> 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** (PvP) is a Contest where players compete on one objective: "Settle the score through competition. Only the best are rewarded." It's the Contest type you'll see most on RivalRyze.

## How Battles work

1. **The host picks an Objective Mode.** Points modes rank by score, Hunter modes rank by who reaches a target first, and Live Service modes score your Dota 2, League of Legends or TFT matches. See [Objective Modes](/contests/objective-modes.md).
2. **The Battle starts** on its start date, or when enough players join a lobby. See [Auto-Start Rules](/contests/auto-start-rules.md).
3. **Players score during the Battle.** Your progress updates as your platforms sync, and the leaderboard re-ranks.
4. **The Battle ends on its end date.** After a short final review, the standings lock and the prize pool is split.

## How winners are decided

The leaderboard order at the end decides the winners. The host's prize distribution decides how many places are paid and how much each gets: **Winner Takes All**, **Top 3**, **Top 5**, **Equal Top 5** or **Participant Count** (the default). See [Entry Fees, Prize Pools & Donations](/contests/entry-fees-and-prizes.md) for the splits.

Hunter Battles crown whoever reached the target first. In Points Battles you need more than 0 points to win, and a tie goes to the player who reached that score first, then to whoever joined first. See [Objective Modes](/contests/objective-modes.md#winners-and-ties).

If nobody qualifies, the Battle ends with no winner and no prizes are paid.

## What you do as a participant

1. **Join** and pay the entry fee. See [Joining a Contest](/contests/joining-a-contest.md).
2. **Check your accounts.** Make sure the platform the Battle scores is connected and syncing.
3. **Play.** Anything that counts for the Objective Mode during the Battle adds to your score automatically.
4. **Watch the leaderboard.** It updates as your platforms sync. On Discord, the Battle's thread has an **Update Stats** button while it's live.
5. **Claim your prize.** If you finish in a paid place, your gems wait for you on the **Rewards** page.

{% hint style="info" %}
In Points and Live Service Battles, only progress made during the Battle counts, from the later of the start and the moment you joined, and [auto-popped](/fair-play/auto-pop-and-fair-play.md) trophies don't count. Hunter Battles look at the target itself: you can't join if you've already reached it.
{% endhint %}

## Guild Versus Guild

A [Guild Versus Guild](/contests/guild-vs-guild.md) Contest is a Points Battle scored per guild: each player represents a guild, each guild's top players add up, and the best guild wins.

## Related

* [What is a Contest](/contests/what-is-a-contest.md)
* [Objective Modes](/contests/objective-modes.md)
* [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)