Your First Tournament

Online Goat Format tournaments are free and run by GoatBot, our tournament bot on Discord. You sign up, get your pairings and report results without leaving the server. This page walks through a whole event. To meet GoatBot first, read Tournament Bot.

GoatBot

goatbotAPP

About Me

Tournament referee for the Goat Format Discord. Signups, decks, pairings, the clock and results.

Try It

/tournament_join/tournament_loss/help

Before you enter

• A DuelingBook account. How to Play sets one up.
• A deck saved as a .ydk file or a ydke:// link. Build Your First Deck helps you pick one.
• A seat in the Goat Format Discord.
• Direct messages open for the server. GoatBot sends your receipts and pairings by DM.

Open your DMs

Discord can block DMs from server members, and then GoatBot can't reach you. Turn them on for our server:

• Right-click the Goat Format server icon.
• Pick Privacy Settings.
• Turn on Direct Messages and press Done.

Menus look different? Discord's privacy settings guide shows every version.

Find an event

The calendar lists every upcoming event. Our events explains each series. Goat Fridays run every week and are the easiest place to start. In Discord, /tournament_list shows every tournament you can join right now.

Sign up

Run /tournament_join and pick the tournament. A form asks for:

• Your DuelingBook name, so opponents can find you.
• Your deck as a .ydk file, or a ydke:// link instead.

GoatBot sends you a receipt by DM. Need to change your deck? Run /tournament_join again before the event starts. Leave the deck empty to keep the one you sent.

Get your pairing

When the organizer starts the event, GoatBot DMs you your opponent with their DuelingBook name and record. Message them in Discord or find them on DuelingBook and start the match.

GoatBotAPP

Message @GoatBot

Play the match

• Matches are best of three. Play until one player wins two duels. There are no match draws.
• Save the replay of every duel. You need it to report a loss.
• Don't ask to see your opponent's hand or deck for cards like Mind Crush. Check the replay after the match instead.
• Some rounds have a timer. GoatBot warns you near the end and tells you when time is up. Then the match is decided by end-of-match procedures.

Not sure about a ruling mid-game? Read Rulings or ask the organizer.

Report the result

The player who loses reports the match. Run /tournament_loss, pick the tournament and paste the DuelingBook replay link. GoatBot names your opponent as the winner and asks you to confirm. Both players get a DM once it is recorded.

Reported the wrong result? Tell the organizer. They can change the winner or reopen the match.

Next rounds and top cut

In a Swiss event you play every round, win or lose, against players with a similar record. The next round starts on its own once the last match finishes, and GoatBot DMs your new pairing. Some events finish with a single or double elimination top cut.

Dropping

Can't keep playing? Run /tournament_drop. Before the event starts it removes your entry. During play your finished results stay and an open match counts as a loss. Please drop rather than leaving an opponent waiting.

After the event

Decks and replays stay private while the event runs. When the organizer ends it, standings lock and every deck and replay goes public on the tournament page. Your results also show on your player page.

Want every command GoatBot knows? Read Tournament Bot.