8th Trials - Phase 4: FINAL BATTLES

[Zawadx]

Phase 4: The Final Battle

1. Ban Cards

	1st Even # Games	Extra Even # Games	1st Odd # Games	Extra Odd # Games	1st All-Game Ban	Extra All-Game Bans
In-element cards	4 points	6 points	5 points	7 points	9 points	12 points
Out-of-element cards	2 point	4 points	3 points	5 points	5 points	6 points
’Other’ cards	1 point	1 point	1 point	1 points	2 points	4 points
Pillars and Pendulums	Unbannable	Unbannable	Unbannable	Unbannable	Unbannable	Unbannable
Shards	-	-	-	-	1 point	2 points

• Game = a single game (1/9), Match is the best-of-nine (winner has to win 5 games)
• Each player is given 32 ban points he/she may use to ban cards.
• Both the unupped and upped version of a card will be banned. Please list your bans using the unupgraded card.
• Pillars, pendulums, and mark-cards cannot be banned.
• You can use the cards that you banned but not the cards your opponent banned, excluding shards.
• Banning a shard does not count as an elemental ban (IE, as a Trial of Aether participant you can ban Shard of Void for 1 point, then Parasite for 5 points). However, banning a shard bans it for both you and the opponent.
• Also per the above table, shard bans are only for ALL games (they cannot be banned just even or odd)
• You can ban a card from being used in either an even (2,4,6,8) or odd number game(1,3,5,7,9).
• You may only "ban", "ban for odd numbered games", or "ban for even numbered games" once per card.
• For in-element cards you may either use full bans or ban for (even)/(odd) games.
• Banning an in-element card for all games invalidates any subsequent (even) or (odd) in-element bans.
• Banning an in-element card for (even) or (odd) games invalidates any subsequent (full) in-element bans
• If you choose to use (even)/(odd) bans on in-element cards, you may only have 2 such bans.
• Banning a nymph/alchemy card also bans the corresponding alchemy/nymph card for that element. This 'extra' ban does NOT cost ban points.
• The order you send in bans will determine what bans are illegal/legal
• This means if you use up too many ban points, they will be accepted in the order of the list (See example 3)
• This also means that if you make any two incompatible bans, the one higher in the list will be accepted and the other invalidated
• Banning cards from different off-elements does not incur the price increase.  The price increase is for banning additional cards from the same off-element.  (see example 4)

Spoiler for Example #1 (participant in Trial of Aether):

Ban Spark (9)
Ban Dagger (2)
Ban Maxwell's Demon even # games (2 points)
Ban Abomination odd # games (3 points)
Ban Shard of Serendipity (1 point)
Ban Shard of Sacrifice (2 points)
Ban Discord (5 points)
Ban Bone Dragon (5 points)
Ban Short Sword even # games (1 point)
Ban Sapphire Charger odd # games (3 points)

9+2+2+3+1+2+5+5+1+3=32 ban points used

Spoiler for Example #2 (participant in Trial of Aether):

Ban Spark (9) <- Legit because it's the first ban
Ban Lightning even # games (4) <-Not legit because they banned an in element card for all the games
Ban Parallel Universe (12)  <- Legit because it's a full ban
Ban Immortal odd # games (5) <-Not legit because they banned an in element card for all the games
Ban Dagger (2)

9+12+2=23 ban points used

Spoiler for Example #3 (participant in Trial of Aether):

Ban Spark even # games (4)
Ban Lightning even # games (6)
Ban Maxwell's demon even # games (2)
Ban Abomination even # games (4)
Ban Purple Dragon even # games (4)
Ban Shard of Serendipity (1)
Ban Shard of Sacrifice (2)
Ban Shard of Focus (2)
Ban Shard of Integrity (2)
Ban Shard of Gratitude (2)
Ban Shard of Bravery (2)
Ban Shard of Patience (2) <- Not counted because they already have used 31 ban points at this point
Ban Dagger even # games (1) <- Counted because they still have 1 point remaining

4+6+2+4+4+1+2+2+2+2+2+1=32 ban points used

Spoiler for Example #4 (participant in Trial of Aether):

Ban Maxwell's demon even # games (2)
Ban Abomination even # games (4) <- price increase because second even ban in Entropy
Ban Precognition even # games (2) <- still costs only 2 because first even ban in Time
Ban Firebolt (5)
Ban Phoenix (6) <- price increase because second full ban in Fire
Ban Steam Machine (5) <- still only costs 5 because first full ban in Water
Ban Unstable Gas odd # games (3)
Ban Adrenaline odd # games (3) <- still only costs 3 because first odd ban in Life
Ban Shard of Patience (1)
Ban Short Sword odd # games (1)

2+4+2+5+6+5+3+3+1+1=32 ban points used

PM your ban list to Both Trials Overseers.  Banned cards will be made public when the countdown timer below reaches 0.  Contestants will then have nine days to build their decks and fight.

A few more things:
1) To have no bans, you must send me a PM saying that you are banning no cards. If you don't send in this PM, then your spot in the final battle is liable to be given to someone else (Example: ddevans96 or Blacksmith do not want to have bans but just do not send in a PM. treebeard xiii will gain the opportunity to compete in the final battle). If there is no one to take a place, then it will be counted as not banning anything (Example: Drake_XIV or Calindu). If a replacement takes place, they will be given 48 hours from the end of the ban timer to send their bans and 48 hours past the duel timer to play their match.

2) If you wish to share your ban list with your opponent before the end of the banning phase then you need to note in your ban list PM that you wish to do so (flag for "early release"). If both players in an Element flag their bans for "early release", as soon as the second ban list is received, both lists are final and may not be updated or altered.  Illegal bans will be processed per the rules above, as though the list were received and not updated before the deadline.  The order of the list will determine which are accepted and which are invalidated according to the rules for bans.  Please check your lists very carefully or ask a TrO to review them for legality before submitting them if you are unsure.

3) Bans that are not flagged "early release" are not final until the ban deadline timer ends.  Up til this deadline, any new list received will overwrite the existing list.  Any updates to an existing list must be sent in the form of a new complete list.  (e.g. "I want to ban dimensional shield instead of discord" will not be processed). 

4) Until your list is finalized (within reason, as a TrO may not be available at the last time you are available before the deadline) you may check with a TrO if your current banlist is legal, and all your bans are valid.  You may then submit a new list up until the point at which your ban list is finalized (you and your opponent submit lists flagged for "early release" or the ban timer ends, whichever occurs first).  If you intend to flag your bans for "early release" we recommend submitting them without this flag first, requesting a legality check, and then after resolving the legality submitting your final list with the "early release" flag.

To send bans:
Sending time is over

Click here to view Trial Final Battle Bans.
*bans are now public*

2. Prepare Decks

• Deck may be of any size.
• You may use any mark.
• At least 50% (rounded up) of the cards in your deck have to be in-element.
• The rest of cards can be from any element, including 'Other'.
• 'Other' is considered off-element for all elements for deckbuilding (but the ban pricing is per the table)
• This means a 31-card deck must have 16 or more in-element cards.  A 31-card deck with 15 in-element cards is illegal.
• NOTE- THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM PHASE 2.
• Your deck cannot contain cards completely banned by your opponent (in any game).
• Your deck in even numbered games cannot contain cards that were banned for you in the even games of your match.
• Your deck in odd numbered games cannot contain cards that were banned for you in the odd games of your match.
• Banned shards cannot be used by either player in any game.
• Mark cards are cards of their respective elements.
• Maximum amount of upgraded cards is the number of points a player scored during Phases 1 through 3 + bonus points from War and Loyalty
• This can be found as your total score per the Trials Standings
• For each copy of a shard you use in your deck, you must reduce the number of upgraded cards by three. If this makes you go below zero upgrades, you may NOT use another copy of a shard.

3: Fight!

Players should contact their opponents using PMs and find a duel time that is suitable for both players. Keep in mind that best-of-nine might take a long time, so you might need up to two hours to finish all the matches.  Players are highly encouraged to post a countdown timer for their duel in Trials Final Battle Results at least 24 hours before it happens so that community members will have a chance to observe the battle.  *The TrOs will move these countdown posts to the archives when the results are posted.  Please post the results in their own thread per the rules below. *

Match Rules:

• Matches are best of 9 - First player to win 5 games wins the match
• If a defending Master wins, they retain their title as Master of their Element
• If a Challenger wins, they become the new Master of that Element
• The winner for each match should post in the TRIAL FINAL BATTLE RESULTS SECTION
• The post should be titled :[8th Trial of *element*] Winner'sName # - # Loser'sName
• The loser should post in the thread the winner created
• DECKS SHOULD BE POSTED ALONG WITH RESULTS
• Please consider recording the match and making it accessible, there are instructions below
• In the event of a desync, the players should play it out vs the AI on both sides
• If the same player wins in both "games", they are considered the winner of that game
• If the two "games" result in wins for different players, the game is voided, and players may not switch decks before the next game.
• If it is obvious that a game will never end (e.g. if both players have zero net damage output -- where they can both heal off the damage done each turn easily -- and will never deck out, and both players have no means of breaking the stalemate), that game voided, and players may switch decks prior to the next game.
• In the event an illegal deck is used in any game (whether that game was voided at the time of the match or not) the user of the illegal deck will be given a loss for that game (and their opponent a win).  It is possible this will invalidate subsequent games and/or alter the outcome of that match.
• If this creates a situation where neither player has 5 wins, additional games must be played to complete the series.
• Losing access to the game during a match (refreshing the tab, clicking on ad that isn't a popup type, closing the tab/window/browser/computer, power outage, pet elephant stepping on your computer ect) counts as a loss (a win for your opponent). You only lose 1 game through this, not the match (unless your opponent already had 4 wins prior to that game)

Recording matches:
 

• Download screen recording software.  Camstudio is the suggested choice.
• Follow the directions to record your screen while you play your matches.
• Upload the video to youtube.  Follow the instructions there.
• Share the link with us.

Here’s an example.
Or check out this TUTORIAL by rob77dp.


To play matches:
Playtime is over

[andretimpa]

At least 50% (rounded down) of the cards in your deck have to be in-element.

This means a 31-card deck must have 16 or more in-element cards.  A 31-card deck with 15 in-element cards is illegal.

that would be rounded up then

Banned shards cannot be used by either player in the games for which those shards are banned.

if I understood it right we can only ban shards for all games, not even/odd games

[Zawadx]

At least 50% (rounded down) of the cards in your deck have to be in-element.

This means a 31-card deck must have 16 or more in-element cards.  A 31-card deck with 15 in-element cards is illegal.

that would be rounded up then

Fixed, thanks ^^

[Fippe94]

No, even/odds apply to shards as well.

But it's just a - in that column for shards...?

[CCCombobreaker]

Banned shards cannot be used by either player in the games for which those shards are banned.

if I understood it right we can only ban shards for all games, not even/odd games

That is correct.  so the rule is a little over-descriptive but not incorrect.  It has now been updated, and an additional rule has been added to clarify what the table already shows (shards can only be banned for all games).

[09:23:36] ‹Malignant› "You only lose 1 game through this, not the match (unless your opponent already had 2 wins prior to that game)" It's suppose to be 4 wins right?

fixed

[CCCombobreaker]

• Banning a shard does not count as an elemental ban (IE, as a Trial of Aether participant you can ban Shard of Void for 1 point, then Parasite for 5 points). However, banning a shard bans it for both you and the opponent.
• Also per the above table, shard bans are only for ALL games (they cannot be banned just even or odd)

• Banned shards cannot be used by either player in any game.

[Zso_Zso]

For out-of-element cards the 1st vs extra categorisation is per-element, right ?
So if I ban flooding + thunderstorm + spark, they each count as 1st ban (costing 5 points each) because they are from different elements, right ?

[CCCombobreaker]

For out-of-element cards the 1st vs extra categorisation is per-element, right ?
So if I ban flooding + thunderstorm + spark, they each count as 1st ban (costing 5 points each) because they are from different elements, right ?

That is correct.  Adding a clarification to the rules as well as a 4th example shortly

• Banning cards from different off-elements does not incur the price increase.  The price increase is for banning additional cards from the same off-element.  (see example 4)

Spoiler for Example #4 (participant in Trial of Aether):

Ban Maxwell's demon even # games (2)
Ban Abomination even # games (4) <- price increase because second even ban in Entropy
Ban Precognition even # games (2) <- still costs only 2 because first even ban in Time
Ban Firebolt (5)
Ban Phoenix (6) <- price increase because second full ban in Fire
Ban Steam Machine (5) <- still only costs 5 because first full ban in Water
Ban Unstable Gas odd # games (3)
Ban Adrenaline odd # games (3) <- still only costs 3 because first odd ban in Life
Ban Shard of Patience (1)
Ban Short Sword odd # games (1)

2+4+2+5+6+5+3+3+1+1=32 ban points used

[DANIEELA]

Are rules for phase 4 only these stated here,or rules from phase 2 are still valide?
I mean THESE-
-Your deck must contain at least 25% off element cards
-Once per match all in-element deck

[CCCombobreaker]

The Phase 4 rules are completely independent of the Phase 2 rules.  There is no 25% rule and there is no limit on which elements you use or when you use them.

[dawn to dusk]

Is recording necessary or is it just advised?

[CCCombobreaker]

Is recording necessary or is it just advised?

Please consider recording the match and making it accessible, there are instructions below

hence, not required just encouraged.