Warning

Warnings are used in situations with minor issues when a small amount of time is needed to implement the corrective procedure. The purpose of a Warning is to alert judges and players involved that a problem has occurred and to keep a permanent record of the infraction.

Game Loss

A game loss immediately ends any game in progress. A player issued a game loss should use the in-game concession function to end the game. If this loss does not end the match, the players should continue from the current state of the client. If the client is not currently in a game, the match should be restarted and each player should concede games in order until the match score is correct, and the player receiving the Game Loss penalty has the option to play or draw in the upcoming game.

If a Game Loss is issued before a match would begin (due to a player submitting an illegal decklist, for example), once the match begins, the Player who received the Game Loss should concede Game 1 of their match.

Match Loss

A Match Loss is a severe penalty that is usually issued when the match itself has been compromised.

Match Losses are applied to the match during which the offense occurred unless the offender’s match has already ended, in which case the penalty will be applied to that player’s next match.

Disqualification

A Disqualification is issued for activity that damages the integrity of a tournament as a whole or for severe unsporting conduct.

The recipient of a Disqualification does not need to be a player in the tournament. They may be a spectator or other bystander. If this happens and the tournament organizer is using Wizards managed tournament software, they must be entered into the tournament in the tournament software so that they may be disqualified and reported to Wizards of the Coast.

Disqualification can occur without proof of action so long as the Head Judge determines sufficient information exists to believe the tournament’s integrity may have been compromised. It is recommended that the Head Judge’s report reflect this fact.

When this penalty is applied, the player loses their current match and is dropped from the tournament. If a player has already received prizes at the time they are disqualified, that player may keep those prizes but does not receive any additional prizes or awards they may be due.

When a player is disqualified during a tournament, they are removed from the tournament and do not take up a place in the standings. This means that all players in the tournament will advance one spot in the standings and are entitled to any prizes the new standing would offer. If the Disqualification takes place after a cut is made, no additional players advance in place of the disqualified player, although they do move up a spot in the standings. For example, if a player is disqualified during the quarterfinal round of a Players Tour Qualifier, the former 9th place finisher does not advance into the single elimination top 8, but they do move into 8th place in the standings.