About

Judges are the backbone of any competitive scene, ensuring that a tournament is held to the highest standards of integrity. Judges are community leaders who look out for the welfare of players and create a welcoming environment.

The Bushiroad Official Judge Program aims to improve the quality of our tournaments by ensuring our judges have in-depth knowledge about our games and tournaments while also rewarding our judges to ensure their efforts are worthwhile.

Bushiroad Judge Program

  • Must be at least 18 years of age to apply.
  • Must have an active Discord account to communicate between other judges and/or the tournament organizer.

Application Overview

Take the online test during an open testing period.

Upon passing the judge test, you will be awarded the title of Provisional Judge. You will also be granted access to the Official Judge Program Discord server.

Provisional Judges are eligible to be hired as a Floor Judge for a Regional Tournament Event. For more information, please look out for announcements in the Judge Discord server or our social media.

As Judges staff at more Regional Tournaments events and demonstrate their knowledge and work ethic, they will be given opportunities to be promoted further within the Judge Program for their respective game(s).

Please check with Bushiroad USA Inc. (North & Latin America) or your local distributor (Asia & Oceania and Europe) for any concerns regarding your judge status or interviews.

Judge Test Application

Palworld OFFICIAL CARD GAME Judge Test

Click the link below to get started:

[ Start Palworld Judge Test ]

Judge Levels

Judges who are knowledgeable in game rulings but have yet to judge at a regional event. A Provisional Judge will have to refer to a Level 1 or higher judge for any matters regarding floor rules or infractions.

Provisional Judges who are selected to and have successfully judged at least 1 regional event. After evaluation, they will be promoted to Level 0 without an interview.

Judges who are knowledgeable in both game and floor rulings. A Level 1 Judge will act as a mentor to Provisional Judges by sharing their experience and knowledge with them.

Judges who are knowledgeable in both game and floor rulings, and have demonstrated expertise and experience in multiple regional events. They should also have demonstrated the ability to build and lead a team of judges. Level 2 Judges will also be given an opportunity to be a head judge for official tournaments.

Note: All promotions are subject to evaluation and approval by supervising Bushiroad Staff.

Promotion Path

  • Passed the online test.
  • Upon completion of the first regional event, all Provisional Judges will be evaluated internally and promoted to Level 0 without the need for an interview.

  • Judged at least 2 regional events as a Level 0 Judge (must be across 2 different circuits).
  • Passed the floor rules test.
  • A Bushiroad staff will conduct the interview where available or may appoint a trusted Judge or Tournament Organizer to be the interviewer.

  • Scored 13/15 or higher on the most recent online test.
  • Judged for at least 2 regional events as a Level 1 Judge (must be across 2 different circuits).
  • Applicants must be interviewed at a regional event that that they are working for as an Official Judge.
    • Interview can be arranged as early as the end of their qualifying shift as a Level 1 Judge.
  • A Bushiroad staff will conduct the interview where available or may appoint a trusted Judge or Tournament Organizer to be the interviewer.

Code of Conduct

  • The role of the judge is to facilitate correct and fair gameplay. Penalizing players should not be the first priority.
  • Judges are expected to behave in a professional manner while representing themselves as a judge.
  • Judges should be fair and honest at all times.
  • Judges are expected to treat everyone with respect.
  • Judges are expected to be punctual and should inform the event organiser if they will be late or unable to attend an event they are scheduled to work.
  • Judges should always assume goodwill and reasonable intent unless proven otherwise.
  • Judges should be honest in admitting errors and inform the Head Judge or Tournament Organizer immediately if they become aware that they have made a mistake.
  • Judges should create a welcoming environment and never encourage bullying or harassment.
  • Judges are not to solicit or promote any goods, services, or content without prior approval from Bushiroad staff.
  • Judges should never share confidential information from Bushiroad without direct consent, including any content from the Official Judge Program Discord server.
  • Judges should avoid making public negative comments or statements towards Bushiroad, its products and/or properties, its policies, or its players, while representing themselves as an Official Judge.
  • Judges should avoid making remarks about competing companies, their products and/or properties, their policies, or their players, while representing themselves as an Official Judge.
  • Judges should cooperate and work with fellow Judges and/or Tournament Staff to ensure a smooth tournament experience for all parties involved.

Judge Attire

  •  Official Judge polo (only available to those who are hired to judge a regional event).

  • Pants (jeans, slacks, etc.) in good condition (no frays or torn holes).
  • Shorts and/or skirts that extend beyond the knee cap. Shorter lengths may potentially be disallowed from work.
  • Comfortable shoes (sportswear, sneakers, etc.) with proper arch support to walk and stand for long periods of time are preferred. No sandals or open footwear, or footwear that makes it hard to walk or stand for long periods of time.

  • Avoid clothing or accessories that prominently display inappropriate imagery or intellectual properties from competing companies.
  • Avoid other accessories that are excessively large or distracting.

  • Additional event-specific clothing or accessories (hats, lanyards/badges, vests, etc.) may be provided by Tournament Staff for Judges depending on location.

Final approval of Judge attire is determined by the Tournament Organizer on-site.

Rewards

Judges will gain Judge Points upon judging any official Bushiroad sanctioned tournaments. Judge Points can be used to redeem items.

After judging at a local event, judges are to fill up the tournament report form and have it verified by the shop owner before emailing it to us at sg_tour2@bushiroad.com. The tournament report form can be accessed here.

Judge Points will be automatically calculated for judging at regional events.

Judge Points Calculations

Number of Judge Points earned for official Bushiroad sanctioned tournaments

Bushiroad Official Judge Event Report

This form is only intended for Bushiroad Official Judges to fill out and submit after judging a Cardfight!! Vanguard, Weiß Schwarz, Shadowverse: Evolve, Palworld OFFICIAL CARD GAME Bushiroad Official Tournament.

Form response submission link below:
Bushiroad Official Judge Event Report.

 

Regional Events 7,500 points per day

Total of 15,000 points per weekend.
Judges also receive 1 non-foil judge promo card per event.

Please take note of the new Judge Point Multiplier:

  • Provisionals/Level 0 : 1.0x
  • Level 1: 1.1x
  • Level 2: 1.3x
  • Head Judges: 1.5x



 

Special Shop Tournaments 1,000 points

List of applicable tournaments are as follows:

  • Bushiroad Championship Series Shop Challenges
  • Cardfight!! Vanguard Constructed Cup
  • Weiß Schwarz Meister Cup
  • Shadowverse: Evolve Showdown Challenges
  • Palworld Grand Challengers Cup

 

Monthly Shop Tournaments 100 points per day

No points can be gained from judging Sneak Preview events.

 

Bushiroad Championship Series 26/27 - 10,000 points

Cardfight!! Vanguard: Booster Pack 16 Parallactic Dawn

Weiß Schwarz: Booster Pack GODDESS OF VICTORY NIKKE Vol.2

Shadowverse: Evolve: Combined Set Eightfold Retribution & Omens and Heirs

Palworld OFFICIAL CARD GAME: Booster Pack Dawn of Palpagos

 

While supplies last.

Bushiroad Championship Series 26/27 Judge Compensation - 5,000 points

Please note that the Cardfight!! Vanguard Judge Sleeves is distributed for Compensation only and is not redeemable from points.

 

Cardfight!! Vanguard Judge Sleeves

Fairy Circle

To be announced

ESOUL-009

 

While supplies last.

Bushiroad Championship Series 26/27 Judge Redemption - 10,000 points

Please note that Cardfight!! Vanguard, Weiß Schwarz and Palworld OFFICIAL CARD GAME promo cards are limited to 4 copies per Judge.

Shadowverse: Evolve promo cards are limited to 3 copies per Judge.

 

Elementeria Sanctitude

Arisa, Verdant Archer

To be announced

ESOUL-010

 

While supplies last.

Judge Playmat 2026 - 25,000 points

Please note that judge playmats are limited to 1 piece per Judge across all types.

Requirement: Judge at least 1 Bushiroad Summer Fest and 1 Bushiroad Championship Series event

Cardfight Vanguard!! Judge Playmat
Weiß Schwarz Judge Playmat
Shadowverse: Evolve Judge Playmat

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you may try again during the next round of judge tests or interviews.

Participants who have not previously been certified as a judge are not able to know their score or receive feedback on what questions were answered incorrectly.

We encourage participants to self-study and deepen their understanding of the Advanced TCG Floor Rules and Comprehensive Rules for their respective game in order to achieve a passing score for their next online test.

Participants who have previously passed a Judge Test will be able to review their test at a Regional Tournament Event by an authorized Bushiroad Staff Member. The availability for test review will vary. Please inquire with the Tournament Organizer for more information.

You may contact Bushiroad USA Inc. (North & Latin America) or your local distributor (Asia & Oceania and Europe) to reschedule your interview.

A judge is considered active if they have passed an online test within the last year. “Active” status begins on the date of email confirmation.

If a judge fails to retake (and pass) the test within a year, they will be removed as an active judge.

If a judge fails the test within the year of active judge status, their judge status will be placed into the “Probation” status.

If an inactive judge wishes to resume being a part of the judge program and is reinstated after their renewal period, they will have to start from the Provisional level to ensure that they are aware of any new rulings that may have changed while they were inactive.

A judge can be put into “Probation” status on a case-by-case basis (e.g. failing to uphold responsibilities as detailed in the Code of Conduct, etc.).

“Probation” status prohibits a judge from judging physical events until they pass the next online test.

Bushiroad Floor Rules can be found here. Please check the respective links for the comprehensive rules for Cardfight!! Vanguard, Weiß Schwarz, Shadowerse: Evolve, Godzilla Card Game, hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME, and Palworld OFFICIAL CARD GAME.