Tournament ruleset (Super Smash Flash 2)

The following is the current Super Smash Flash 2 Alliance tournament ruleset for Super Smash Flash 2. Note that it currently applies to Beta 1.3.1.2, and therefore it is subject to be changed at any moment following demo updates.

General rules

 * Matches are played with 4 stocks and 8 minutes.
 * If time constraints are of concern, 3 stocks and 7 minutes can be used.
 * All items are turned off and item frequency is set to off.
 * Stage hazards are turned off.
 * Sets are best out of three, with the exception of "Top 8" sets (Winners Finals, Losers Finals, and Grand Finals), which are best out of five.
 * Though not enforced, it is advised that quality settings are to be set to Minimum in order to minimize lag.

Stage legality
There are three types of stages: neutral, counterpick, and banned. Neutral stages are seen as the most balanced stages, as the advantages and disadvantages they give to each character are minimal at best. Counterpick stages tend to favor certain characters or playstyles due to their design, but they are still balanced enough overall to remain legal. Banned stages are those that are either too polarizing towards a given character or have characteristics that are deemed unsuitable for competitive play. Stages not listed below are considered banned options.

Neutrals

 * Pokémon Colosseum
 * Smashville
 * Tower of Salvation (shares a stage strike with )
 * Yoshi's Story
 * Yoshi's Story

Counterpicks

 * Rainbow Route
 * WarioWare, Inc.
 * WarioWare, Inc.

Set procedure

 * The higher-seeded player bans first.
 * Players will "double-blind" pick their first characters, meaning neither player is required to state which character they are playing as.
 * The stage is counterpicked before the characters. The winner of a match announces their character change before the loser.
 * In the case of a nullified match, the winner of the previous non-nullified match will strike, and the loser will counterpick.
 * Game 1 should be a 1-2-1 striking order. Afterwards, the winner bans two stages in a best-of-three set, or one stage in a best-of-five set.
 * During Winners Round 1 and Round 2, players are entitled 15 minutes before the set; after 15 minutes, the player will lose that set.
 * After Winners Round 1 and Round 2, players are entitled 10 minutes before the set; after 10 minutes, the player will lose that set.
 * Dave's Stupid Rule: Players cannot select a stage they have already won on without the other player's consent.
 * Modified Gentleman's Clause: Only legal stages, Waiting Room, and Nintendo 3DS may be agreed upon by both players.

Stalling rules

 * Stalling is banned and will result in the forfeiture of the current game being played. Stalling is defined as intentionally delaying the game as to make it unplayable. This includes:
 * Excessively going under and around a stage for purposes other than recovery, also known as scrooging.
 * Using infinite combos to deal more than 150% damage in one combo or chaingrab, or continuing an infinite combo or chaingrab past 300% damage.
 * Using invincibility or intangibility glitches, including but not limited to edge-cancelled sidestepping, to remain invincibility or intangibility for more than 30 seconds at a time.
 * Using freeze glitches to freeze the player's or their opponent's character. This includes but is not limited to 's cargo throw freeze glitch.
 * Using glitches that negate gravity with characters such as and.
 * Moving around the stage to get to a better position is not stalling.
 * Stalling does not include planking nor remaining in the air, as both of these strategies can be countered.

Lag and desyncing rules

 * If the players desync, the game will be replayed on the same stage with the same characters. In the case where at least one stock was lost before the desync, both players will start the game with the same number of stocks that they had at the time of the desync.
 * If an argument arises over desyncing, then the tournament organizer will determine if the game should be nullified. If the tournament organizer finds out that one player intentionally throws a game in an attempt to emulate a desync, their opponent advances regardless of their current score. If there is no replay information, a judgment based on past behavior of both participants will determine advancement.
 * If severe lag issues occur, then the offending player will play with their quality settings at Minimum.
 * If the players lag even with quality settings set to Minimum, then either player may request a speed test in which both participants will test their respective connections using the website Speedtest. The results must then be sent to the tournament organizer attending the request in private. To be considered valid, this action must be taken before game 2 starts; players have to try and play before requesting a speed test. If players play longer than game 1, they both give up their right to request it.
 * If a player's result is considered unsuitable for competitive play, they will then be disqualified. To be considered unsuitable, one of the following must apply:
 * The player has less than 15Mb/s upload and download speed.
 * The player has less than 5Mb/s upload or download speed.
 * The player has more than 35 ping.
 * If player connection speed is not the issue, players will instead have the option to play a game with reduced stocks and time. Depending on the severity, they may play with 3 stocks and 7 minutes, 2 stocks and 5 minutes, or 1 stock and 3 minutes.
 * If players desync twice in one game, then the match will be considered nullified and will not count against either player.
 * If players are unable to successfully connect with each other after three attempts, the player with the better connection advances. Both participants will test their respective connections using the website Speedtest.
 * If the source of the lag is unable to be determined or if both players lag equally, the player with the higher seed advances.
 * If a set lasts longer than 35 minutes (or 55 minutes for a best-of-five set), the tournament organizer will personally determine the outcome of the set based on replay information and past tournament results. If this occurs because of lag, then the player with the better connection advances.
 * Lag Clause Addendum: If a player requests a Lag Clause, the tournament organizers must mediate it and judge it privately. Players will have to send their Speedtest results in private to the organizer handling the request.
 * If a player refuses to provide their results after a Lag Clause has been requested under reasonable circumstances twice, then they will be added to the SSF2 Alliance's Lag List and must provide one if they wish to participate in future tournaments.
 * If both players' results pass after a Lag Clause is called, the organizer can request that both players prove they have the downloaded version of SSF2 in use.
 * If the players do not give permission to the tournament organizer handling the situation to share their Speedtest results publicly and they do so, the organizer will immediately stop their functions within the tournament and their TO'ers Alliance membership will be revoked. If they are the owner of a tournament series, said series will stop being PR-supported for a period of time depending on the gravity of the consequences coming from the leak.
 * Toaster Clause: The systems used to play SSF2 on must reach specific technical requirements.
 * Players may only request a Toaster Clause if the game lags and their opponent passes a Speedtest.
 * Use of Chromebooks is banned.
 * Systems' CPUs must have at least four cores, or two cores with hyper-threading enabled.
 * Systems must have at least 4GB of RAM.
 * Systems must be running an up-to-date Linux version, Windows 7 or newer, or Mac OS X Snow Leopard (version 10.6) or newer.
 * Program Clause: Players may request a Program Clause before, during, or after a Lag Clause or Toaster Clause. If said clause is applied, the player may only be allowed to run either Discord, SSF2, and a web browser with two tabs open or SSF2 and a web browser with three tabs open. Additionally, the player may not upload or download anything while a game is playing. To prove the clause is being followed, the player must send a screenshot of all the applications being run.
 * Ethernet Clause: While not a requirement to enter, in the event of poor connection, players using an Ethernet connection will be favored.

Other rules

 * If time runs out, then the player with the most remaining stocks wins. If both players have equal stocks, then the player with the lowest damage percentage wins. If both stocks and damage percentages are equal, then a 1-stock 3-minute tiebreaker match will be played using the same characters and the same stage to determine the winner.
 * If the tiebreaker match ends with both stocks and damage percentages being equal, then it will be replayed again until a winner is determined.
 * If the match ends with both players falling simultaneously when they are on their last stocks, then the winner will be determined by the results screen.
 * If a player intentionally disconnects from their opponent during a match, it will count as a win for their opponent. The only exception to this rule is if a reset is necessary due to an error during the game's setup.
 * If a player unintentionally disconnects, then the game is to be replayed with the same characters, stage, and stock counts.
 * Game modifications are banned with very few exceptions, with one exception being the Super Smash Flash 20XX mod. To know if a mod can be legal, the player must consult a tournament organizer.
 * Players in top 8 matches must save their replays, as all top 8 games that do not have replays are considered "nullified" and must be replayed.
 * If one of the players deliberately quits before a replay can be saved, they will lose that match, regardless of the outcome.
 * If the tournament organizer does not catch the players quickly enough, then the set will proceed as normal.
 * Colorblind Visibility Clause: Any player may reset the game on the grounds of not being able to see the opponent's character; for instance, using a dark or transparent costume with stage backgrounds disabled. If this is called, the opposing player must either switch their costume or forfeit the match. This right becomes null if the player deals or is dealt damage.
 * Asshole Clause: Calling a player out on lag in a disrespectful manner, verbally attacking a player, discrimination, and being rude in general will not be tolerated.
 * Conduct outside of events may also be grounds for being barred from future events.
 * The tournament organizer has the final ruling in all disputes.
 * Sub Clause: Players cannot sub in to a lower seed. Subbing can only be done in Losers round 1.
 * Scooby Dooby Doo Clause: If the tournament organizers cannot find an opponent because their bracket name does not match their Discord username, they will lose the current set that they are in until they identify themselves.