Zenith
Rules and Qualifiers

Seeding is NOW LIVE for competitors! Take a look at the current pool distributions here.

A Google Doc version of ruleset is located here.

Qualifiers

There will be a total of five songs for qualifiers: a 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17-footer.

A player will play three songs TOGETHER IN A SINGLE SET (lower, middle, upper), based off their perceived skill level (see below) in any order they want. If a player gets an extra stage, they can replay ONE song and attempt to get a better score. We will accept failed scores. Players will need to submit the following:

  • A picture of each song with their DDR tag, the song, money score and EX score clearly visible

  • A picture of the results screen with all three (four, if extra stage) songs.

SANDBAGGING IS NOT ALLOWED.

Lower
For those who are just starting out, STARS (9), Fly Away (11), and Cosmic Hurricane (13) will be your set.
Suggested LIFE4 Rank: Gold or lower

Middle
For those who are comfortable with DDR, Fly Away (11), Cosmic Hurricane (13), and Astrogazer (15) will be your set.
Suggested LIFE4 Rank: Gold, Platinum, or Diamond

Upper
For those who are very familiar with DDR, Cosmic Hurricane (13), Astrogazer (15) , and Reach The Sky, WIthout You (17)
will be your set.
Suggested LIFE4 Rank: Diamond and above

Qualifier Start: February 15th, 2024
Qualifier Cut-Off: March 16th, 2024

Qualifiers are now closed! If there is any reason that you were not able to do your qualifiers and you still plan on attending, email us at ddrsocal@gmail.com.

Basics

Entry Cap
62 players

Songs

  • A20+: All songs available on A3 (includes Formerly unlockable (SDVS, DRS, etc), Unlockable, Golden League, Final/Extra Exclusive

  • A3 Flex: Only default songs

Not Included
20th Gold Cab Exclusive, DDR Grand Prix Music Packs, Japan-only songs

Cabinets

  • Two Tournament DDR White Cabs using official eAmusement

Seeding
Seeding is determined by the following metrics in order:

  1. Amount of PFCs/AAAs for the player’s appropriate level distribution

  2. Overall DDR Fundamental technique indicated by:

    • Marvelous Attack on all song levels

    • Crossovers

    • Footspeed

    • Gimmick-reading ability

  3. Past Tournament performance

  4. Chart knowledge

Tournament Bracket
Tournament bracket is a pool style bracket with two components:

  1. Eight players face off in a pool with three rounds of Swiss

  2. Once the three rounds of Swiss are over, the 1st vs 4th and 2nd vs 3rd players from the Swiss pool will face off in a BO5 match up to move up to the next pool.

  3. The top pool will have additional 1st and 3rd place matches that are BO7 instead of BO5.

Card Draw

Zenith will use DDR Card Draw

Winners for songs are all based on higher “EX” score

Number of Songs drawn:

  • Waterfall Phase: 10 songs

    • Pools 1-10: Veto 4 songs, then Pick 2 songs of the remaining 5 songs to play

  • Promotion Play-In: 9 songs 

    • 2 Veto, 2 Pick, 2 Veto; Play 5 songs left to right

  • Top 4 First and Third Place Final Matches: 9 songs 

    • 2 Pick, 2 Protect, 2 Veto; Play 7 songs left to right

The higher seeded player has the option of selecting their first preference between:

  • Side Selection: Left or Right Side

  • Pick Order:

    • Two Songs Per Match: Waterfall Phase Pools 1-10 - Veto #1 & Pick #1 OR Veto #2 & Pick #2

    • Play-In - Veto #1, Pick #2, & Veto #3 OR Veto #2, Pick #1, & Veto #4

    • First/Third - Pick #1, Protect #2, & Veto #1 OR Pick #2, Protect #1, & Veto #2

Standard Match Procedure: Waterfall

  1. The TO will ask the higher seed to pick one of two preferences:

    • Side Selection: Left OR Right Side

    • Preference Selection: Preference #1 or Preference #2

      • Preference 1: Veto #1

      • Preference 2: Veto #2 and Veto #3

      • Preference 1: Veto #4 and Pick #1

      • Preference 2: Pick #2

  2. The lower seed gets the remaining preference.

  3. The TO will draw 10 songs based on the level distribution.

  4. If both players agree, they can redraw the songs once. Otherwise, keep the draw as is.

  5. Players will now execute their preferences.

  6. Players play songs from left to right, for a total of two songs per match.

One Pocket Pick Match Procedure: Waterfall

The TO will first ask the lower seed first, then the higher seed if they would like to use their pocket pick. If one person chooses to use their pocket pick, the following procedure happens:

  1. Pocket Pick automatically replaces Veto #1. In addition, the pocket picker gets a choice of two preferences:

    • Side Selection: Left OR Right Side

    • Preference Selection: Two additional Vetoes

  2. The TO will draw 10 songs based on the level distribution.

  3. Players will now execute their preferences: Pocket Pick (Veto #1), Veto #2-3 (if applicable), Pick #2

  4. Players play songs from left to right, for a total of two songs per match.

Both Pocket Pick Match Procedure: Waterfall

  1. If both players opt to use their pocket picks, the higher seed picks one of two preferences:

    • Side Selection: Left OR Right Side

    • Preference Selection: Pocket Pick #1 or Pocket Pick #2

  2. Players play Pocket Pick #1 then Pocket Pick #2

Tiebreaker Procedure: Used when two players are tied for any place from 1st through 4th place after ALL tiebreaker rules are all equal (Total Sets Won, Game (Song) Win %, Head-to-Head, Opponent Point Total)

Card draw will pick five songs. Each player will take turns vetoing a song until one remains. Higher seed determines whether to Veto #1 and #4 OR Veto #2 and #3. That song will be the tiebreaker.

Promotion Play-In Match: Two Pick, Three Random

The chart play order is:

  1. Player A’s pocket pick.

  2. Player B’s pocket pick.

  3. Three charts from the DDR Card Draw App.

Higher seed will get first and third choice of preferences:

  1. Play your picked charts first OR second.

  2. Veto first or second in the random card draw.

  3. Pad preference: left or right side.

Match procedure:

  1. The card draw app randomly picks nine charts. If both players agree, they can redraw the songs once. Otherwise, keep the draw as is.

  2. Player A vetoes a chart

  3. Player B vetoes a chart

  4. Player B uses their pick to override a chart

  5. Player A uses their pick to override a chart

  6. Player A vetoes a chart

  7. Player B vetoes a chart

  8. Charts are played from left to right on the card draw app

NOTE: A player has to choose a unique pick throughout ALL matches of DE except GF Reset.

3rd Place Match + 1st Place Match: Four Pick, Three Random Format

The chart play order is:

  1. Player A’s pocket pick

  2. Player B’s pocket pick

  3. Player B’s protect

  4. Player A’s protect

  5. Three charts from the random card draw app

Higher seed will get first and third choice of preferences:

  1. Play your picked charts first and fourth OR second and third.

  2. Veto first or second in the random card draw.

  3. Pad preference: left or right side.

Match procedure:

  1. The card draw app randomly picks nine charts. If both players agree, they can redraw the songs once. Otherwise, keep the draw as is.

  2. Player A uses their pick to override a chart

  3. Player B uses their pick to override a chart

  4. Player B protects a chart

  5. Player A protects a chart

  6. Player A vetoes a chart

  7. Player B vetoes a chart

  8. Charts are played from left to right on the card draw app


NOTE: A player has to choose ALL unique picks during a new match.

Formats

Waterfall phase consists of eight player swiss pools. The first pool will start with the eight lowest seeds of the tournament and players will play against each other for a total of twelve matches. Each match will consist of two songs. The four players with the highest collective point totals will move onto the Promotion Play-In to determine the two players that will advance to the second pool. We will have a total of 10 pools. Sequential pools work similarly until the tournament Top 4.

Eight Players, Swiss Pool Format, Ten Pools (62 players):

3-Round Swiss Pool Points Criteria (12 Matches/24 Songs):

  • Consists of 12 matches and 24 songs per pool

  • Pool points are allocated by set score (W-L-T)

    • 2 points per song win (awarded to the higher EX score)

  • 2 points awarded per set win

  • 1 point per song tie

  • Outcomes: 6 points (2-0-0), 5 points (1-0-1), 2 points (1-1–0, 0-0-2), 1 point (0-1-1) OR 0 points (0-2-0)

  • Matchup priority

    • Round 1: start.gg algorithm (1v5, 2v6, 3v7, 4v8)

    • Round 2: start.gg algorithm (1-0s vs 1-0s, 0-1s vs 0-1s)

    • Round 3: start.gg algorithm utilizing the Tiebreaker Rules below

  • Top four players from pool advance to Promotion Play-In

    • Determined by highest point total (set and song wins)

    • Tiebreaker Rules - Total Sets Won, Game (Song) Win %, Opponent Point Total, Head-to-Head

Pocket Picks

Level range for pocket pick is anything with a “3” in the level distribution

  • Replaces Veto #1 preference song in their card draw

  • The song can be any DSP/ESP/CSP chart from the pocket pick level range

  • Players promoted to a new pool may select a new unique pocket pick within the pool range

  • Pocket picks are refreshed for players that advance to a new stage of the tournament:

    • Promotion from Pools to Play-Ins

    • Promotion from Play-In to the next Pool

    • First and Third Place Matches

  • Refreshed pocket picks must be a different song/chart from previous phases

Pad Arbitration

If a player believes that a pad misfire (goods or misses) caused a close match to swing out of their favor, they are allowed one challenge to replay the song

  • A close match is defined by a margin of 6 EX or less (two full pad goods or misses)

  • It is up to the player to request for pad maintenance and testing if desired before replaying the song

  • Once a player’s challenge has been used, no additional matches may be contested for the remainder of the tournament

  • Players may agree to a replay without a challenge, but must consult a TO for approval

Level Distribution

Songs will be selected from DSP/ESP/CSP for all pools. Level ratings are TENTATIVE and subject to change based on overall skill level in each pool.