Drip League - Scoring, Tiebreakers, Seeding & Playoff Format
This page covers how standings are calculated, how ties are broken, and how the postseason is structured. Understanding these rules helps captains make informed decisions about scheduling, concessions, and roster management throughout the season.
Table of Contents
Regular Season Format
- The regular season consists of 8 weeks of round-robin play
- Each team plays one match per week against a different opponent
- Maps are assigned weekly by league staff on a set rotation
- All matches are played between Friday and Sunday of the assigned match week
Scoring System
Why Forfeit Wins Are Worth Less
Showing up and earning a win on the map demonstrates competitive performance. Receiving a win because the other team did not show up does not. The reduced point value rewards teams that actually compete while still acknowledging the appearance.
Ties
In Search & Destroy, ties are rare due to the win-by-2 rule with a 4-round extension. If a match is still tied after the maximum 26 rounds, the result stands as a tie and both teams receive 1 point.
Tiebreaker Order
If two or more teams are tied on points at the end of the regular season, the following tiebreakers are applied in order until the tie is resolved:
Win Percentage
Total wins divided by total matches played (higher is better).
Head-to-Head Record
Record between the tied teams in the current season. If more than 2 teams are tied and head-to-head is not decisive for all, this step is skipped.
Round Differential
Total rounds won minus total rounds lost across all matches (higher is better).
Coin Flip
If all above tiebreakers fail to separate teams, a coin flip determines the higher seed. The coin flip is conducted by league staff with both captains present.
Playoff Qualification
- The top teams in the standings at the end of the regular season qualify for the playoffs
- The number of playoff spots depends on the total number of teams in the division (typically top 4 or top 8)
- Seeding is determined by final regular season standings (including tiebreakers)
- All rostered players must meet the playoff eligibility requirements (see Roster & Eligibility)
Playoff Format
- Playoffs are a single-elimination bracket
- Bracket size scales with division size: 4-team bracket (semifinal + final) or 8-team bracket (quarterfinal + semifinal + final)
- An optional third-place match may be played between semifinal losers, announced before playoffs begin
- The higher seed in each matchup receives home advantage (hosts the lobby and picks starting side)
Playoff Map Veto
During the regular season, maps are assigned by league staff. In the playoffs, teams use a veto system to determine the map for each match.
Veto Process
Seed Selection
The higher seed chooses whether they are Team A or Team B.
Team A Bans
Team A bans one map from the pool.
Team B Bans
Team B bans one map from the pool.
Team A Bans
Team A bans a second map.
Team B Bans
Team B bans a second map.
Team A Picks
Team A picks the map from the remaining options.
Side Selection
Team B chooses their starting side (Attack or Defense).
The veto process is conducted in the designated Discord channel with both captains and a league admin present. The full map pool for the current season is listed on the Game Settings page.
Playoff Roster Lock
- Rosters are fully locked from Week 7 through the conclusion of playoffs
- No roster additions, drops, or changes of any kind are permitted during this period
- Only players who meet the playoff eligibility requirements may compete (on roster by Week 6 and played in 2+ regular season matches)
- Teams that cannot field 5 eligible players for a playoff match forfeit that match
No Exceptions
The playoff roster lock is absolute. Emergency roster changes require a formal appeal to league administration and are granted only in extraordinary circumstances.
Playoff Ties
There are no ties in the playoffs. If a playoff match reaches the maximum round count and the score is tied, the map is replayed in full until a winner is determined.
Win or Go Home
Unlike the regular season where ties award 1 point each, playoff matches must produce a winner. Maps are replayed as many times as necessary.
End-of-Season Awards
Seeding and final standings determine eligibility for end-of-season recognition, including accolades, Hall of Champions induction, and other awards. Details on specific awards are announced each season.