Competitive Mode

This article is about the game mode. For other uses, please see Competitive (disambiguation).

“

At least you didn't disappoint me more than usual.

Click to listen

— The Administrator

”

Competitive Mode is an official game mode released for Team Fortress 2. The mode is accessible only by having a Premium TF2 account and a phone number associated with the Steam account, however purchasing a Competitive Matchmaking Pass from the Mann Co. Store also grants access. If a player is eligible for Competitive Matchmaking but has a VAC ban on their account, the only way to get access is to buy a pass from the Mann Co. Store. Like regular matches, there are no bans to any weapon and/or class that can be used.

Gameplay

Competitive Mode is a more refined version of the Casual game modes, but is much less chaotic and random in nature than Public Matches. Each player is able to level up their rank depending on their performance and the outcome of the match, however it is also possible to lose rank levels, for example by not performing above average and losing a match. Once players join the game, they will have the option to mark themselves as "ready" to start the match (Similar to the Mann vs. Machine game mode) once enough players have joined. Once a player marks themselves as ready, a timer will start counting down to the match start. Players leaving a Competitive match mid-game receive a Matchmaking Cooldown punishment which prevents them from playing Matchmaking during a limited time. Each repeated offense increases this timer.

Ranks

Each player has a rank which can be leveled up by performing well in competitive matches. Players start at the rank "Fresh Meat" and can level the rank up as they win more matches.

Rank Icon	Rank Name
	1: Fresh Meat
	2: Troublemaker
	3: Small-Time Thug
	4: Local Enforcer
	5: Problem Solver
	6: Hired Gun
	7: Mercenary
	8: Field Mercenary
	9: Contract Killer
	10: Master Persuader
	11: Headhunter
	12: Liquidator
	13: Executioner
	14: Kill Consultant
	15: Raging Sociopath
	16: Expert Assassin
	17: Elite Exterminator
	18: Death Merchant

Changes from Standard Multiplayer

Competitive Mode has a round-based match system with alternate announcer voice lines, an interactive winner's screen, and features fewer game modes than Casual lobbies. It also boasts a more exclusive and truly skill-based gameplay that revolves around superior strategy, positioning, and team communications over seemingly random engagements.

The current available game modes are Control Points, King of the Hill, and Payload on a limited number of maps.

Random critical hits and random bullet spread is turned off.

Competitive Mode currently supports 6v6.

Stress Tests

The competitive beta mode was available to premium players when a stress test event was active if they met the requirements above. In order to participate, users needed to be in the official group and have the Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator enabled, as well as have a Competitive Matchmaking Beta Pass. When a stress test was active, a "Play Competitive" button would appear on the main menu with a Stress Test badge when the test began.

Maps

Main article: List of maps

Template:Competitive Mode maps

Update history

July 2, 2015 Patch #1 (Gun Mettle Update)

[Undocumented] Added the Competitive Matchmaking Beta Pass.

February 29, 2016 Patch

Added content and features necessary to begin limited public testing of the TF2 Competitive Mode beta.
- For more information on how you can participate in testing, please visit https://steamcommunity.com/groups/tfcompetitive
- Updated several maps to support competitive mode.

March 3, 2016 Patch

Updated cp_foundry to support the Competitive mode beta.

March 10, 2016 Patch

Updated content and features for the TF2 Competitive Mode beta.
- For more information on how you can participate in testing, please visit https://steamcommunity.com/groups/tfcompetitive

March 17, 2016 Patch

This update will most likely cause issues with custom UIs and HUDs. We suggest disabling them if you experience any problems.
Updated content and features for the TF2 Competitive Mode beta.
- For more information on how you can participate in testing, please visit https://steamcommunity.com/groups/tfcompetitive
[Undocumented] Updated the backpack icon for the Competitive Matchmaking Beta Pass. (Previously a Name Tag.)
[Undocumented] Added a backpack icon for an unused Competitive Matchmaking Beta Pass Gift.

March 18, 2016 Patch

[Undocumented] Converted existing Competitive Matchmaking Beta Passes to Vintage quality.
[Undocumented] Added a general purpose Competitive Matchmaking Beta Pass.
[Undocumented] Added the Competitive Matchmaking Beta Invite.

March 22, 2016 Patch

Fixed bugs for the TF2 Competitive Mode beta.
- For more information on how you can participate in testing, please visit https://steamcommunity.com/groups/tfcompetitive
Fixed round timer not being displayed outside of competitive mode.

March 24, 2016 Patch

Updated content and features for the TF2 Competitive Mode beta.
- For more information on how you can participate in testing, please visit https://steamcommunity.com/groups/tfcompetitive
Actually fixed the round timer not showing up in non-competitive games.

March 29, 2016 Patch

Updated content and features for the TF2 Competitive Mode beta.
- For more information on how you can participate in testing, please visit https://steamcommunity.com/groups/tfcompetitive
- Fixed seeing incorrect rank icons during the match summary.
- Fixed team medal totals not matching the total medals handed out during the match summary.
- Increased the rate at which medals are revealed during the match summary.

April 25, 2016 Patch #1

Updated content and features for the TF2 Competitive Mode beta.
- For more information on how you can participate in testing, please visit https://steamcommunity.com/groups/tfcompetitive
- Added a ten second countdown to the beginning of each round after the first.
- Added cp_gorge to the map rotation to test attack/defense format (using stopwatch mode).
[Undocumented] Removed cp_granary and cp_foundry from the Competitive Mode rotation.

April 26, 2016 Patch

Fixed the round timer not showing up in non-competitive games.

July 7, 2016 Patch #1 (Meet Your Match Update)

Competitive Mode is no longer in beta.
Added new sound vo files for Competitive Mode.
Added check to prevent players with P-REC loaded from participating in matchmaking.
- Prevents P-REC crashing which results in players receiving abandon penalties.
Fixed class change notifications appearing to the enemy team for a period of time after teams swap sides in Competitive Mode.
[Undocumented] Added the Competitive Matchmaking Pass.

July 9, 2016 Patch

Updated ConVar zoom_sensitivity_ratio so its value is saved across sessions and it can be adjusted in Competitive Mode.

July 28, 2016 Patch

Abandon penalty times are now longer for first-time abandoners with a low number of games played.
Abandoning a game now results in significant rank loss. This loss is always greater than losing a given match.
Fixed an issue where players could drop and reconnect too many times before triggering an abandon.

August 16, 2016 Patch

Players in the first tier of ranks (1-6) now lose substantially fewer rank points on match loss.
Players with high win/loss ratios in recent matches now earn bonus rank points in order to accelerate their progress toward a more appropriate rank.

August 29, 2016 Patch

Fixed Competitive mode badges incorrectly displaying the level 1 badge when at max level.

September 12, 2016 Patch

Fixed an exploit related to not respawning in the spawn room at the beginning of Competitive Mode matches.

September 27, 2016 Patch

Competitive matches no longer terminate when any player abandons the match.
- Bots will now fill in for players who have abandoned, or temporarily disconnected from, Competitive matches.
- Matches that finish at an advantage or disadvantage (e.g. 6v5 or 5v6, not counting any bots) will now result in smaller or larger skill rating adjustments for advantaged wins or disadvantaged losses, respectively.
- Competitive matches that lose more than one player per team will keep the current behavior of ending the match.
- Players who abandon Competitive matches still receive a large skill rating penalty and Competitive matchmaking cooldown, regardless of whether a bot was allowed to take their place.

October 12, 2016 Patch

Players will now be randomly selected to participate in a survey at the end of Competitive matches.

October 21, 2016 Patch

The Competitive maps list has been updated.
- Added pl_badwater and ctf_turbine.
- Disabled cp_granary and cp_badlands.
- Maps will continue to enter and exit this list over time.
Increased the matchmaker's priority of matches with imbalanced teams.
- This should reduce the occurrence of extended imbalanced matches when multiple players leave.