Battlegrounds is the pinnacle of in-store organized play.
Held at a select number of retailers each season, Battlegrounds is the most prestigious in-store competitive opportunity outside the World Tour. These showcase events bring together dedicated competitors to compete for premium prizes, a Professional Tournament Invite, and regional recognition.
With only a handful of events held globally each season, hosting Battlegrounds is among the highest recognitions a Flesh and Blood retailer can receive, awarded to stores that consistently deliver exceptional events and invest in their local community.
What can players win?
Battlegrounds features incredible prizing, including:
Professional Tournament Invite
Gold Foil Black Envelope
Champions Resource Coin
Exclusive Playmats
Exclusive Cold Foil and Rainbow Foil Promo Cards
Tournament Packs
Prize contents may vary between seasons and Usurp the Shadow Throne kit contents will be revealed on September 14th, 2026 at the World Premiere and will be updated here accordingly.
Can I add prizes to the prize pool?
Yes. Retailers may add additional prizes to the Battlegrounds prize pool at their own discretion, provided the official Battlegrounds prize kit is awarded in full.
Why is a Professional Tournament Invite awarded?
Battlegrounds represents the final step on the in-store competitive pathway before the World Tour.
The winner earns a Professional Tournament Invite to a premier event of their choosing, reinforcing Battlegrounds as a destination event distinct from seasonal qualification programs such as Pro Quest.
Entry Fee
Stores may charge an entry fee for this event at their discretion.
Who can host Battlegrounds?
Battlegrounds is an invitation-only retailer program.
Each season, the Legend Story Studios Organized Play team selects retailers based on their commitment to organized play, event delivery and community development.
Selected retailers will be contacted directly.
Retailers who believe they have a compelling case to host Battlegrounds are welcome to contact the Organized Play team. While this does not guarantee selection, we value hearing from stores actively investing in their communities.
With only a limited number of Battlegrounds events available each season, direct selection helps preserve the prestige of the program while ensuring strong global coverage.
In previous seasons, we received more than 500 retailer applications, with over 90% ultimately unsuccessful. Rather than asking hundreds of retailers to invest time into a highly competitive application process, the Organized Play team now proactively identifies and invites retailers throughout the year.
How are retailers selected?
Selection is based on a holistic assessment of factors including:
Commitment to organized play.
Community strength.
Quality of event delivery.
Geographic coverage.
Engagement with the organized play ecosystem.
Contribution to the broader Flesh and Blood community.
If my store isn’t selected this season, can it be selected in the future?
Absolutely.
Retailers are reviewed each season, and invitations may change over time. The best way to strengthen your store’s case is to continue delivering exceptional organized play experiences and growing your local community.
What format is Battlegrounds?
Each Battlegrounds event is run as either Classic Constructed or Silver Age. The specific format is communicated to selected retailers during the invitation process.
Event Requirements
What is the tournament structure?
Battlegrounds uses Swiss rounds with a Top 8 playoff, following the Flesh and Blood Tournament Rules and Policy which can be found here.
Is there a minimum number of players?
Yes. Battlegrounds requires a minimum of 32 players to run, with a recommended attendance target of 64+ players.
Each kit contains prize support for up to 100 players, and retailers are expected to utilise the full prize kit during the event to deliver the intended Battlegrounds experience.
If fewer than 100 players attend, any remaining Tournament Packs not used for participation prizing must be distributed as additional player prizing during the event. Either as a random draw or additional top-cut prizing. Tournament Packs must not be retained by the retailer. Any remaining packs must be returned to Legend Story Studios. Misuse or unauthorized retention may result in removal from the Battlegrounds program.
Is there a maximum number of players?
Stores may set an attendance cap based on venue size, staffing and logistical capacity. It is recommended when participation exceeds 100 players, participant prizing is prioritised to the first 100 players registered.
If your event has a capped attendance, we strongly recommend implementing a clear and well-communicated pre-registration process to ensure a smooth experience and to minimize potential disappointment on the day of the event.
What are the judge requirements?
A Level 2 Head Judge is a standard requirement for Battlegrounds.
For events of 100 players or fewer, the Organized Play team may approve an exception of this rule. For approved events with more than 100 players, a Level 2 Judge is mandatory.
Judge Support
To recognise the contribution of your judge team, each Battlegrounds kit includes:
4× Judge Packs, allocated at one pack per judge working the event.
Judge Packs must only be awarded to judges officiating the event. They are provided by Legend Story Studios in recognition of the skill, professionalism, and dedication judges bring to the Flesh and Blood community.
Judge Packs should not be used to replace or offset any compensation or benefits that judges would otherwise receive for officiating a Battlegrounds event.
Are decklists and hero selection required?
Yes, both decklists and hero selections are mandatory. We recommend having players use our GEM Deck Builder Tool to submit their deck lists electronically.
What level of rules enforcement is Battlegrounds run at?
This event is run at a Competitive rules enforcement level.
Can I run this event at a location that is not my store?
Battlegrounds events can be run at alternate locations. However, location information needs to be entered in the event description in GEM when you create the event.
Can store staff play in these events?
The tournament organizer and judges for the event cannot play. Store staff that are not involved in the administration of the event are allowed.
Additionally, the tournament organizer is not allowed to be a judge in the event.
Marketing Assets
A full suite of Battlegrounds marketing assets is available below to help promote your event and build excitement within your community.
