MetaShift League Rules and Regulations

Definitions

Series
A set of games played between two teams (Best-of-3 or Best-of-5).

Game
A single League of Legends match played within a series.

Main Account
The primary League of Legends account registered by a player and approved for use in official MSL matches.

Substitute
A rostered player who replaces a starting player for a game within a series.

Emergency Substitute (eSub)
A player added to the roster less than 12 hours before the scheduled match time and used as a substitute for that match.

First-Phase Bans
The initial three bans each team receives at the start of champion select.

Fearless Draft
A draft format where champions selected in previous games of the same series may not be selected again by either team.

1. Player Eligibility

1.1 Account Requirements

To be eligible, a player must designate one Main account that meets the following:

  • 30 Ranked Solo/Duo games in Season 16 (2026)
  • Returning players (defined as players who participated in the previous MSL season): minimum 5 Ranked Solo/Duo games in Season 16 (2026)
  • Either:
    • End of Season 15 Split 3 (2025) rank, or
    • 100+ games in Season 16 (2026)
  • Either:
    • End of Season 14 Split 2 (2024) rank, or
    • End of Season 14 Split 1 (2024) rank (appealable)
  • Account Level 300 (Level 200–299 appealable)

MSL may deny eligibility for insufficient recent ranked activity at its discretion.

1.2 Account Registration

  • All League of Legends accounts level 30 or higher must be reported.
  • One account must be designated as the Main Account.
  • Only the Main Account may be used in MSL matches.
  • Accounts must be individually owned and accessible by only one player.

Failure to report accounts may result in suspension, tier adjustment, or match forfeits.

Use of an unapproved alternate account results in match forfeits.

1.3 Suspicious Accounts

MSL may deny registration for accounts associated with:

  • Smurfing
  • Rank sitting
  • Boosting or being boosted
  • Scripting
  • Other suspicious account history

All eligibility decisions are at staff discretion.

1.4 Player Tiers

  • Player tiers are assigned based on Solo/Duo ranks and past MSL performances.
  • Tier adjustments occur during the offseason only.
  • Tiers are locked upon player registration on the website.

1.5 Discord Requirement

  • A Discord account is required.
  • All players must join the official MSL Discord server.

2. Match Structure

2.1 Regular Season Format

  • Regular season matches are Best-of-3.
  • The first team to win 2 games wins the match.

Match points:

  • 2–0 win: 3 game points
  • 2–1 win:
    • Winner: 2 game points
    • Loser: 1 game point

Game points are used for playoff seeding tiebreakers.

2.2 Playoff Format

  • Playoff matches are Best-of-5.
  • The first team to win 3 games wins the match.

2.3 Fearless Draft

MSL uses Full Fearless Draft.

  • A champion selected in a game may not be selected again by either team for the remainder of the series.
  • Banned champions do not count toward the Fearless restriction.

Best-of-5 Ban Modifications

  • Game 4: Each team loses 2 first-phase bans.
  • Game 5: No bans are permitted.

Additional ban penalties related to substitutions or rule violations are applied as defined in their respective sections.

2.4 Seeding

Playoff seeding is determined in the following order:

  1. Match Win/Loss record
  2. Game points
  3. Head-to-head record
  4. Record in the final 4 regular season matches

2.5 Forfeits and Seeding Adjustments

If a team forfeits during the regular season and that forfeit affects playoff seeding:

  • Matches involving the forfeiting team will be removed from tiebreaker calculations between affected teams.
  • Adjusted records will determine final seeding.

3. Rosters

3.1 Roster Size

  • Each team must maintain a minimum of 5 active players.
  • Maximum roster size is 10 players.
  • All roster changes must be submitted through the official website.
  • Players may not be rostered on more than one team in the same league.

3.2 Team Manager

Each team must designate one Team Manager.

The Team Manager is responsible for:

  • Scheduling matches on the website
  • Reporting scheduled match times in Discord
  • Reporting match results in Discord
  • Managing the team roster on the website
  • Acting as the team’s primary point of contact

The Team Manager is responsible for ensuring that all players fielded in matches are eligible under league rules.

To change the Team Manager, the team must contact staff for approval.

3.3 Roster Changes & Transfers

  • Roster changes are permitted throughout the season.
  • All added players must meet Player Eligibility requirements.
  • Once a player participates in a playoff match, they are locked to that team for the remainder of the season.
  • Players transferring from another team must be reviewed by staff prior to participation.

Teams are responsible for ensuring roster compliance. Use of an ineligible player may result in match forfeits or additional penalties.

4. Match Participation & Substitutions

4.1 Substitution Limits

  • Teams may use a maximum of 2 substitutions per series.
  • A substitution is defined as replacing one starting player with another eligible rostered player for any game within a series.
  • Players may not substitute for multiple teams in the same league.
  • Players may not change roles mid-series. This restriction remains in effect when a substitution occurs.
  • All substitutes must meet Player Eligibility and roster requirements.

4.2 Emergency Substitutes (eSubs)

  • A player added to the roster more than 12 hours before the scheduled match time is considered an Emergency Substitute (eSub) for that match.
  • Teams may use a maximum of 1 eSub per game.
  • eSubs are not permitted in playoff matches.

For each game an eSub plays, the team incurs:

  • –3 first-phase bans for that game only.

The 12-hour threshold is determined by the scheduled match time listed on the official website.

4.3 Fearless Draft – Mid-Series Substitution Penalties

In a Fearless Draft series, additional penalties apply when a substitute enters mid-series.

If a substitute enters beginning in:

  • Game 3: 1 additional Fearless ban
  • Game 4: 2 additional Fearless bans
  • Game 5: 3 additional Fearless bans

These additional bans:

  • Are chosen by the opposing team
  • Apply only to the substituted player
  • Are applied before draft begins

These penalties stack with standard Fearless restrictions and any other applicable ban penalties.

4.4 Playoff Substitute Ban Penalties (Skyset Rule)

Regular substitutes are permitted in playoff matches.

Substitute ban penalties are determined by the total number of games the substitute has participated in during the season (including playoff games):

  • 0–1 games: –2 first-phase bans
  • 2–3 games: –1 first-phase ban
  • 4+ games: No ban penalty

One player designated in the Sub1 slot on the website is exempt from playoff substitute ban penalties.

eSubs are not permitted in playoff matches.

5. Match Operations

5.1 Match Scheduling

  • Matches are assigned to a designated match week.
  • Teams are responsible for scheduling their match through the official website.
  • The scheduled match time must be reported in Discord.
  • All match times listed on the website are considered official.

Teams are expected to make a good-faith effort to schedule within their assigned match week. Staff may intervene if scheduling disputes arise.

5.2 Punctuality & No-Shows

Teams must have five eligible players ready at the official scheduled match time.

Late penalties:

  • 10 minutes late: –1 first-phase ban
  • 15 minutes late: –2 first-phase bans
  • 20 minutes late: Game 1 forfeit
  • 30 minutes late: Match forfeit

Ban penalties apply to the first game played in the series.

5.3 Lobby & Draft Procedure

All matches must be played using Tournament Draft mode unless otherwise instructed by staff.

Side Selection

Regular Season

  • Game 1 side selection is predetermined.
  • The loser of the previous game selects side for the next game.

Playoffs

  • The higher seed selects side for Game 1.
  • The loser of the previous game selects side for the next game.

Draft penalties must be declared prior to draft start.

5.4 Game Start Requirement

Teams must start the game immediately after draft completion.

If a team delays the start:

  • 2 minutes: –1 first-phase ban
  • 7 minutes: –2 first-phase bans
  • 12 minutes: Game 1 forfeit
  • 22 minutes: Match forfeit

If Game 1 is forfeited due to this rule:

  • Game 2 must be played using the same completed draft
  • Game 3 will be played regardless of Game 2 result

5.5 Remakes

Remakes may occur if:

  • A game-breaking bug impacts competitive integrity
  • Server issues affect the match
  • A player cannot enter the game due to technical issues (e.g., Vanguard errors)

Staff must be notified immediately.

5.6 Pauses

  • Maximum 3 pauses per team per game
  • Maximum 15 minutes total pause time per team per game

Pauses may not occur during combat.

Champion combat includes:

  • Being affected by or affecting an enemy champion ability
  • Channeling certain abilities or summoner spells

Examples:

  • Shen — Stand United
  • Ornn — Call of the Forge God
  • Caitlyn — Ace in the Hole
  • Redemption activation
  • Teleport

5.7 Technical Issues

Players are responsible for:

  • Hardware
  • Internet connection
  • Game client

Technical issues do not automatically warrant remakes.

5.8 Forfeits

Match forfeits may occur due to:

  • Failure to appear
  • Inability to field five eligible players
  • Refusal to continue a series
  • Use of an ineligible player

Results:

  • Regular season: 2–0
  • Playoffs: 3–0

5.9 Reporting Results

Teams must report:

  • Post-game screenshot
  • Draft link

The Team Manager is responsible for reporting results in Discord.

5.10 Staff Authority

Staff rulings on match operations are final.

6. Competitive Conduct

6.1 Competitive Integrity

The following are prohibited:

  • Cheats, scripts, or unauthorized software
  • Account sharing
  • Smurfing
  • Match fixing
  • Team collusion

Violations may result in forfeits, suspensions, or removal from the league.

6.2 Team Responsibility

Team managers must verify player legitimacy and eligibility.

Failure to audit players may result in penalties.

6.3 Player Conduct

Players must behave respectfully toward:

  • Opponents
  • Teammates
  • Staff
  • Community members

Prohibited behavior includes:

  • Harassment
  • Discriminatory speech
  • Unsportsmanlike conduct
  • Exploiting rule loopholes

Attempting to exploit rule wording or technicalities for unfair advantage may result in penalties.

6.4 Exploits

Intentional use of bugs or exploits is prohibited.

Teams must notify staff immediately if an exploit occurs.

7. League Authority

7.1 Staff Authority

Staff enforce rules and maintain competitive integrity.

Possible penalties include:

  • Draft penalties
  • Game forfeits
  • Match forfeits
  • Player suspensions
  • Team removal

7.2 Rule Updates

Rules may be updated during the season if necessary.

Updates will be communicated through official channels.

7.3 Unforeseen Circumstances

Situations not covered in the rulebook will be resolved by staff to preserve fairness and competitive integrity.

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