> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.rivalryze.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.rivalryze.com/contests/battles.md).

# Battles

A **Battle** is a leaderboard-based Contest. Every participant scores points during the Battle's duration, the leaderboard updates as platforms sync, and at the end the highest scorers win.

## How Battles work

1. **A Battle has a duration.** It runs for a fixed window — a day, a week, a month — set by the host.
2. **Everyone scores during the window.** Each participant's score updates after their gaming platform syncs (Steam, PSN, Xbox, Riot, Battle.net).
3. **The leaderboard ranks players continuously.** You can see your rank update in real time on the Battle's page.
4. **When the duration expires, the leaderboard locks.** Whoever's at the top wins.

## Score-based Objective Modes

Battles run on **Points-style** Objective Modes:

* **Achievement Points** — total achievement points earned during the Battle window across the selected platforms.
* **Completion Achievement Points** — only achievement points from games you 100%-complete during the Battle window count.
* **Dota 2 Points Battle** — Dota 2 performance metrics (MMR, win rate, match performance).

For full descriptions of each mode, see [Objective Modes](/contests/objective-modes.md).

## How winners are decided

Hosts choose a **Reward Distribution** when creating the Battle. The most common options:

| Distribution             | What it does                                                                   |
| ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Winner Takes All**     | 100% of the prize pool goes to the #1 ranked player.                           |
| **Top 3**                | 1st place gets 60%, 2nd gets 25%, 3rd gets 15%.                                |
| **Top 5**                | 1st gets 40%, 2nd gets 25%, 3rd gets 15%, 4th and 5th get 10% each.            |
| **By Participant Count** | The platform scales the payout list based on how many players joined. Default. |

If two players have the same score, the **earlier sync time** wins the tiebreaker.

## What you do as a participant

1. **Join before the start.** Pay the entry fee from your wallet.
2. **Sync your platform.** Confirm your gaming account is connected and showing as healthy.
3. **Play.** Anything you do during the Battle window contributes to your score automatically — achievements you unlock, games you complete, ranks you climb (depending on the Objective Mode).
4. **Watch the leaderboard.** Your rank updates after each sync. Hit "Sync now" on your profile after a big session to refresh immediately.
5. **Get paid if you finish in a winning position.** Gems land in your wallet automatically when the Battle ends.

{% hint style="info" %}
Achievement-based Battles only count achievements unlocked **during** the Battle window — historical unlocks don't count. New organic unlocks always count, even if your historical achievements are flagged by [Fair Play](/fair-play/auto-pop-and-fair-play.md).
{% endhint %}

## Hosting a Battle

Pick a Points-style Objective Mode when you create the Contest. The rest of the flow (entry fee, duration, access policy, prize pool boost) is the same as any Contest — see [Hosting Your Own Contest](/contests/hosting-a-contest.md).

## Battle vs. Bounty: when to host which

| Pick a Battle when…                     | Pick a [Bounty](/contests/bounties.md) when…         |
| --------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| You want a multi-day grind contest      | You want a clear "first to do X" race                |
| You want ranked top-N payouts           | You want everyone who completes the objective to win |
| You want consistent play to be rewarded | You want a sprint with a clear finish line           |
| You're running a leaderboard event      | You're posting a challenge with a finish condition   |

## What about Collector modes?

The objective modes **Achievement Collector**, **Platinum Collector**, and **Completion Collector** are coming soon. They'll work as Battles where the score is total achievements / platinums / completions across multiple games. Watch [Objective Modes](/contests/objective-modes.md) for status.

## Related

* [Bounties](/contests/bounties.md) — the other Contest type
* [Objective Modes](/contests/objective-modes.md) — all the modes Battles support
* [Joining a Contest](/contests/joining-a-contest.md)
* [Hosting Your Own Contest](/contests/hosting-a-contest.md)
* [Entry Fees, Prize Pools & Donations](/contests/entry-fees-and-prizes.md)
* [Auto-Start Rules](/contests/auto-start-rules.md)