The definitive competition guide for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate crew battles in The Nexus League.
In order for tournaments to run fairly and efficiently, the following rulebook has been issued.
Most problems encountered on the night can be resolved by speaking with the opposing team's captain and a tournament admin as soon as the issue arises.
If unsure, it is always better to contact an admin early rather than allow the problem to escalate. Early rulings are less likely to significantly impact your team. Agreeing to terms among teams if a rule is broken is encouraged.
All students are expected to follow both the letter and spirit of these rules while competing. Deliberately breaking or avoiding the rules will result in harsher penalties. Mistakes can happen; if you become aware that you or your team has unintentionally broken a rule, contact an admin immediately.
Who may represent an institution, how teams are built, and what must happen before match day.
To be eligible to compete in The Nexus League, an institution must be a recognised provider of Higher Education (HE). Eligible institutions may compete as a single institution or as separate Playing Entities. Each playing entity must fit one of the following models:
A full list of recognised playing entities may be found in Appendix B.
To be eligible to compete, a student must:
If unsure, contact a Nexus Admin.
The following students are not eligible:
Students may not compete for more than one academic institution in the same academic year.
1.3.2.1 Teams may play any rostered players. If a school wishes, it may request—before any game is played—to limit each team to only four players per game. Teams may not deny this request, but it must be requested to be enforced. Both teams must blindly announce their selected four players before the game begins.
Offensive or inappropriate team names are prohibited and judged at Nexus Admin discretion.
Check-in phases will occur throughout the tournament.
Teams that fail to check in will not be entered into fixtures or earn points.
The required arena configuration, crew battle flow, legal stages, and result procedures.
Games must use the following ruleset:
Both teams must verify settings before play. Incorrect settings require a reset and admin contact. If a team is caught intentionally using nefarious rules, it may result in a penalty.
Matches follow the Nexus Crew Battle format:
Players compete in 1v1 battles.
Winning players carry their remaining stocks forward.
Losing players are eliminated.
Remaining stocks are adjusted by self-destructing before the next game.
The match continues until one team has no players remaining.
While an opponent is self-destructing for stock-count purposes, neither player may take any consequential actions. If a character being used has automatic consequential effects while waiting, teams may reach an agreement before the match begins. If no agreement can be met, contact a Nexus Admin.
Blind picks may be requested for first players by contacting an admin.
The team banning first strikes one starter stage—the first five stages above. The second team then strikes two of the remaining legal starter stages, and the first team selects from what remains.
Which team strikes first and second must be agreed upon before the match.
The team that most recently had a player eliminated must declare its next player, character, and Mii moveset if applicable. The player who was not eliminated can strike up to three stages, and the incoming player selects any remaining legal stage.
When a game ends in a draw, both players are eliminated and both teams blindly send their next player.
If both teams have only one player remaining, replay final stocks on the same stage with one stock each.
Competitive-impacting bugs are ruled on by Nexus Admins.
If a team disconnects from an active match because of connection issues, contact an admin if the teams cannot agree on a penalty.
Teams must arrive promptly. Matches must begin within 10 minutes of the scheduled start or previous round end.
A team unable to begin on time will be forced to forfeit the match.
Both teams must submit results.
Streaming permissions and the additional requirements that apply to featured matches.
Every participant is responsible for preserving fair play and a welcoming league.
Players must uphold fair play and the Code of Conduct. Unfair play includes:
Harassment, discriminatory language, threats, or trolling are prohibited.
Penalties may include warnings, forfeits, suspensions, bans, loss of points, or disqualification.
Live-event provisions for the Spring 2026 season.
The supplied Spring 2026 rulebook includes Live Event Rules in its contents but provides no separate live-event clauses. All other eligibility, match, spectator, and sportsmanship rules remain in effect.
How awards are delivered and shared by participating rosters.
When teams cannot resolve an issue together, Nexus Admins protect the integrity of play.
Disputes unresolved between teams must be escalated to Nexus Admins.
Admin decisions are final.
Rules may be amended to preserve competitive integrity.
A full list of recognised playing entities is included as provided by The Nexus. See the full institution list as supplied.
