The Full Path

HOW TO COMPETE

Six steps from the public server to the Championship stage. Every step is earned. Nothing is purchased.

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Step 1 — Always Open
Join the Nexus Server

Download Minecraft Java Edition and connect to the Nexus server. Create or join a team of up to 5 players (3 starters + 2 subs). Play ranked matches to earn points and climb the Ladder — starting at Ember Division 3.

🔗 Server IP: play.nexus.gg  |  Version: Java 1.21+  |  Team size: 3+2 players

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Step 2 — End of Each Split
Reach Solar. Finish Top 5.

The Ladder has five tiers: Ember, Ascent, Apex, Mythic, and Solar. Solar is invite-only — reached by being promoted from Mythic Division 1. Once in Solar, compete for your position. At the end of each split, the top 5 Solar players receive a personal invitation to Rising.

⚠️ Solar is the gatekeeper. Top 5 is the only automatic route into the professional circuit. Players 6–10 remain in Solar. Players ranked 11+ face relegation back to Mythic D1.

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Step 3 — Invite Required
Compete in Rising

Rising is the first fully organized competitive stage. Invited players form or join teams of 3+2 and compete in Rising splits — structured weekly matches with standings tables. Rising uses Crystal Wars, Fortress Siege, and Bridge Wars.

Rising runs in two regional pools — North America and Europe. Splits last 6 weeks. At the end of a split, the top performers receive Regional stage placements.

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Step 4 — Performance Based
Regional Stage 1 or Stage 2

Based on your Rising performance and available slots in your region, you're placed into Regional Stage 1 or Stage 2. Stage 2 is more competitive — if it's full when you qualify, you enter Stage 1 and earn your way up through promotion.

Stage 1: Entry-level regional competition. Top finishers promote to Stage 2.
Stage 2: The highest regional tier. Competing here makes you eligible for event qualifiers.

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Step 5 — Stage 2 Teams Only
Event Qualifiers

Stage 2 teams become eligible for the upcoming event's qualifier — either a Nexus Summit or the Nexus Championship, depending on what's coming next on the schedule. The qualifier is a single-elimination or Swiss tournament. Finish in the top 10 to earn your spot at the main event.

Qualifiers run approximately 3 weeks before each major event. Each region has its own qualifier pool. Top 10 teams from each region's qualifier advance directly to the main event.

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Step 6 — The Goal
Compete at the Main Event

You're here. The main event features a group stage where all qualified teams are seeded and play round-robin. The top teams advance to playoffs: Quarterfinals → Semifinals → Grand Finals. Win the playoffs and you win the Nexus Championship or Summit trophy.

Group stage: All qualified teams play round-robin for seeding.
Playoffs: Top 8 from groups → Quarterfinals → Semifinals → Grand Finals.
All playoff matches are best of 3. Grand Finals is best of 5.

Ready to start?

Register your team and connect to the server to begin your climb.

Register Your Team →
Get Started

Register your team

1

Join Discord

All registration, team management, and official communication happens through the Nexus Discord server. Join and verify your account first.

2

Create Your Team

Use the /team create command in Discord to register your team name, tag, and roster. You need a minimum of 3 players to register. Add subs any time before a split begins.

3

Connect & Play

Connect to play.nexus.gg with your team. Your first 5 placement matches determine your starting division. You'll land somewhere in Ember or Ascent depending on performance.

Questions

Common questions

Can I play alone on the Ladder without a full team? +
Yes — the Ladder is individual. You earn points and climb tiers as a solo player. Teams are only required from Rising onward. Many players form teams naturally from their Ladder experience.
What happens if I get a Rising invite but don't have a full team yet? +
Invites are personal. You have 7 days to form or join a team before your invite expires. You can post in the Nexus Discord's #looking-for-team channel to find teammates who also received invites or are registered Rising players.
What if Stage 2 is full when I qualify from Rising? +
You'll be placed into Stage 1 of your region. Stage 1 runs promotion matches at the end of each split — top finishers move up to Stage 2. It's one extra step but the path remains open.
How often do qualifiers happen? +
There are three qualifiers per season — one before each Nexus Summit and one before the Championship. If you qualify for one, you're automatically eligible for the next if you maintain your Stage 2 status.
Can substitutes qualify for Rising alongside the starters? +
Rising invites are given to individual players based on their personal Solar Ladder ranking. Once invited, any player in the team (starter or sub) participates in the same Rising experience. Subs can and often do start matches in Rising depending on team strategy.
Are there age restrictions? +
Players must be at least 13 years old to participate in the Ladder. For Rising and above, the minimum age is 16. Players under 18 in official events require parental/guardian consent documentation.