Have you ever been grinding away peacefully, when out of nowhere, someone comes along, says only "DFS" and after a few moments, flags and kills you on site?

Here in this short guide we will talk about the etiquette of a "Duel for Spot"

Firstly, let's talk on what a DFS really means:
        A Duel for Spot is a way of settling disputes over a contested grind location. This is performed in what is usually a duel set in a best of 3 format. The winner of these sets of duels will be the one to keep the spot while the loser, if they're being a good sport, will swap to find another rotation.

What to do when someone asks you for a DFS:
        There are a few things you can say when you are asked for a DFS.
                If you're not interested in having to fight, a common thing to say is letting them know how long you have left on your grind and to ask if you could finish it instead. Generally, this only works if you're close to the end of your grind, but some kind players will let you finish up with no issue. I do not recommend this method if you're planning on multiple hours.
                If you are willing to take the fight, you can make your way to a safe spot to start the duel. In most cases, it will be in a Best of 3, though some people will ask for just Best of 1. Usage of you Emergency Escape or V key will in most situations count as a loss automatically, so be careful not to panic use it.

        If you win the duel, congrats! The spot is yours! If lost, then that's okay, there are lots of servers to swap to that may have open rotations!

How to politely ask someone for a DFS:

        One big thing when approaching someone for a DFS is to find out how much time is left on their grind to see if one is even worth fighting for. For example, let's say you find someone in a spot you want, and first you ask them how long their grind is for. They respond with 8 minutes. 9 times out of 10 it's worth waiting those 8 minutes over trying to fight someone or server swapping. Once you approach someone and ask for a DFS, give them a moment to get to a stopping point on the pack they're in to respond safely. If they give no response or say no, it is up to you to determine if flagging is worth the effort and time you may spend dealing with that individual over swapping to another server.

Hopefully this helps those newer to the game to understand some of the unwritten etiquette of BDO!

Please note: This is the most common structure for NA, and may not be the way your region handles it. Just remember, be friendly and have fun!

While the idea of a 'Duel for Spot' (DFS) in BDO may seem like a fair way to settle disputes over contested grind spots, it's important to acknowledge that it can also be used as an excuse for stronger players to hinder the progress of weaker ones. The power dynamics involved in these duels can create an imbalance where stronger players monopolize the best spots, hindering the growth of others. 

If you want to grind on a specific spot, go for it! Don't feel obligated to follow the made-up DFS rules created by players. If someone kills you, let them. You don't lose anything, and they'll go red. It's your choice, and you don't have to adhere to these rules if you don't want to.

This is why most of us have designated red characters with super cheat crystal set ups so we can just farm anyone that decides to karma bomb. Or alt accounts meant purely for it.

If you are willing to go through the hassle of repeatedly purchasing new crystals from the marketplace after each death, risking the loss of 1-3% experience, and potentially experiencing gear degradation upon death in PvE, all in order to assert your dominance, then by all means, go ahead and pursue that approach.

PvP Penalty & Karma