Summary
If you register for a tournament with your Primary Team, only members of that team can play for you. You can't bring in an outside substitute for a one-off event. If you might need one, register with another team instead.
This article covers how Primary Teams work in tournaments, for both players and tournament organizers. Before you register:
- Check who's playing for you in the tournament.
- If everyone is on your Primary Team, register with your Primary Team.
- If you might need anyone from outside it, create or use another team.
- If your Primary Team is playing in a League season (ESEA/FACEIT League), check the League roster rules before:
- Adding anyone to your Primary Team.
- Leaving your Primary Team to join another one.
General Questions
What is a Primary Team?
A Primary Team is your main team for a game on FACEIT, shown on your profile overview. Primary Teams are currently available for Counter-Strike 2 and Overwatch.
- You can be on one Primary Team per game. To join another, leave your current one first.
- Roster limits are aligned with the League format:
- 5 players, 6 substitutes and 1 coach in CS2,
- 5 players, 5 substitutes and 1 coach in Overwatch.
- Every member is on the roster. There's no separate member list.
If your Primary Team is signed up to ESEA League (CS2) or FACEIT League (Overwatch), anyone you add to the team will be also in your League roster.
-> For the full overview, read What is a Primary team?
How do I get a Primary Team?
Through League sign-up. When you register for ESEA League (CS2) or FACEIT League (Overwatch), you're asked to create a new Primary Team or turn one of your existing teams into one.
Which teams can I enter a tournament with?
- Your Primary Team:
- Only members of your Primary Team can be on the tournament roster
- Best when you're playing with your regular roster
- Another team you're already in (Non-Primary/Premade Team):
- Any team you're on that isn't your Primary Team
- Primary Team rules don't apply to it, any friend on FACEIT can be invited from team page
- A temporary team:
- Allows you to gather a one-off roster for the specific tournament, with players invited by link
- Anyone can join by going to the link, including players from other Primary Teams
- Best for playing with a one-off roster
Can I be on a Primary Team and other teams at the same time?
Yes. The one-team limit only applies to Primary Teams. You can be on one Primary Team per game and still play in tournaments with temporary teams or other teams you're in (non-primary).
Substitutes and Roster Changes
Can I add a substitute to my Primary Team just for one tournament?
No, you cannot add someone to a Primary Team just for one tournament. You can only add them as a full member to the team. To add someone:
- Your roster needs a free slot (player, substitute or coach)
- They need to leave their current Primary Team for that game first, if they have one
- If your team is in a League season, League roster rules apply (see below)
Once they join, they stay on your Primary Team after the tournament, until they leave or you remove them.
Does adding someone to the Primary Team affect my League season?
Yes, if your team is in a League season. Your Primary Team roster is your League roster, so anyone you add counts as a League roster addition, even if they never play a League match. These rules apply from the close of League registration until your season ends:
- Your team has a limited number of additions every 7 days: up to 3 in ESEA League (CS2) and up to 2 in FACEIT League (Overwatch). Substitutes and coaches count as additions too.
- Each player can join a League team only once every 7 days (their cooldown), and leaving a team doesn't reset it
- Removing someone after the tournament doesn't give you the addition back
- In ESEA League Elo-based groups, you can't add someone if it would push your top five players' average Elo above the group's cap
- Rosters lock two weeks before the end of the regular season, meaning no one can join until your season is fully over, including playoffs and finals
Before League registration closes, there's no limit on adding people.
Note: League rules can change between seasons, always refer to the Season ruleset for the most accurate information.
Does playing with another team or temporary team affect my Primary Team?
No. You stay on your Primary Team, and your results show up on your own profile and match history.
My Primary Team can't field a full roster. What should I do?
If you haven't registered yet or if registrations are still open, register with another team or a temporary team and invite the players you need.
For Tournament Organizers
How do Primary Teams affect my tournament?
Teams can register with a Primary Team, a temporary team, or another team they're already in.
A team that registers with its Primary Team can only select members of that team for your tournament. Adding a player to a Primary Team is a permanent roster change, not a one-off substitution, and it may count against the team's (or the players’) League roster limits.
How should I handle a substitution request from a Primary Team?
- Explain that adding a player would be a permanent roster change and may affect their League season
- Suggest them register with another team or a temporary team instead
- Never suggest using a second account to fill a roster, as it would lead to a smurfing/multiple accounts ban
Can I add players to a Primary Team on a team's behalf?
No, you cannot add players to a team on their behalf.
Can I limit registration to certain team types?
No, this option is currently not available.