<<< BUDOKAN RULES >>>Budokan is as much a group tournament as it is an individual. Teams and players will use whatever advantage they can gain to take out their opponents.
The first stage of Budokan is the Proving of Worthiness, in which three teams of 12 members compete for the right to move on to Stage 2.
The second stage of Budokan is the Proving of Self, in which the remaining 12 battle among themselves to determine who is deserving of the title of Budosei, the Warrior Saint.
Budokan Stage 1: For HonorFor this stage, 36 players divide into 3 Squads of 12. Every player is assigned an element -- one per element per Squad.
| Squad One | Squad Two | Squad Three |
 | PlayerName | PlayerName | PlayerName |
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 | PlayerName | PlayerName | PlayerName |
 | PlayerName | PlayerName | PlayerName |
 | PlayerName | PlayerName | PlayerName |
 | PlayerName | PlayerName | PlayerName |
 | PlayerName | PlayerName | PlayerName |
 | PlayerName | PlayerName | PlayerName |
 | PlayerName | PlayerName | PlayerName |
 | PlayerName | PlayerName | PlayerName |
 | PlayerName | PlayerName | PlayerName |
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Each of these elements has three players associated with it. At any given time, one of those three players is the Champion of that element, one of them is the Challenger of that element, and the third is an Aide for the other people on his team (i.e. not participating in that element's fight.) At the beginning of the Budokan, These roles will be randomly assigned so that each Squad begins with 4 people in each role.
Each round, the Champion and the Challenger fight, and the Aide sits out.
If the Champion wins, the Challenger and the Aide switch roles.
If the Challenger wins, the Challenger becomes the Champion, the Champion becomes the Aide, and the Aide becomes the Challenger.
If for any reason the match doesn't happen:
Deckbuilding Rules:
- Rounds are best-of-5.
- You may change decks between games.
- 'Other' cards are allowed.
- You may use any Mark.
- You may only use off-element cards that match your Squad's Aides. Maximum 8 of that element per Aide (Pillars/Pendulums do not count for the 8 cards).
- 33% of cards must be in element (Pillars/Pendulum DO count for this.)
- Mark cards are allowed and match the element they provide.Upgraded Cards:Champions are allowed to use 3 upgraded cards for each Champion on their squad.
Challengers are allowed to use 3 upgraded cards for each Aide on their squad.
Winning:| Rounds | # of Champions Needed |
| 1-2 | No winner |
| 3-4 | 8 Champions |
| 5-10 | 7 Champions |
The first team to have the minimum number of Champions for the round, wins the Proof of Worthiness and moves on to Stage 2.
Any player who wins 4 matches in their element permanently becomes the Champion of that element; the other 2 players are eliminated. In addition, that Champion's team
receives the Aides' upgraded card benefit for the rest of Stage 1, and the element cannot be used by anyone for the remainder of Phase 1.Deck Posting: Winners and losers must provide their decklists in the round thread.
Budokan Stage 2: the Proving of SelfIn the second part of the Budokan, the 12 remaining players face off against one another in best-of-five matches decided at random. The goal is simple: don't get skunked. Each time a player loses three-to-zero, they are eliminated. If a round goes by with no one getting eliminated, then the matches will be best-of-three (then best-of-one if needed).
Once four players are eliminated, the remaining 8 join in a cutthroat single-elimination tournament to determine the Budosei as well as the 2nd and 3rd place champions.
The Budosei will gain this special forum icon to indicate their abilities in the Budokan: TBD
Top finishers will receive points towards the 2016 World Championship.
