We've launched a massive update to our Beyblade X rulebook that integrates recent official rule changes, answers many of the most common questions we see about the rules, and is completely restructured to be easier to read and follow.
Below, I'll cover some of the biggest changes from the previous rulebook. Nearly every word has been rewritten and there are many new additions (including tons of illustrations!), so I strongly recommend opening up the new rulebook now to follow along!
Match types have been renamed to battle types (such as 1on1 and 3on3); match formats have been renamed to match types (such as 4-point or best of 3 [4-point]).
WBO Deck has been renamed Counter Battle. This new name avoids confusion with the "Deck" equipment and better highlights what makes the battle type unique: the ability to counter the opponent's selected Bey with any choice of your own.
Out-of-play has been renamed to finished. While still not an official term, we believe this term better aligns with official terminology and should avoid some confusion we've seen around when the term applies.
Launch errors have each been given a unique name to better distinguish them. In addition to launch errors, failed launches, launch interference, and mid-air collision categories have been added as reasons to restart the battle.
None of these rules are new, and they all align with the official B4 rules. We've simply consolidated everything into a defined space that's easier to understand.
Launch Interference: We've added detailed rules regarding launch interference, including re-introducing defined sides of the launch area for each blader. (Fun fact: we had this in the past, but removed it for Beyblade X to align with their official rules... before they added them back.)
Launch Position: We've also defined the area a blader can remain in while launching based on the official rules, which we continue to refer to as their launch position.
Accessibility & Accomodations: To help bladers better understand their options, we've added an "Accessibility & Accomodations" section under Ready for Launch. Not every blader may be able to comply with the rules in their exacting detail, and we want to ensure bladers know that adjustments are possible so that they can play.
Updated "Battle Start" Definition: The battle now starts when both Beys touch the stadium after passing through the launch area, versus touching the stadium body. This means that touching the inner walls of the stadium also qualifies. This change aligns with the official B4 rules.
Penalty for Touching Beys: Previously, if a blader touched Beys before the battle result was confirmed by the judge, it was up to the judge's discretion if they immediately lost the match. Now if a blader touches a Bey before the battle result is confirmed, their opponent receives 3 points (the maximum possible points they could earn if they won the battle) and the battle is restarted. It's very, very important to not touch Beys before the battle result is confirmed, as the outcome of the battle could change at any moment!
Forbidding Discussion of Position Selection: We've clarified that bladers cannot discuss position selection at any point. This includes stuff like, "you good with this side?" We've seen bladers try to pressure the selecting blader into advantageous outcomes, and this rule is aimed at preventing that.
Clarifying Deck Building Rules: We've included visual examples of legal and illegal decks, along with clarifying rules around whether parts are considered the same.
Registered Deck Optional Rules: The optional rule "Locked Bey list" has been split into "registered deck" and "registered side deck." Side decks are no longer required to lock lists for an event!
Removal of P3C1 Battle Type: This battle type has been extremely unpopular, resulting in a lack of data we can use to understand the competitive integrity of the format.
Locking Best of 3 to 4 points: Our goal with best of 3 is to provide an extended match type -- which we know players love, based on the popularity of 5-and-7-point matches -- while still aligning with the point pacing of the official rules.
Unofficial Launcher Accessory Guidelines: To ensure a fair play environment while still allowing bladers to use unofficial launcher accessories, we've updated our guidelines to clarify which types of unofficial accessories are not allowed.
Updated Rules on Paint: As we announced in September, our rules have been updated to mostly forbid the use of painted blades. Our new guidelines now largely align with the official B4 guidelines on paint as enforced in real-world events. Our previous rules around painted blades are now available with some adjustments as an optional rule.
"Why does the WBO have its own rulebook?"
Contrary to previous generations, we have an official rulebook from Takara Tomy in English (although updates are rarely posted online). Yet we see from the questions organizers, bladers, and judges ask that it does not provide the level of detail required to effectively organize and judge events independently. And we see that how rules are enforced in the real world by B4 judges does not always directly align with what's written.
While we do make changes to the official rules, in the vast majority of cases, our rulebook seeks to clarify the official rules -- not dramatically alter them.
We've added a new resource, WBO Vs. B4 Rules: What's Different?, to help the community better understand which rules are actual changes versus clarifications, and why we make changes when we do.
Ultimately, our goal with the WBO Beyblade X rulebook exists to support fan organizers and judges in creating a great experience for bladers and having the smoothest possible experience for themselves, while ensuring their event meets standards of competitive integrity and fairness.
Thank you for all of your support and feedback that have helped us build this rulebook! We look forward to rolling out future updates at a faster pace, and continuing to incorporate your feedback.
A final note: due to this update, judge applications are currently paused and will reopen in early December. Spend some time learning the new rules while we complete our updates to the judge test!
Below, I'll cover some of the biggest changes from the previous rulebook. Nearly every word has been rewritten and there are many new additions (including tons of illustrations!), so I strongly recommend opening up the new rulebook now to follow along!
Terminology Changes
The previous Match Phases and Rules of Battle sections have been reworked into two distinct phases: Match Setup and Battle.
OLD
Match Phases
Rules of Battle
Match Phases
- Starting the Match
- Launch Position
- Bey Selection
- Bey Presentation
- Battle
- Set Result
Rules of Battle
- Launching
- Starting and Ending Battle
- Scoring Finishes
- Voided and Replayed Battles
- Regarding Judge Decisions
NEW
Match Setup
Battle
Match Setup
- Match Start
- Select Position
- Select Beys
- Judge Check
Battle
- Present Beys
- Ready for Launch
- Launch
- Resolve Battle
- Battle Result
- Restart Battle
Match types have been renamed to battle types (such as 1on1 and 3on3); match formats have been renamed to match types (such as 4-point or best of 3 [4-point]).
WBO Deck has been renamed Counter Battle. This new name avoids confusion with the "Deck" equipment and better highlights what makes the battle type unique: the ability to counter the opponent's selected Bey with any choice of your own.
Out-of-play has been renamed to finished. While still not an official term, we believe this term better aligns with official terminology and should avoid some confusion we've seen around when the term applies.
Launch errors have each been given a unique name to better distinguish them. In addition to launch errors, failed launches, launch interference, and mid-air collision categories have been added as reasons to restart the battle.
Clarifying Rules Regarding Launching
Launch Range: We've introduced a new concept, launch range, encompassing all of the criteria needs to meet for a Bey to be ready to launch:- directly above or within the launch area
- with at least part of your Bey above the opening of the launch area
- with the top of the Bey no higher than 5 cm/2 inches above the stadium cover’s highest point
- with the Bey not tilted more than 70° in any direction
None of these rules are new, and they all align with the official B4 rules. We've simply consolidated everything into a defined space that's easier to understand.
Launch Interference: We've added detailed rules regarding launch interference, including re-introducing defined sides of the launch area for each blader. (Fun fact: we had this in the past, but removed it for Beyblade X to align with their official rules... before they added them back.)
Launch Position: We've also defined the area a blader can remain in while launching based on the official rules, which we continue to refer to as their launch position.
Accessibility & Accomodations: To help bladers better understand their options, we've added an "Accessibility & Accomodations" section under Ready for Launch. Not every blader may be able to comply with the rules in their exacting detail, and we want to ensure bladers know that adjustments are possible so that they can play.
Updates to Rules Regarding Battle
Finished State Definitions: We've added definitions for spinning, burst, and unable to return to the battle zone that should address many of the most common questions people have about these states. While the official B4 rules leave "unable to return to the battle zone" entirely to the judge's discretion, we've added stricter guidelines based on when B4 judges are actually expected to make those calls.Updated "Battle Start" Definition: The battle now starts when both Beys touch the stadium after passing through the launch area, versus touching the stadium body. This means that touching the inner walls of the stadium also qualifies. This change aligns with the official B4 rules.
Penalty for Touching Beys: Previously, if a blader touched Beys before the battle result was confirmed by the judge, it was up to the judge's discretion if they immediately lost the match. Now if a blader touches a Bey before the battle result is confirmed, their opponent receives 3 points (the maximum possible points they could earn if they won the battle) and the battle is restarted. It's very, very important to not touch Beys before the battle result is confirmed, as the outcome of the battle could change at any moment!
Forbidding Discussion of Position Selection: We've clarified that bladers cannot discuss position selection at any point. This includes stuff like, "you good with this side?" We've seen bladers try to pressure the selecting blader into advantageous outcomes, and this rule is aimed at preventing that.
Clarifying Deck Building Rules: We've included visual examples of legal and illegal decks, along with clarifying rules around whether parts are considered the same.
Registered Deck Optional Rules: The optional rule "Locked Bey list" has been split into "registered deck" and "registered side deck." Side decks are no longer required to lock lists for an event!
Removal of P3C1 Battle Type: This battle type has been extremely unpopular, resulting in a lack of data we can use to understand the competitive integrity of the format.
Locking Best of 3 to 4 points: Our goal with best of 3 is to provide an extended match type -- which we know players love, based on the popularity of 5-and-7-point matches -- while still aligning with the point pacing of the official rules.
Updates to Equipment Rules
RA/Rubber Accel Wear Guidelines: One of the most common questions we see both bladers and judges ask is: "Is this RA legal?" We took a fresh RA and wore it down across hundreds of launches to create a visual guideline for RA wear. Official B4 events are notoriously strict about RA wear, often requiring it to retain most of its original flat shape. Our guidelines are more lenient, but still forbid the use of RA that have been worn into a ball-like shape.Unofficial Launcher Accessory Guidelines: To ensure a fair play environment while still allowing bladers to use unofficial launcher accessories, we've updated our guidelines to clarify which types of unofficial accessories are not allowed.
Updated Rules on Paint: As we announced in September, our rules have been updated to mostly forbid the use of painted blades. Our new guidelines now largely align with the official B4 guidelines on paint as enforced in real-world events. Our previous rules around painted blades are now available with some adjustments as an optional rule.
WBO Vs. B4 Rules: What's Different?
This update builds on the Beyblade X rulebook we launched earlier in February 2025, which itself was a massive step forward from our previous versions. When working on it, I had a question in the back of my mind:"Why does the WBO have its own rulebook?"
Contrary to previous generations, we have an official rulebook from Takara Tomy in English (although updates are rarely posted online). Yet we see from the questions organizers, bladers, and judges ask that it does not provide the level of detail required to effectively organize and judge events independently. And we see that how rules are enforced in the real world by B4 judges does not always directly align with what's written.
While we do make changes to the official rules, in the vast majority of cases, our rulebook seeks to clarify the official rules -- not dramatically alter them.
We've added a new resource, WBO Vs. B4 Rules: What's Different?, to help the community better understand which rules are actual changes versus clarifications, and why we make changes when we do.
Ultimately, our goal with the WBO Beyblade X rulebook exists to support fan organizers and judges in creating a great experience for bladers and having the smoothest possible experience for themselves, while ensuring their event meets standards of competitive integrity and fairness.
Thank you for all of your support and feedback that have helped us build this rulebook! We look forward to rolling out future updates at a faster pace, and continuing to incorporate your feedback.
A final note: due to this update, judge applications are currently paused and will reopen in early December. Spend some time learning the new rules while we complete our updates to the judge test!
![[Image: sadistic-ado-usseewa.webp]](https://i.postimg.cc/x877rk7t/sadistic-ado-usseewa.webp)
