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OFFICIAL DCI
PENALTY GUIDELINES

INTRODUCTION
The DCI penalty guidelines are designed to give judges a framework for enforcing and adjudicating violations of the DCI Magic: The Gathering® Standard Floor Rules and Magic® game rules.

One major function of these guidelines is to develop and maintain uniform rules enforcement at Magic events throughout the world. However, while uniformity is highly desirable, the goal of each penalty should be that it fits the infraction. Judges must always use discretion, and if a penalty listed in this document is not appropriate for an infraction they are adjudicating, they should issue the penalty they see fit. Under no circumstances should the penalties outlined in this document be considered mandatory and inviolable. As its name suggests, this document consists of penalty guidelines.

Rules Enforcement Levels
Tournaments are separated into five different rules-enforcement levels by the DCI's enhanced K-value policy. The descriptions below focus on unintentional rules violations. If a judge believes a player intentionally violated the rules, the judge should upgrade the penalty appropriately, at his or her discretion.

Level 1: Very lenient rules enforcement. Unintentional rules violations at this enforcement level should be treated with a high degree of tolerance. Particularly at this level, judges should focus on educating the player about the rule he or she violated so the error can be avoided in future tournaments.

Level 2: Lenient rules enforcement. Similar to level 1 rules enforcement, judges should be tolerant of unintentional rules violations, and they should continue to focus on educating the player. However, players are expected to know many of the rules and procedures for events of this type, so some violations may carry slightly heavier penalties than they would at events with very lenient rules enforcement.

Level 3: Standard rules enforcement. Judges should begin stepping up the penalties for unintentional rules violations at this level because players are expected to know most of the rules and procedures for these types of events.

Level 4: Strict rules enforcement. Players are expected to have a thorough understanding of tournament rules and procedures at this level, so judges should issue penalties that take into account this significant rules knowledge.

Level 5: Very strict rules enforcement. This level of rules enforcement is designed for the highest level of competition. Players are expected to have a thorough knowledge of all tournament rules and procedures, so judges should issue penalties for unintentional rules violations that reflect this expected amount of rules knowledge.

DEFINITION OF PENALTIES

Warnings
Officials give warnings so players may recognize they made a mistake. Players may or may not be aware they committed a rules infraction, and warnings are a way to let them know they violated a rule. At the time a warning is issued, players should also be informed that repeat offenses carry greater consequences. Warnings accumulate over the course of an entire event, regardless of how many days it covers. However, all warnings will not carry over into the final rounds (quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals). Warnings issued during a tournament's main rounds should be considered notices during final rounds. Similar infractions occurring in the final rounds should be penalized with these notices in mind.

1. Unofficial Warnings:
Caution: Verbal warning; not tracked.

Notice: Verbal warning; tracked, but does not directly count toward penalties. Notices may be used as grounds to upgrade a warning or penalty.

2. Official Warnings:
Note: All official warnings must be reported to the DCI.
Single Warning: Most offenses fall under this category. The infraction was probably an unintentional, honest mistake, but it was disruptive to the integrity of the event.

Double Warning:
Judge suspects a player is cheating, a player repeats a previous offense, or the rules violation resulted in a player gaining a serious advantage in a duel or match.

Triple Warning: Judge has a strong belief that a player is cheating, or a tournament participant is engaging in severe, unsporting conduct. Issuance of this type of warning will result in an investigation of the recipient by the DCI. The findings of this investigation may lead to further penalties.

All official warnings must be confirmed with the head judge before being issued. Only the head judge may issue double and triple warnings.

All notices must be reported to the head judge as soon as possible. The head judge may upgrade a notice to any of the official warning classifications listed above, upon review of a player's warning history.

Penalty Structure
Penalties listed below may only be issued with the appropriate warning level. The default penalty for three warnings is ejection.

1. No penalty--Only for single warnings.

2. Duel loss--Only for single warnings.

If an infraction gives one player an advantage over another, the judge should apply the duel loss to the current duel. For example, a fifty-nine-card deck is a violation that gives the infracting player an advantage over his or her opponent. The violation should be corrected between duels, if possible.

However, if the infraction has no positive impact on the player committing the violation, the duel loss should be applied to the upcoming duel, even if that duel will take place in the next match. For example, if a judge discovers in the middle of a duel that a player did not record lands on his or her decklist, the duel loss should be applied to the next duel, and the current duel should be played to its end. The rules violation should be corrected between duels, if possible.

3. Match loss--Only for double warnings.

Match losses should always be applied immediately to the current match. However, if the violation is discovered between rounds, the match loss should be applied to the upcoming match. If possible, the rules violation should be corrected between matches.

4. Ejection--Only for double warnings and triple warnings.

Ejections should always be applied immediately. If a player is ejected from an event, his or her tournament record stands as it exists, but the player may not continue to play. After the tournament is over, ejected players are eligible for any prizes their tournament standings yield.

5. Disqualification--Only for triple warnings.

Disqualifications should always be applied immediately, and they should be issued only if the head judge strongly believes the player has cheated. A disqualified player forfeits all prizes and standings he or she might have earned over the course of the tournament.

Premier & Multiple-Day Events

1. Judges at the Table (Including Finals)

The philosophy for warnings and penalties changes when a judge is present from the start of a match to its finish. When a judge is present at a match from beginning to end, he or she should never issue a warning or penalty for technical issues. A judge should simply ensure that all cards and rules are played properly. This does not include matters of cheating, unsporting conduct, or other non-technical play problems.

2. Multiple-Day Events

a. Single Format

Warnings from a previous day of a multiple-day event should be treated as notices on the second day. This means that the previous day's warnings are grounds for upgrading the penalties on the following days, but earlier infractions will not automatically result in an upgrade to a second-offense penalty.

b. Multiple Formats

In events with multiple formats, judges are allowed to eject players from a particular format if they believe that penalty would be more appropriate for that infraction.

 

PENALTY GUIDELINES

How to Use These Guidelines

This document outlines individual violations and their suggested penalties. In accordance with the DCI's enhanced K-value policy, each offense consists of enforcement and penalty guidelines at various levels of rules enforcement. Note that every violation may not necessarily have a penalty at every level of rules enforcement.

A. Intent

At lower levels of enforcement, unintentional rules violations are treated with less severity. However, as the enforcement level increases, so do penalties for unintentional rules infractions. If the head judge determines that a rules violation was intentional, he or she should treat that infraction with a high degree of severity.

B. General Infractions

Any offense that does not clearly fit into a particular category may be considered a general infraction.

Penalties:

All Levels

Any Offense: You may issue a caution, notice, or warning for general infractions. There are no specific penalties for receiving multiple warnings for this offense, and they should be treated as multiple unrelated offenses, penalized in accordance with section C--Multiple Unrelated Warnings.

C. Multiple Unrelated Warnings

Players committing multiple, unrelated rules violations and accruing three or more different single warnings should receive an additional penalty. As always, the judge should use his or her discretion when adjudicating such situations.

Events taking place over multiple days should be treated differently than single-day tournaments, at the head judge's discretion. (For more information, see the Premier & Multiple-Day Events section above.)

Suggested additional penalties are as follows (for each warning beyond the second):

Level 3: Single warning and duel loss.

Level 4: Double warning and match loss.

Level 5: Triple warning and ejection.

D. Deck and Decklist Violations

Players should only have multiple decklist infractions if they are required to complete multiple decklists during the same tournament (excluding single-elimination final rounds of Swiss tournaments).

D.1. Deck Presentation

No penalties involving decks, decklists, and deck checks should be enforced until a player has "presented" his or her deck to the opponent (see the floor rules section 1.3.16--Shuffling for more information).

D.2. Illegal Decks & Sideboards

D.2.1. Card Usage & Deck/Sideboard Size Requirements

A player's deck or sideboard is illegal if it does not conform to each subset of the following floor rules sections:

    • Constructed events (section 2.1--Constructed Tournament Requirements, and the specific rules for the appropriate format)
    • Limited events (section 3.0--Rules for Magic: The Gathering Limited Tournaments, and the specific rules for the appropriate format)

A violation of this type assumes the participant played or is playing a duel in which he or she presented an illegal deck to the opponent.

Note: This violation does not include situations where the deck is illegal due to cards lost or misappropriated by an opponent (see section D.2.2), nor does it include violations involving only the decklist and not the actual deck itself (see appropriate subset of section D.4--Illegal Decklists and Sideboard Lists).

Penalties:

Level 1 or 2

First Offense: Single warning and duel loss. The player committing the infraction has ten minutes to correct the deck, or the penalty is upgraded to a double warning and a match loss.

Second Offense: Double warning and match loss.

Level 3

First Offense: Double warning and match loss.

Level 4 or 5

First Offense: Double warning and ejection.

D.2.2. Lost or Misappropriated Card

A player's deck is considered to be illegal if any card is lost or accidentally left in an opponent's deck. (This infraction assumes the participant played or is playing a duel in which he or she has presented this deck to the opponent.) If possible, return the card(s) to the correct player's deck after any penalties are issued.

Note: The penalties listed below also apply to players who accidentally receive a card from an opponent's deck.

Penalties:

Level 1 or 2
First Offense: Caution.
Second Offense: Single warning.
Third Offense: Double warning and ejection.

Level 3
First Offense: Single warning and duel loss.
Second Offense: Double warning and match loss
Third Offense: Triple warning and ejection.

Level 4
First Offense: Single warning and duel loss. Return the cards to the player's deck.
Second Offense: Double warning and ejection. Return the cards to the player's deck.

Level 5
First Offense: Double warning and match loss.
Second Offense: Triple warning and ejection.

D.3. Misrecorded Decklist

D.3.1. Misrecording a Decklist--Limited

In the event of deck swapping, the recording player mismarks one or more cards in the "Total" column.

Penalties:

Level 1, 2, or 3 Not applicable. Deck swapping is not required. However, if deck swapping is used, follow the penalty pattern established for level 4 events.

Level 4
First Offense: Single warning.
Second Offense: Double warning and match loss.
Third Offense: Triple warning and ejection.

Level 5
First Offense: Single warning and duel loss.
Second Offense: Double warning and ejection.

D.3.2. Receiving a Misrecorded Decklist--Limited

In the event of deck swapping, the player who will play the deck receives a misrecorded decklist in which one or more cards is mismarked in the "Total" column.

Note: The player receiving the misrecorded decklist receives a penalty because, in many cases, it cannot be clearly determined whether the error came about as a result of the recorder or the player. In all such situations, therefore, enforcing a penalty against both players is deemed necessary to deter cheating.

Penalties:

Level 1, 2, or 3 Not applicable. Deck swapping is not required. However, if deck swapping is used, follow the penalty pattern established for level 4 events.

Level 4
First Offense: Single warning.
Second Offense: Double warning and match loss.
Third Offense: Triple warning and ejection.

Level 5
First Offense: Single warning and duel loss.
Second Offense: Double warning and ejection.

D.4. Illegal Decklists and Sideboard Lists

D.4.1. Illegal Decklist--Constructed Formats

A Constructed-tournament decklist is considered illegal if its contents do not conform to each subset of the floor rules section 2.1--Constructed Tournament Requirements, and the specific rules for the appropriate format.

Note: This violation does not include those involving the actual deck or sideboard (see section D.2--Illegal Decks), and it does not apply to players listing sideboards with an illegal number of cards (see section D.4.4--Illegal Sideboard List--Constructed Formats).

Penalties:

Level 1 Not applicable. Decklists are not required. However, if decklists are used, the player who violated this rule should receive a single warning and a duel loss.

Level 2 or 3
First Offense: Double warning and match loss. The player must change the decklist to make it legal.
Second Offense: Triple warning and ejection.

Level 4 or 5
First Offense: Double warning and ejection.

D.4.2. Illegal Decklist--Limited Formats

A Limited-tournament decklist is considered illegal if the contents listed in the "Used" column do not comply with the appropriate sections of floor rules, such as section 3.1.4--Deck Size Requirements.

Note: This violation does not include infractions involving the actual deck or sideboard (see section D.2--Illegal Decks).

Penalties:

Level 1
Not applicable. Decklists are not required. However, if decklists are used, the player who violated this rule should receive a single warning and a duel loss.

Level 2
First Offense: Single warning and duel loss. The player must write in card names under the "Used" column until the decklist is legal.
Second Offense: Double warning and ejection.

Level 3 or 4
First Offense: Double warning and match loss. The player must write in card names under the "Used" column until the decklist is legal.
Second Offense: Triple warning and ejection. In multiple-format events, the player would only be ejected from the portion of the event in which he or she committed the infraction.

Level 5
First Offense: Double warning and ejection. In multiple-format events, the player would only be ejected from the portion of the event in which he or she committed the infraction.

D.4.3. Illegal Decklist--Decklist/Deck Discrepancy
A decklist is considered illegal if the contents of the actual deck do not match the contents entered on the decklist. The penalties listed below apply if both the deck and the decklist are legal in all other ways.

Penalties:

Level 1
Not applicable. Decklists are not required. However, if decklists are used, the player who violated this rule should receive a single warning and a duel loss.

Level 2
First Offense: Single warning. Player must adjust his or her deck so it matches the decklist.
Second Offense: Double warning and match loss. Player must adjust his or her deck so it matches the decklist.
Third Offense: Triple warning and ejection.

Level 3
First Offense: Single warning and duel loss. Player must adjust his or her deck so it matches the decklist.
Second Offense: Double warning and ejection.

Level 4 or 5
First Offense: Double warning and match loss. Player must adjust his or her deck so it matches the decklist.
Second Offense: Triple warning and ejection.

D.4.4. Illegal Sideboard List--Constructed Formats

A sideboard list is considered illegal if it contains a number of cards other than zero or fifteen.

Note: This violation does not include those involving the actual sideboard (see section D.2-Illegal Decks & Sideboards). If the sideboard is illegal in any other way, see section D.4.1-Illegal Decklist, Constructed Formats.

Penalties:

Level 1
Not applicable. Decklists are not required. However, if decklists are used, the player violating this rule should receive a single warning and a duel loss.

Level 2
First Offense: Single warning and duel loss. The player cannot use his or her sideboard during this match and the next. He or she must modify the sideboard list so it contains a legal number of cards.
Second Offense: Double warning and match loss. The player cannot use his or her sideboard for the rest of the tournament.

Level 3
First Offense: Single warning and duel loss. Player must modify the sideboard so it contains a legal number of cards.
Second Offense: Double warning and ejection.

Level 4 or 5
First Offense: Double warning and match loss. Player must modify the sideboard so it contains a legal number of cards.
Second Offense: Triple warning and ejection.

E. Marked Cards or Sleeves

E.1. Worn/Marked Cards or Sleeves--No Pattern

During a deck check or judge's inspection of a deck, some cards or sleeves in a player's deck are determined by the judge to be marked (according to the floor rules section 1.3.7.2--Marked Cards) in a nonsystematic way.

Note: This penalty does not apply to cards or sleeves that have become marked from play or from the actions of an opponent or judge. If cards become marked in this manner, the judge should follow the floor rules section 1.3.11--Proxy Cards.

Resolution:

All Levels Players must replace any marked card within ten minutes. If the player cannot replace the card within ten minutes, he or she receives a match loss.

E.2. Playing with Worn/Marked Cards or Sleeves--Pattern

During a deck check or judge's inspection of a deck, some cards or sleeves in a player's deck are determined by the judge to be marked (according to the floor rules section 1.3.7.2--Marked Cards) in a systematic way.

Notes: This penalty does not apply to cards or sleeves that have become marked from play or from the actions of an opponent or judge. If cards become marked in this manner, the judge should follow the floor rules section 1.3.11--Proxy Cards.

Penalties:

Level 1 or 2
First Offense: Single warning and a duel loss. The player must replace any marked card within ten minutes. If the player cannot replace the card within ten minutes, he or she receives a match loss.
Second Offense: Double warning and ejection.

Level 3, 4, or 5
First Offense: Double warning and a match loss. The player has until the beginning of his or her next match to replace the cards.
Second Offense: Triple warning and ejection.

F. Proxy Cards & Replacements

F.1. Playing with Nonapproved Proxy Cards

A player uses proxy cards that are not in accordance with the floor rules section 1.3.11--Proxy Cards.

Penalties:

Level 1 or 2
First Offense: Single warning and duel loss. The player has until the beginning of his or her next match to replace the proxies with genuine Magic cards.
Second Offense: Double warning and ejection.

Level 3, 4, or 5
First Offense: Double warning and ejection.

F.2. Replacing Cards without Notifying a Judge

Limited events: A player replaces cards in his or her deck with exact copies in violation of the floor rules section 3.1.8--Card Use.

Constructed events: At events using the optional section of the proxy rule (floor rules section 1.3.11--Proxy Cards), a player violates the rules if he or she replaces cards in his or her deck with exact copies without notifying a judge.

Penalties:

Level 1 or 2
Not applicable. Enforcing this penalty is not recommended at these levels. If enforced, use level 3 penalties.

Level 3
First Offense: Notice.
Second Offense: Single warning and duel loss.
Third Offense: Double warning and ejection.

Level 4 or 5
First Offense: Double warning and ejection.

G. Tournament Procedure Violations

G.1. Failure to Provide a Method to Track Life Total

A player is in violation the floor rules section A-Necessary Tournament Materials if he or she fails to provide a method to track his or her life total.

Penalties:

Level 1, 2, or 3
First Offense: The player has two minutes to acquire a suitable life-tracking device. Once that period passes, the player receives a caution.

Level 4 or 5
First Offense: Single warning. The player has two minutes to acquire a suitable life-tracking device.

Note: At any level, if no suitable life-tracking method is found, the opponent's word (or life-tracking method) is acceptable.

G.2. Tardiness

If a player is not in his or her assigned seat when the current round begins, he or she is considered tardy.

Note: The player must be in his or her seat (that is, sitting down and getting ready to play). "Nearby" or "touching" the seat does not count.

Penalties:

Level 1 or 2
Any Offense: After five minutes, the player receives a single warning and a duel loss. After ten minutes, the player receives a second single warning and another duel loss. If the player does not show up by the end of the round, he or she is automatically dropped from the tournament.

Level 3, 4, or 5
Any Offense: Warning and duel loss. After ten minutes, the player loses the second game of the match. If the player does not show up by the end of the round, he or she is automatically dropped from the tournament.

G.3. Exceeding the Preduel Time Limit

This infraction includes all violations of the floor rules section 1.3.2.1--Preduel Time Limit.

Note: If the time-limit violation is determined to be a stalling tactic, enforce section J.2--Unsporting Conduct (either instead or in addition to this penalty).

Penalties:

General: In all cases, the judge should ensure that shuffling is completed as soon as possible and award extra time as required.

Level 1, 2, or 3
First Offense: Caution.
Second Offense: Single warning.
Third Offense: Single warning and duel loss.

Level 4 or 5
First Offense: Single warning and duel loss.

G.4. Failure to Unsideboard/Illegal Sideboard Use

A player who fails to reset his or her deck to its original composition is in violation of the floor rules section 1.3.14--Deck and Sideboard Use.

Note: If the optional portion of floor rules section 1.3.14-Deck and Sideboard Use is in effect, this action is not illegal.

Penalties:

Level 1
Not applicable. Decklists not required. However, if the judge is able to clearly determine that a player violated this rule, the player should receive a single warning and a duel loss.

Level 2 or 3
First Offense: Warning and duel loss. The player must reset his or her deck to its proper configuration and may not use his or her sideboard for the rest of the current match.
Second Offense: Double warning and match loss. Player must reset his or her deck to its proper configuration.
Third Offense: Triple warning and ejection.

Level 4 or 5
First Offense: Warning and duel loss. The player must reset his or her deck to its proper configuration and may not use his or her sideboard for the rest of the current match.
Second Offense: Double warning and ejection.

G.5. Misplaying the Play-Draw Rule

A player has misplayed the play-draw rule (floor rules section 1.3.15) if he or she:

    • looked at his or her hand before deciding whether to play or draw;
    • was designated to play first, but drew an eighth card in the first turn; or
    • attempted to sideboard after the play-draw decision was made.

Penalties:

General: If the competitor playing first drew an eighth card without looking at it, choose a random card from that player's hand and shuffle it into his or her deck.

Level 1
First Offense: Caution.
Second Offense: Single warning.
Third Offense: Single warning and duel loss.

Level 2
First Offense: Notice.
Second Offense: Single warning and duel loss.

Level 3 or 4
First Offense: Single warning.
Second Offense: Single warning and duel loss.
Third Offense: Double warning and ejection.

Level 5
First Offense: Single warning and duel loss.
Second Offense: Double warning and ejection.

G.6. Failure to Sufficiently Randomize a Deck

A player has not performed sufficient actions to suitably randomize his or her deck prior to presenting the deck to an opponent.

Note: At the judge's discretion, this violation may also be enforced against players who shuffle their decks face up. This penalty does not apply to deck stacking or other deck manipulation that is considered cheating (see section J.4).

Penalties:

Level 1, 2, or 3
First Offense: Single warning. The player must sufficiently randomize his or her deck.
Second Offense: Single warning and duel loss.

Level 4 or 5
First Offense: Single warning and duel loss.
Second Offense: Double warning and ejection.

G.7. Post-Randomization Shuffling and/or Cutting

A player does not correctly follow the last paragraph of the floor rules section 1.3.16--Shuffle.

Penalties:

General: If a player incorrectly shuffles or cuts after the opponent's final shuffle/cut, the opponent should be allowed to reshuffle or recut (opponent's choice) again. Once the opponent reshuffles and/or recuts a second time, the player cannot randomize his or her deck any further.

Level 1 or 2
First Offense: Caution.
Second Offense: Single warning.
Third Offense: Single warning and duel loss.

Level 3
First Offense: Single warning.
Second Offense: Single warning and duel loss.
Third Offense: Double warning and match loss.

Level 4
First Offense: Single warning.
Second Offense: Double warning and match loss.
Third Offense: Triple warning and ejection.

Level 5
First Offense: Single warning and duel loss.
Second Offense: Double warning and ejection.

G.8. Drawing Extra Cards

A player draws more cards than he or she is entitled. Cards are considered drawn when the judge could reasonably believe the cards entered the player's hand.

Note: If the player frequently draws extra cards, and if the judge believes the player may be intentionally committing this infraction, apply section J.4--Cheating instead.

Penalties:

General: Whenever a player draws too many cards, choose cards at random from that player's hand and shuffle them into his or her library until that player holds the proper number of cards. If the player legally knows the location of any card in his or her library, that card should be removed from the library before it is shuffled. After the deck is randomized, the card should be returned to its known location. For example, if a previous card instructed a player to place two cards at the bottom of his or her library, those cards should be returned to the bottom of the library after the deck is shuffled.

Level 1, 2, or 3
First Offense: Single warning.
Second Offense: Single warning and duel loss.
Third Offense: Double warning and match loss.

Level 4 or 5
First Offense: Single warning and duel loss.
Second Offense: Double warning and match loss.
Third Offense: Triple warning and ejection.

G.9. Looking at Extra Cards

A player accidentally looks at the top card(s) in his or her library at an inappropriate time.

Note: If the player frequently looks at extra cards, and if the judge believes the player may be intentionally committing this infraction, apply section J.4--Cheating instead.

Penalties:

Level 1, 2, or 3
First Offense: Notice.
Second Offense: Single warning.
Third Offense: Single warning and duel loss.

Level 4 or 5
First Offense: Single warning.
Second Offense: Single warning and duel loss.
Third Offense: Double warning and match loss.

G.10. Misplaying the Mulligan Rule

A player is in violation of the floor rules section 1.3.17 if he or she:

    • attempts to take an opponent's Mulligan;
    • draws too many cards after a Mulligan; or
    • attempts to Mulligan after previously declining to do so.

Penalties:

General: Whenever a player declares a Mulligan and draws too many cards without looking at them, choose cards at random from that player's hand and shuffle them into his or her library until that player holds the proper number of cards.

Level 1 or 2
First Offense: Notice. The player may not declare a Mulligan again this duel.
Second Offense: Single warning and duel loss.
Third Offense: Double warning and ejection.

Level 3 or 4
First Offense: Single warning. The player may not declare a Mulligan again this duel.
Second Offense: Double warning and ejection.

Level 5
First Offense: Single warning and duel loss.
Second Offense: Double warning and ejection.

G.11. Playing Excessively Slow

A player is in violation of the floor rules section 1.3.2--Tempo of Play if he or she is playing excessively slow. This infraction does not include stalling, which is considered intentionally playing slow to gain an advantage in a duel or a match. Stalling is a violation of the floor rules section 1.3.8--Unsporting Conduct, and should be penalized appropriately under section J.2 of these penalty guidelines.

Penalties:

Level 1, 2, or 3
First Offense: Single warning. Grant the player an extra number of turns in accordance with the floor rules section 1.3.2--Tempo of Play.
Second Offense: Single warning and duel loss.
Third Offense: Double warning and match loss.

Level 4 or 5
First Offense: Single warning. Grant the player an extra number of turns in accordance with the floor rules section 1.3.2--Tempo of Play.
Second Offense: Double warning and match loss.

G.12. Failure to Keep Cards Elevated above the Table

A player is in violation of the floor rules section 1.3.10--Card Elevation if he or she fails to keep his or her cards elevated above the playing surface.

Penalties:

Level 1 or 2
First Offense: Caution.
Second Offense: Notice.
Third Offense: Single warning.

Level 3
First Offense: Notice.
Second Offense: Single warning.
Third Offense: Single warning and duel loss.

Level 4 or 5
First Offense: Single warning.
Second Offense: Single warning and duel loss.
Third Offense: Double warning and match loss.

G.13. Early Departure--Limited

A player is in violation of the floor rules section 3.1.9--Early Departure if he or she attempts to withdraw or drop from a Limited tournament before completing his or her first match.

Penalties:

All Levels Double warning and match loss. Player is dropped from the tournament if he or she does not show up by the end of the round.

G.14. Taking Notes

A player is in violation of the floor rules section 1.3.7.1--Taking Notes if he or she records anything other than life totals or causes of life total changes.

Penalties:

General: Judges must confiscate any illegal notes.

Level 1, 2, or 3
First Offense: Notice.
Second Offense: Single warning.
Third Offense: Single warning and duel loss.

Level 4 or 5
First Offense: Warning and duel loss.
Second Offense: Double warning and ejection.

H. Player Interaction Violations

H.1. Providing or Receiving Assistance/Coaching

Anyone providing coaching or other assistance, and any player receiving this assistance or coaching, is in violation of the floor rules section 1.3.8-Unsporting Conduct. A player is being coached or assisted if he or she receives information usable in current or future matches. The penalties listed below apply to any player committing this infraction. If the person providing assistance or coaching is not a tournament participant, he or she should be removed from the tournament area.

This infraction includes, but is not limited to, providing advice--either verbal or written--about:

    • a play or sideboarding strategy;
    • a player's deck contents; or
    • otherwise unavailable information (such as whether or not taking an intentional draw is prudent).

Note: Judges need to evaluate whether the assistance was solicited or not before penalizing both the player and the person providing information. If the assistance is determined to be unsolicited, only the provider should be penalized.

Penalties:

Level 1 or 2
First Offense: Notice.
Second Offense: Single warning.
Third Offense: Single warning and duel loss.

Level 3
First Offense: Single warning.
Second Offense: Single warning and duel loss.
Third Offense: Double warning and ejection.

Level 4 or 5
First Offense: Single warning and duel loss.
Second Offense: Double warning and ejection.

H.2. Card Misrepresentation

A player is in violation of the floor rules section 1.3.18--Card Interpretation if he or she misrepresents a card.

Note: If more than one turn has elapsed since the violation occurred, it is generally better to let the current game situation stand (despite the error).

Penalties:

Level 1, 2, or 3
First Offense: Notice. Correct the mistake if feasible.
Second Offense: Warning. Correct the mistake if feasible.
Third Offense: Double warning and match loss.

Level 4 or 5
First Offense: Warning. Correct the mistake if feasible.
Second Offense: Warning and duel loss.
Third Offense: Double warning and match loss.

H.3. Playing the Wrong Opponent

One or more pairs of players play against the wrong opponents in a match.

Penalties:

Level 1, 2, or 3
First Offense: Warnings to all players competing against the wrong opponents. Each proper pair of opponents has the option of:

    • allowing the match to stand as a draw; or
    • attempting to play out the match in the time remaining.

Second Offense: Double warning and ejection.

Level 4 or 5
First Offense: Double warnings to all players competing against the wrong opponents. Each proper pair of opponents has the option of:

    • allowing the match to stand as a draw; or
    • attempting to play out the match in the time remaining. Each player also receives a game loss in his or her next match.

Second Offense: Double warning and ejection.

H.4. Failure to Agree on Reality

Players fail to agree on reality if they disagree on a central fact of the game--such as life totals, mana in the mana pool, what one player said, and so on--and the truth cannot be successfully determined.

Note: The judge should always first try to reconstruct the actual events using whatever means are available (player testimony, cards on the table, recollections of other judges and/or spectators, and so on). If the players agree on what happened or the judge successfully demonstrates the reality, do not invoke any penalties.

In addition, if a player failing to agree on reality already has a warning for this offense, judges need to be careful that the opponent involved in the current dispute is not attempting to gain a match advantage by subjecting the player to another warning of this type. Players who intentionally provoke this type of dispute are in violation of the floor rules section 1.3.8--Unsporting Conduct, and should be penalized according to section J.2 of this document. When determining whether or not a player is intentionally committing this infraction, judges should consider possible strategic advantages behind the dispute.

Penalties:

General: In all failure to agree on the situation, the judge determines who is correct using whatever means he or she sees fit.

Level 1 or 2
First Offense: Notice.
Second Offense: Warning.
Third Offense: Double warning and ejection.

Level 3
First Offense: Warning.
Second Offense: Warning and duel loss.
Third Offense: Double warning and ejection.

Level 4 or 5
First Offense: Warning
Second Offense: At the judge's discretion:

    • single warning and duel loss; or
    • double warning and match loss

Third Offense: Triple warning and ejection.

I. Draft Violations

I.1. Standard Draft Violations

A player commits any common draft offense, including (but not limited to):

    • talking or otherwise communicating with another player at the table;
    • loud or emotional outburts;
    • drafting out of turn (Rochester Draft);
    • drafting too early or late; or
    • touching both drafted cards and booster cards at the same time (Booster Draft).

Penalties:

Note: Draft-warning penalties apply to the draft alone, and not to the rest of the tournament.

Level 1, 2, or 3
First Offense: Draft warning (treat as a caution in the tournament).
Second Offense: Draft warning. If this warning is for the same offense as the first, the player is ejected from the draft (enforce section I.2 below).
Third Offense: Draft warning plus the player is ejected from the draft (enforce section I.2 below).

Level 4 or 5
First Offense: Talking during the draft results in a warning and ejection from the draft. All other draft infractions should be penalized according to the outline specified for level 1, 2, or 3.

I.2. Excessive Draft Violations

A player commits a major draft offense, such as drafting multiple cards from the same booster, "exchanging" a card from a booster for a previously drafted card, or manipulating the draft (seating, communication, and so on).

Penalties:

Level 1
First Offense: Single warning.
Second Offense: Single warning and duel loss.

Level 2 or 3
First Offense: Single warning and duel loss.
Second Offense: Ejection from the draft.

Level 5
First Offense: Ejection from the draft.

I.3. Draft Ejection

A player is ejected from a draft for receiving too many draft warnings or committing an excessive draft violation.

Penalties:

All Levels
First Offense: Warning. The player must play with only the cards he or she drafted prior to being ejected from the draft.
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of next match. The player must play with only the cards he or she drafted prior to being ejected from the draft.
Third Offense: Double warning and ejection.

J. Intentional or Major Infractions

All infractions listed above are considered to be unintentional violations of the floor rules. The infractions listed below are usually intentional, and should be penalized accordingly.

J.1. Failure to Obey the Instructions of a Judge

A player ignores or otherwise disregards a ruling or direct instruction from a judge or tournament staff member.

Note: In excessive cases, section J.2--Unsporting Conduct may be enforced.

Penalties:

Level 1, 2, or 3
First Offense: Notice.
Second Offense: Single warning and duel loss.
Third Offense: Double warning and ejection.

Level 4 or 5
First Offense: Single warning.
Second Offense: At the judge's discretion:

    • single warning and duel loss;
    • double warning and match loss; or
    • triple warning and ejection.

J.2. Unsporting Conduct

Infractions of this type are violations of the floor rules section 1.3.8--Unsporting Conduct.

Note: In the case of clearly excessive offenses (such as fighting, tirades, physical intimidation, and so on), automatic disqualification is appropriate.

Penalties:

All Levels
First Offense: Warning.
Second Offense: Judges should use their discretion when penalizing this infraction, making sure the penalty is appropriate for the violation.

Default Penalty Double warning and ejection. If the player is ejected, include a detailed report to the DCI, as such penalties may lead to DCI sanctions.

J.3. Collusion

A player violates the floor rules section 1.3.8--Unsporting Conduct if he or she attempts to alter the outcome of a game, match, or the tournament via illegal means. Such means include, but are not limited to: bribing opponents, judges, or tournament officials; rigging drafts by agreeing in advance on what colors or card types to play; and purposefully throwing games or matches to help another player in some way (either directly or indirectly).

Penalties:

All Levels
First Offense: Triple warning and disqualification. Include a detailed report to the DCI, as such penalties may lead to DCI sanctions.

J.4. Cheating

A player violates the floor rules section 1.3.7 if he or she is found cheating.

Penalties:

All Levels
First Offense: Triple warning and disqualification. Include a detailed report to the DCI, as such penalties may lead to DCI sanctions.

 



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