If you’ve spent hours grinding ranked Apex and pulled off enough 3-kill clips to fill a TikTok feed, you’ve probably wondered if you have what it takes to compete against other top players. A lot of casual players write off competitive play as something only streamers and full-time pros can access, but that’s far from the truth. Before you sign up for your first event, though, you need a clear answer to how do Apex Legends tournaments work, so you don’t show up unaware of rule sets, team requirements, or scoring structures that can make or break your first run.
How Do Apex Legends Tournaments Work? Core Format Breakdowns
Nearly all official and community Apex tournaments follow a squad-based 3v3 structure, as that’s the core game mode Respawn designed for competitive play. If you’re used to only playing ranked, the first big difference you’ll notice when learning how do Apex Legends tournaments work is that pacing is far slower, with most teams avoiding fights until the ring closes to the third or fourth circle. Exact formats vary based on the event host and skill tier, but most fall into one of three common categories:
- ALGS-style point system: Teams earn points for both kills and final placement, with the first team to hit a designated point threshold and win a game taking the entire event. This is the standard for all official Respawn-hosted competitions, and it’s been adopted by most large third-party event hosts as well.
- Elimination bracket format: Common for smaller amateur events, teams are seeded based on prior ranked performance, and lose their spot after a set number of losses, with the final remaining teams competing for the top prize. These events are usually shorter than ALGS-style events, running 2 to 3 hours total instead of full days.
- Community open format: No rank or experience requirements, these events are often hosted by Twitch streamers or local gaming groups, with relaxed rules and smaller prizes like gift cards or in-game skins. Many of these events allow free agent sign-ups if you don’t have a full 3-person team to compete with.
Most amateur events run 4 to 6 games total, while pro level events like the ALGS Championship can run across 3 full days, with multiple groups of teams competing to qualify for the final lobby. You’ll almost always need to connect your Apex account to the tournament hosting platform to verify your rank and account level before you can sign up, so make sure you have your login details handy when you register.
What You Need to Sign Up for Your First Tournament
A lot of new players assume they need to be Predator rank to compete, but that’s only true for invite-only pro events. For most amateur opens, the only hard requirements are a level 50 Apex account, access to the platform the tournament is hosted on, and a full team if the event doesn’t offer free agent pairing. You don’t need to have prior competitive experience to enter 90% of amateur Apex events, which is why they’re such a great way to test your skills against players outside your usual ranked lobbies.
Most event hosts will post a full rulebook 3 to 7 days before the event starts, and it’s non-negotiable that you read through it. Common rules you might miss include no use of certain character abilities during endgame ring closes, no communication with players outside your squad, and mandatory stream delay if you’re streaming your participation. Failure to follow even minor rules can get your team disqualified without a refund, if you paid an entry fee, so don’t skip that step.
Entry fees for amateur events usually sit between $5 and $25 per team, with prize pools that scale based on the number of entries. Free entry events usually have smaller prizes, but they’re a low-stakes way to get your feet wet without risking any money. If you’re nervous about your first event, start with a free community open to get used to the format before you pay to enter a higher-stakes competition.
How Scoring and Prize Payouts Work for Most Events
Scoring varies a little between events, but the vast majority follow a similar structure to the official ALGS scoring system to keep things consistent for players who compete across multiple events. Placement points make up the bulk of your score, with first place earning 12 to 15 points, and each lower position earning 1 less point down to 0 points for 20th place. Kill points are usually 1 point per kill, no matter when you get them during the game.
Some higher-stakes events award extra points for multi-kill streaks or wiping full enemy squads, so always check the scoring breakdown before you start playing. It’s not uncommon for events to adjust scoring to encourage more aggressive play, so you don’t want to go into an event assuming you know the rules without double checking.
Most events pay out to the top 3 to 5 teams, with first place taking between 50% and 70% of the total prize pool, second taking 20% to 25%, and third taking 10% to 15%. For large pro events like the ALGS Championship, the total prize pool can hit $2 million or more, with the first place team taking home $500,000 or more. I’ve seen small local events that payout in custom Apex merch or gaming accessories instead of cash, which is a fun alternative if you’re just playing for fun instead of trying to make a career out of competitive play. Payouts are almost always sent via PayPal or platform credit within 72 hours of the event ending, as long as your team doesn’t get flagged for cheating or rule breaks.
Pro Tips to Succeed in Your First Apex Tournament
Even if you’re a consistent Masters ranked player, competitive tournaments feel completely different from your usual public or ranked lobbies. Players are far more coordinated, and teams will play far more strategically instead of pushing every fight they see. The biggest mistake new competitive players make is bringing their usual ranked playstyle into a tournament, which almost always leads to early exits and low scores.
First, practice with your team for at least 10 hours before the event. You don’t want to be figuring out your team’s playstyle mid-tournament, so run scrims or ranked games together to lock in your roles, callout system, and looting routes. Decide ahead of time who will play support, who will be the entry fragger, and who will make final callouts for rotations and fights, so there’s no confusion mid-game.
Second, don’t chase kills for extra points. It’s tempting to go for that extra kill to pad your score, but a single bad push can knock your team out of the game early and cost you far more placement points than you’d earn from the kill. Prioritize placement over kills in 90% of scenarios, especially in the first few games of the event, because consistent top 10 finishes will earn you more total points than a single game with 10 kills and a 15th place finish.
Last, keep your cool if you have a bad first game. It’s normal to mess up your first event, and even pro teams have off games that cost them points. Don’t tilt and start playing recklessly for the rest of the event, just reset between games and focus on the next match. I’ve seen teams finish dead last in the first game of an event and end up taking first place overall, so don’t write off your chances after one bad run.
Competitive Apex is one of the most exciting spaces in modern gaming esports, with opportunities for players of every skill level to compete and win prizes, no matter how much experience you have. Whether you’re looking to play in small local events for fun or work your way up to the ALGS stage, taking the time to understand how do Apex Legends tournaments work is the first step to a great competitive experience. You don’t need to be a pro to have fun, so grab your squad, sign up for a low-stakes open event, and see how you stack up against other Apex players in your area.