rules will result in punishment at the admin team's discretion (Point deduction or Disqualification).

Technical

  • Check-In: Captains must check in 60 minutes prior to bracket start.
  • Disconnects: If a player disconnects, the game continues. No restarts unless the server itself crashes.
  • Recording: At least one member per team must record or stream their gameplay for dispute resolution.

Powershift Format Rules

COMING SOON