> 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/hosting-a-contest.md).

# Hosting Your Own Contest

Anyone with a gaming platform connected can host a Contest. It takes about three minutes.

## 1. Click "Create Contest"

From your dashboard, go to **Contests → Create**.

## 2. Pick a Contest type

Choose whether to host a **Battle** or a **Bounty**:

* [**Battle**](/contests/battles.md) — leaderboard-based. Players compete on points; highest score wins. Best for grind contests, weekly events, and tournaments.
* [**Bounty**](/contests/bounties.md) — objective-based. Players race to (or work toward) a clear finish line; everyone who hits it can win a share.

Guild vs Guild Contests are coming soon.

## 3. Pick an Objective Mode

The Objective Mode defines what players are actually competing on. The available modes depend on the Contest type you picked.

**Battle modes (Points family):**

* Achievement Points
* Completion Achievement Points
* Dota 2 Points Battle

**Bounty modes (Hunter family):**

* Achievement Hunter
* Platinum Hunter
* Completion Hunter

See [Objective Modes](/contests/objective-modes.md) for full descriptions.

## 4. Pick the game

Depending on the Objective Mode, you'll either:

* **Pick a single game** — for Hunter modes (e.g. "First to platinum Elden Ring") or Points modes scoped to one title.
* **Pick none** — for any future Collector modes (coming soon) where the score is across the player's whole library.

When picking a game, you can filter by genre and theme. Pick something your target audience plays.

{% hint style="success" %}
Specific games attract people who actually own them. Picking a niche game means a smaller pool of joiners but a more focused audience.
{% endhint %}

## 5. Set the entry fee and duration

* **Entry fee** — gems each player pays to join. Higher fees = bigger prize pools but fewer joiners.
* **Duration** — how long the Contest runs once it starts. For Hunter Bounties, you can configure "ends when first player wins" instead of a fixed duration.
* **Max participants** (optional) — caps the prize pool size and triggers auto-start when full.
* **Min participants** (optional) — Contest won't start until this is met.
* **Scheduled start date** (optional) — when to begin, if not auto-starting.

See [Entry Fees, Prize Pools & Donations](/contests/entry-fees-and-prizes.md) for pricing guidance.

## 6. Choose who can join (Access Policy)

| Policy                 | Use it when                                                              |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Public**             | You want anyone in the RivalRyze community to join.                      |
| **Allowlist**          | You want full control over who plays — joiners request, you approve.     |
| **Password protected** | You're running this with a friend group — share the password privately.  |
| **Guild members only** | You want it open to one Discord server.                                  |
| **Role-based**         | You want it open to a specific Discord role (e.g. "Tournament Players"). |

Full details: [Access Policies](/contests/access-policies.md).

## 7. Configure reward distribution

Choose how the prize pool splits when the Contest ends.

**For Battles (leaderboard):**

* **Winner Takes All** — 100% to the #1 ranked player.
* **Top 3** — 60% / 25% / 15%.
* **Top 5** — 40% / 25% / 15% / 10% / 10%.
* **By Participant Count** — auto-scales the payout list. Default.

**For Bounties (objective):**

* **Winner Takes All** — only the first to hit the objective wins. Pure race.
* **Equal Split** — everyone who hits the objective during the window splits the pool equally.
* **By Participant Count** — auto-scales based on joiners.

You can also **boost the prize pool from your own wallet** before publishing to make the Contest more attractive.

## 8. Review and publish

Double-check the type, objective, entry fee, access policy, and duration. Click **Publish**.

Your Contest goes live. It now shows up in the Contests browse page (subject to your access policy — Guild and Allowlist Contests are only visible to eligible players).

## After publishing

* **Share it.** Copy the Contest link from the page and share it on Discord or with friends.
* **Watch joiners come in.** You'll be notified when someone joins, requests an invite, or donates.
* **Approve allowlist requests.** If you set the Contest to Allowlist, you'll get notifications for each invite request. Approve or reject from the Contest page.
* **Receive donations.** Other players can [donate to the prize pool](/contests/entry-fees-and-prizes.md) even if they're not playing — donors don't compete, they just sweeten the pot.

## When the Contest ends

Winners are determined automatically based on the Contest type and Objective Mode. The prize pool transfers to winners' wallets — that's it. As host, you don't have to do anything to wrap up.

{% hint style="info" %}
Hosting doesn't cost gems. You only pay if you also join your own Contest.
{% endhint %}

## What if no one joins?

If your Contest doesn't reach the minimum participant count by its start date, it auto-cancels. Any entry fees collected are refunded.

You can edit a Contest (entry fee, end date, etc.) before it starts in case you want to adjust to attract more joiners.

## A note on Fair Play

For Contests involving achievements, trophies, or game completion, RivalRyze runs [Fair Play](/fair-play/auto-pop-and-fair-play.md) checks. By default, known cross-platform auto-pops are excluded automatically. For anything flagged as unknown or suspicious, **you (the host) get a notification and can decide** whether it counts.

This means hosting is hands-off most of the time, with occasional adjudication for edge cases.

## Related

* [What is a Contest](/contests/what-is-a-contest.md)
* [Battles](/contests/battles.md) and [Bounties](/contests/bounties.md) — the two types
* [Objective Modes](/contests/objective-modes.md) — what you can compete on
* [Joining a Contest](/contests/joining-a-contest.md)
* [Access Policies](/contests/access-policies.md)
* [Entry Fees, Prize Pools & Donations](/contests/entry-fees-and-prizes.md)
* [Auto-Start Rules](/contests/auto-start-rules.md)
* [Fair Play](/fair-play/auto-pop-and-fair-play.md)