Come prepared. Own the stage. Each entry will present a prepared performance featuring music, props, choreography or storytelling. This round gives every entry the chance to introduce their selected characters and showcase what they have prepared before moving into the more adaptive and interactive stages of the competition. Results from Round 1 will determine the prepared performance score.

Different worlds. One scene. Make it work. Each group will receive a scenario or script provided by the Organiser. Participants must work together to interpret and perform the scene while staying true to their respective characters. The scenario may bring characters from different fictional worlds into the same situation, challenging participants to decide how their characters would speak, behave, react and interact with one another.

This round challenges participants to bring different characters together in one believable and entertaining scene.

New opponent. New scenario. Stay in character. Separate Character-versus-Character matches will be staged, with one representative from each competing group performing in each match. A different script or scenario will be provided for every round. Selected cosplayers must perform according to the script while interpreting the situation through their respective characters.

Each cosplayer may represent their group only once during Round 3. This format gives different members the chance to represent their group while creating a series of direct Character-versus-Character encounters for the audience.