You start at the bottom of the ladder. Every position above that is earned through competition.
Challenge any player within 5 spots above you on the ladder.
Title defense (top 3 only): the top 3 ranks can also challenge down, up to 3 spots below them, to defend their standing. Win and you keep your spot; lose and you drop exactly one. The lower player you call out is never forced down for being challenged.
Both players queue HC S&D public matchmaking as a party of two. No additional party members.
The team must win for the match to count. If the team loses, the result is void. Queue again.
The challenge winner is whoever is higher on the scoreboard between the two players. You do not need to top the lobby, only outperform your opponent.
How the duel is scored: the winner is whoever has the higher in-game Score (the Score column on the end-of-match scoreboard) between the two of you. That Score counts everything the game rewards: kills, assists, plants, defuses, objective play, and streaks, so lurkers and plant/defuse merchants get credit, not just fraggers. The kills, deaths, plants, and defuses you report to the bot now pull double duty: your Score column still decides who wins the duel, and that same reported line also becomes your Operator Trials result from the match, an Operator Score plus a spot on the Operator Trials board and Operator Trials XP, banked when you upload your scoreboard. One match also feeds your Pubstar Operator Trials record. This is automatic if you are enrolled in both the ladder and Operator Trials. if you would rather keep a duel ladder-only, the bot's /solo setting lets you opt out.
Same stats, two uses: the in-game Score column decides who wins the duel. The same reported stats, run through the Operator Score formula, (Kills x 4) + (Plants x 3) + (Defuses x 5), minus deaths, are your Operator Trials result from that same match. You can lose the duel on Score and still post a strong Operator Score, or win it and post a quiet one. they read different things off the same scoreboard. Only duels submitted after this update are eligible for Operator Trials credit. Older duel reports will not be backfilled.
Both players must be on the win screen when the match ends. If either disconnects, the match is void.
If the challenger wins, they take the defeated player's ladder position. Everyone between the two shifts down one spot. If the challenger loses, positions stay the same. No penalty for trying.
Challenged players have 48 hours to accept or they forfeit automatically.
Once accepted, both players have 72 hours to complete the match.
Forfeit vs void: ignore an upward challenge (from someone below you) for 48 hours and you forfeit. they take your spot. But ignoring a downward title-defense challenge costs you nothing. it just voids. And if both players accept but never play in time, that voids too. A void is no win, no loss, and no movement, and shows as VOIDED in your history.
Only one active challenge at a time. You cannot issue or receive another while one is open.
7-day cooldown before re-challenging the same opponent, or complete a challenge against someone else first.
Finish what you start. If you pile up 3 voided matches in a row (accepted but never played), you cannot issue new challenges until you complete one. You can still accept and play challenges sent to you. completing any match clears it.
When a challenge is accepted, both players receive a Submit Results button in the pubstar channel on Discord.
After your match, click Submit Results to open a stat entry form. Enter your kills, deaths, plants, and defuses, then select W (win) or L (loss).
You will be prompted to upload a scoreboard screenshot. Drag and drop the image into the channel within 5 minutes. The bot archives it to #after-action automatically.
Screenshots are strongly recommended. If a match is disputed and you did not provide a screenshot, the dispute may be resolved against you.
Your screenshot also banks your Operator Trials credit. The scoreboard you upload is what turns your reported duel stats into an Operator Trials run: your Operator Score, your board placement, and your Trials XP. No screenshot, no Trials credit. the duel result itself can still stand on the reports alone, but the Trials credit needs the proof.
Accurate stats only. The Operator Trials proof rule applies to duel screenshots too: your own highlighted row on the scoreboard must match the gamertag you enrolled with, and the kills, deaths, plants, and defuses you reported must match that row. Padded or mismatched numbers get the Trials run thrown out.
Both players submit independently. If both agree on the winner, the match completes automatically and ladder positions update.
If the submissions conflict (both claim the win), the match is flagged as disputed and an admin reviews the evidence to determine the winner.
Pubstar uses the Glicko-2 rating system: the same model used in professional chess and esports.
Every player starts at a rating of 1500.
Wins increase your rating; losses decrease it. The size of the change depends on the strength of your opponent.
Rating is a skill metric that tracks your competitive level. Your tier is determined by ladder position, not rating.
Champion: Position 1. The top of the ladder.
Elite: Positions 2 and 3.
Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze: Percentage-based distribution across the remaining ladder. Tier thresholds shift as the total ladder size grows.
Stats tracked per match: kills, deaths, plants, and defuses.
Your win-loss record and current streak are visible on the public leaderboard.
Milestone badges are awarded automatically (e.g., first win, 10-win streak).
Your profile shows your current rank and record (e.g., "#14 (8-3)").
The ladder rewards active competitors. If you go too long without taking a competitive action, the system responds automatically.
Your activity clock resets whenever you issue a challenge, accept a challenge, or complete a match. Taking part keeps you active. you do not have to win.
10 days without activity: you receive a warning notification in Discord.
14 days without activity: you are demoted one position on the ladder.
21 days without activity: you are removed from the ladder entirely.
You are never demoted when there is no one for you to play. If you have no incoming challenge and no available opponent within range above you, your clock is paused until an opponent comes into reach. This protects the top of the ladder, where there is no one to challenge upward.
The top 3 ranks get a longer leash. Champion and Elite players get double the time at every step (warning, demotion, removal), because the apex of the ladder has the fewest ways to find a match.
If you are removed for inactivity, you can rejoin the ladder at any time from /pubstar/. You will start at the bottom with a fresh position.
Pubstar runs independent seasons, separate from the main league schedule.
Each Pubstar Duel Ladder season runs a minimum of 5 weeks. The season close is announced by league administration. There is no fixed end date.
The top 8 players at season end compete in a single-elimination playoff bracket.
Records and badges carry forward across seasons. Your history is permanent.
The Pubstar Duel Ladder is completely separate from your league team record.
Any registered league player can join the ladder at any time from /pubstar/.
Players who join Pubstar without a league account receive a minimal profile. If they later register for the league, their profile is upgraded automatically.
Joining mid-season carries no penalty. Your position is preserved until a challenge changes it.
Ready to Climb?
Earn your position. Every spot on the ladder is won, not given.
