Wildcards
A wildcard is a reserve entry that can be promoted to the main bracket when needed. Wildcards help balance odd team counts, fill gaps when teams withdraw, or provide backup entries for incomplete rounds.
Wildcards are an Advanced tier feature. They are not available in Basic or Demo licenses.
When to Use Wildcards
- Odd team count — When you have an odd number of teams and need to balance the bracket
- Last-minute withdrawals — A team drops out and you need a replacement
- Incomplete rounds — Some teams have fewer cards than others
- Waiting list — Teams registered as alternates that may be promoted
How Wildcards Work
Wildcards are marked as "reserve" entries that don't participate in normal matching unless explicitly promoted:
- Register a team normally with all its cards
- Mark the team or specific cards as wildcards
- Wildcards are excluded from initial schedule generation
- When needed, promote a wildcard to make it available for matching
- Regenerate the schedule to include the promoted entry
Creating a Wildcard
Register the team normally
Add the team and its cards like any other entry. Enter weights and all required information.
Mark as wildcard
Select the team or card, right-click, and choose "Mark as Wildcard". The entry will be visually marked with a wildcard indicator.
Generate schedule
When you generate a schedule, wildcards are automatically excluded. Only regular entries participate.
Promoting a Wildcard
To bring a wildcard into the main bracket:
Select the wildcard
In the Teams view, find the wildcard entry you want to promote.
Promote to main bracket
Right-click and choose "Promote Wildcard". The entry becomes a regular participant.
Regenerate schedule
Generate a new schedule to include the promoted entry in the matching algorithm.
Promoting a wildcard after fights have begun may require regenerating the schedule, which can change existing pairings. Consider the timing carefully.
Wildcards vs. Company Cards
Both wildcards and company cards can fill gaps, but they serve different purposes:
| Feature | Wildcard | Company Card |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Belongs to a real team/player | Belongs to the organization |
| Purpose | Reserve entry, may be promoted | Filler for odd counts |
| Scoring | Earns points when promoted | Usually doesn't count in standings |
| Availability | Advanced tier | Basic tier |
Best Practices
- Register wildcards early — Have backup entries ready before the tournament starts
- Weigh wildcards — Ensure wildcard cards have accurate weights for proper matching
- Communicate clearly — Let wildcard teams know their status and promotion criteria
- Promote before scheduling — Ideally promote wildcards before generating the schedule for that phase
Regional Terminology
Wildcards are known by different names:
- Comodín — Spanish (most common)
- Gallo comodín — When referring to the specific entry
- Reserva — Alternative term in some regions
Related Features
- Pacts — Force specific pairings
- Matching Modes — How entries are paired
- FAQ — Common questions