Runtiva survivor pools · Player guide

Survivor Pool Player Guide

Join a pool, make one pick a round, and outlast everyone. Free to play, one tap a week, and the app keeps score.

For everyone who joins a pool: first-timers welcome, no fantasy experience needed.Updated September 3, 202612 min readCommissioner Player

Join the group

Tap the invite link or type the 8-character code under Groups. Free, and one tap.

1 min

Join the pool

The pool is offered right after you join. Read the rules, tap Join, It's Free.

30 sec

Pick one team

Every round, tap a team to win. Change your mind any time before that game kicks off.

1 min a week

Sweat it

Standings update as games finish. Win and you advance; lose and you're out, unless your pool gives strikes.

All weekend

Outlast everyone

Everyone still alive after the last round shares the crown.

Season

Survivor in sixty seconds

Pick one team to win

Each round (an NFL week, an MLB week, a cricket match day) you pick one team. Just the winner, no spread, no points.

Never the same team twice

In most pools a team can be used once all season. Burn the best teams early and you will miss them later.

Last one standing

A wrong pick ends your run, unless your pool gives strikes or your commissioner revives you. Whoever is alive after the final round shares the crown.

Runtiva survivor pools are free: no entry fee, no prizes, no purchase. The crown is the prize. Pools live inside a group run by a friend, a coworker, or a family member, the commissioner, who chose the rules before you joined. Everything else is automatic: rounds open on the real schedule, picks lock when games start, results are graded from the official score, and the standings and group chat update themselves.

Two Ways to Play sheet: Public Flagship run by Runtiva, or a Private Pool in your group with the commissioner's rules. Free to play, every state. — Two ways to play: a private pool in a group with the commissioner's rules, or Runtiva's public flagship pool for a whole season. Both are free.

Join a pool

An invite is a link, a code, or a QR. All three lead to the same place.

1
Install Runtiva and sign up. Your age and location are verified once, at signup.
You'll seeFree to play wherever Runtiva is available; your state's minimum age applies.
2
Tap the invite link, or open the Groups tab, tap Have a Code?, and type the 8-character code. Scanning the QR does the same.
You'll seeTap Join Group.
1. 1Type the 8-character code
2. 2Or scan the QR
3. 3Join Group
3
The pool is offered right away. Read the rule rows (style, team reuse, missed pick) and tap Join, It's Free. Not now? You can join later from the group's Contests tab, until the first round locks.
You'll seeYou are in. Your entry appears on the pool's Who's in list.
1. 1The pool's headline rules
2. 2Join, It's Free

Groups tab with Have a Code? at the top, the SUNDAY SURVIVORS group with dozens of members and an Organizer badge, and the Create Group button. — The Groups tab: Have a Code? at the top, your groups below. The pool lives inside the group.

If the app says you can't join

Message	Why	What to do
Joining Has Closed	The pool's first round has locked.	Join the group anyway. You can follow the pool, see every pick once games start, and join the chat.
This Pool Is for Group Members	You are not in the group yet.	Join the group with the code or link first. The pool comes with it.
You're Already in This Pool	One entry per person, and you have it.	Open the pool and make your pick.
That's All Your Entries	You hold every entry the pool allows one person.	Nothing to do. Play the entries you have.
Survivor Isn't Available Where You Are	Your current location is outside the areas where survivor can be played.	Your invite still works if that changes.

Joining Has Closed

WhyThe pool's first round has locked.

What to doJoin the group anyway. You can follow the pool, see every pick once games start, and join the chat.

This Pool Is for Group Members

WhyYou are not in the group yet.

What to doJoin the group with the code or link first. The pool comes with it.

You're Already in This Pool

WhyOne entry per person, and you have it.

What to doOpen the pool and make your pick.

That's All Your Entries

WhyYou hold every entry the pool allows one person.

What to doNothing to do. Play the entries you have.

Survivor Isn't Available Where You Are

WhyYour current location is outside the areas where survivor can be played.

What to doYour invite still works if that changes.

Make your pick

One team, one tap, and you can change it until that game starts.

1
Open the pool from the group's Contests tab, from Home (Survivor Pools), or from the Make your pick button on the chat card. The current round is selected in the rail across the top.
1. 1Survivor Pools (all your pools)
2
Read the strip under the rail: your Status, your Streak, and when the round's first game locks. Below it, the round's games are listed by day with kickoff times.
1. 1Round rail: tap a past round to review it
2. 2Status strip: status, streak, first lock
3. 3A game: tap a team to pick it
4. 4Pick a Team / Save Picks
3
Tap a team. Tap a different team to switch. Then tap Save Picks.
You'll seeYour team shows on the round's tile in the rail with a check mark.
1. 1Selected team
2. 21 of 1 picked (trash icon clears it)
3. 3Save Picks
4
Change your mind any time before that team's game kicks off: tap another team and save again. Once the game starts, the pick is final.
1. 1Your pick on the round tile
2. 2Saved: 1 of 1

The three things that end seasons

The early game

Each pick locks when its own game starts, not when the round closes. A Thursday or Wednesday game locks days before Sunday. If you pick it, you are locked in early.

Forgetting

Most pools eliminate a missed pick. The app reminds you 48, 24, and 3 hours before the round closes (12 and 3 hours for daily sports). Turn notifications on.

Multi-pick weeks

Some pools have weeks that need 2, 3, or 4 different teams. The heading says how many. Every one of them has to win.

Plan the season with Pick Availability

Team Availability: filter chips All 32, Available 31, Used 1; a grid of team badges with BUF marked Used Wk1; a planning tip. — Every team in the season: available, or used in a given week. Long-press a team to see its remaining schedule. The tip at the bottom is the whole strategy.

More than one entry

If your commissioner allows it, you can hold several entries: the pool opens on a grid of your entries by round, with an Add Entry button. Each entry is its own game: its own used teams, its own strikes, its own streak. Tap an entry to pick for it, or pick for all of them and Save All Picks.

Your Entries grid: Entry #1 and Entry #2 as rows, rounds as columns, past picks with check marks, the current round highlighted and awaiting picks. — Two entries in one pool. Each column is a round; the highlighted column still needs a pick.

Read the standings

Who is alive, who fell, who has picked, and what everyone picked once the games start.

1
Tap Standings in the pool. Before the first round locks it is called Who's in and simply lists every entry.
1. 1Every entry, by display name and handle
2. 2An entry name set by its player
2
Once the season is under way the top shows how many alive entries have picked this round, then the counts: still alive, fell, rounds left.
1. 1How many alive entries have picked
2. 2Alive, fell, rounds left
3. 3Status chip
4. 4Tap to expand pick history
3
Each row is one entry: rank, name (or entry name), status chip, and this round's pick once its game has started. Tap a row to expand its full pick history with scores.
1. 1A missed pick: strike
2. 2Earlier rounds with scores

Status	Meaning
Alive	Still in. The rank is by how far the entry has survived.
Revived	Was out and the commissioner brought it back. One more wrong pick and it is out for good.
Out round 5	Eliminated in that round. The entry keeps read access to everything.
Withdrew	Left the pool before it started. Not an elimination.
Won	A champion. Everyone alive after the final round gets this.

Alive

MeaningStill in. The rank is by how far the entry has survived.

Revived

MeaningWas out and the commissioner brought it back. One more wrong pick and it is out for good.

Out round 5

MeaningEliminated in that round. The entry keeps read access to everything.

Withdrew

MeaningLeft the pool before it started. Not an elimination.

Won

MeaningA champion. Everyone alive after the final round gets this.

Your own round result

A graded round: 'You survived this round. San Francisco Giants 7, Atlanta Braves 3.' with final scores for every game. — Tap a past round in the rail to see how it went: the verdict, your pick, and every score.

A graded round with a loss: 'Your pick lost. That cost a strike.' and the losing pick marked with a red cross. — A loss in a strikes pool: the verdict says it cost a strike, and the losing pick is marked. In a classic pool the same screen says your run ended here.

Rules that change from pool to pool

Check yours before Week 1. It takes ten seconds.

Rule	What to look for	Why it matters
Style	Classic (one life) or Strikes (1 to 3)	With strikes you can survive a wrong pick. Without, one loss ends your run.
Strikes valid through	A round number, or All Season	After that round strikes stop working: sudden death.
Team reuse	Never, free after 4 rounds, or unlimited	Never means every team is a one-time resource. Plan ahead.
Missed pick	Eliminated, pick the favourite, random, reuse last	Eliminated is the default. Do not rely on the app to pick for you.
Picks close	At last kickoff or at first kickoff	Either way each pick locks at its own game. This only decides when a missing pick is punished.
Multi-pick weeks	Listed weeks and how many teams	You need that many different teams, all winning.
Manual revive	Off, or open until a round, with revives per entry	If it is on and you go out, ask your commissioner. Revives are posted to the chat.
Entries per person	1 to 5	More than 1 means you can hedge with a second entry.
Playoffs	Included or not	In knockout rounds every team is pickable, even ones you have used.

Style

What to look forClassic (one life) or Strikes (1 to 3)

Why it mattersWith strikes you can survive a wrong pick. Without, one loss ends your run.

Strikes valid through

What to look forA round number, or All Season

Why it mattersAfter that round strikes stop working: sudden death.

Team reuse

What to look forNever, free after 4 rounds, or unlimited

Why it mattersNever means every team is a one-time resource. Plan ahead.

Missed pick

What to look forEliminated, pick the favourite, random, reuse last

Why it mattersEliminated is the default. Do not rely on the app to pick for you.

Picks close

What to look forAt last kickoff or at first kickoff

Why it mattersEither way each pick locks at its own game. This only decides when a missing pick is punished.

Multi-pick weeks

What to look forListed weeks and how many teams

Why it mattersYou need that many different teams, all winning.

Manual revive

What to look forOff, or open until a round, with revives per entry

Why it mattersIf it is on and you go out, ask your commissioner. Revives are posted to the chat.

Entries per person

What to look for1 to 5

Why it mattersMore than 1 means you can hedge with a second entry.

Playoffs

What to look forIncluded or not

Why it mattersIn knockout rounds every team is pickable, even ones you have used.

Rules that are the same in every pool

Ties, postponements, and no-results are pushes. You advance, your streak is unchanged, and the team goes back into your available list.
A loss breaks your streak even when a strike absorbs it.
If everyone alive loses the same round, the round is void. Nobody goes out and no strike is charged, unless the commissioner chose to end the season on a wipeout.
The last player standing cannot be eliminated. The remaining rounds are a victory lap.
Everyone alive after the final round is a champion. There is no tiebreaker.
The official result is final. If a result is corrected, the pool is regraded and the chat says so.

Your entry: name it, hide it, or withdraw

Everything in the ⋯ menu inside the pool.

1
Name My Entry gives your entry a 2 to 20 character name that shows in the standings. Choose Show My Name or Hide My Identity. Hidden means other players see only the entry name; the commissioner and Runtiva support can always see who you are.
1. 1Entry Name (2 to 20 characters)
2. 2Hide My Identity
3. 3Save
2
Withdraw an Entry leaves the pool before it starts. Your entry stops counting, its picks stay readable as history, and you cannot rejoin once the pool has started. After the first lock there is no withdraw; an entry you stop picking for simply falls.
1. 1Withdraw (before the pool starts only)
3
Rules opens the frozen rules sheet. Share Pool opens the group invite so you can bring friends in before entry closes.
1. 1Pool Actions (⋯)
2. 2Manage Pool (revives)
3. 3Cancel Pool, or End Pool Early once started

Notifications and the chat

The app tells you when to act. The chat tells you what happened.

Pick reminders 48, 24, and 3 hours before the round closes (12 and 3 hours for daily sports), only while you have not picked.
Round results: whether you survived, a strike, or an elimination.
Revived by your commissioner, and champion at the end.
Group chat cards for every round opening and locking, eliminations, revives, corrections, and the champion. The Round Open card has a Make your pick button.

Group chat with 'joined the group' notices and a Round Open card: 'Week 1 is open', with a Make your pick button. — The group chat with a Round Open card. Trash talk goes above it.

If you are eliminated

You stay in the group and the chat, you can see every pick as games start, and you can follow the standings to the end. If your pool has a revive window, your commissioner may bring you back; you will get a notification and a chat card if they do. Many groups also run weekly Runtiva contests beside the pool.

Strategy basics

Three numbers, one habit.

Win probability

How likely your team is to win this round. The obvious pick is obvious for a reason.

Pick popularity

In a big pool, a team most people pick is worth less: if it loses, half the field goes with you, and if it wins you gained nothing on them. In a small pool, just take the safest team.

Future value

A team you use now is gone for the season. The strongest teams are worth more in the weeks they are the only safe pick.

Save strong teams for when they are needed, but don't hoard. A team is only valuable if you are still alive to use it.
Don't get cute early. Most seasons end on a clever pick in a week that did not need one.
Pick early, then check back. A saved pick can be changed until kickoff. Lock in a sensible team when the round opens, and revisit after the injury news.
Prefer late games when you can. With picks closing at last kickoff, a Sunday team leaves your options open longer than a Thursday team does.
With multiple entries, split them. Two entries on the same team survive or die together. Different teams give you two chances.
Read your pool's rules. Strikes, revives, and multi-pick weeks change what a safe pick is. Ten seconds on the Rules sheet, once.

Mistakes that end seasons

Missing a pick. The app reminds you; it does not pick for you unless the pool says so.
Picking a Thursday team and then wanting to switch on Sunday. It locked on Thursday.
Forgetting a team is used. The app will not let you pick it, but it can leave you with a bad slate late in the season.
Assuming a tie is a loss. It is a push, and you get the team back.
Not knowing the pool has multi-pick weeks. The heading says how many teams. Every one has to win.

Player FAQ

Does it cost anything?+

No. Runtiva survivor pools are free, with no prizes, wherever Runtiva is available. Your state's minimum age applies.

When does my pick lock?+

When that team's game starts. A Thursday game locks on Thursday even if the round runs through Monday.

Can I change my pick?+

Yes, until that game kicks off. Tap another team and save again.

What if I forget?+

Your pool's missed-pick rule applies when the round closes. In most pools that means elimination. Turn notifications on.

What happens on a tie or a postponed game?+

A push: you advance, your streak is unchanged, and the team goes back into your list.

Can others see my pick?+

Only once its game has started. Until then it is yours alone.

I joined the group. Why am I not in the pool?+

Joining the group is separate from entering the pool. Open the group, tap the pool, and tap Join This Pool before the first round locks.

Can I join after the season starts?+

No. Entry closes when the starting round locks. You can still follow the pool and join the chat.

Can I be revived?+

Only if your pool has a revive window and your commissioner chooses to. It is posted to the chat with their name on it.

Can I have more than one entry?+

If the commissioner allowed it. Each entry is independent.

Who wins if two people are left at the end?+

Both. Everyone alive after the final round is a champion.

Can I leave a pool?+

Before the first round locks, yes: Pool Actions, then Withdraw an Entry. After that, entries play out.

Glossary

Survivor pools are also called eliminator, knockout, last-man-standing, suicide, or survival pools. Same game.

Round: One set of games that counts together: an NFL week, an MLB week or game-day block, a cricket match day or fixture cycle.
Lock: The moment a pick can no longer be changed: when that team's game starts.
Entry: One run through the pool. You may hold several if the pool allows it.
Strike: A wrong pick absorbed instead of eliminating you. Only in Strikes-style pools.
Push: A pick that neither wins nor loses: a tie, a postponement, or a no-result. You advance and get the team back.
Revive: Being restored after elimination by the commissioner, inside the pool's revive window.
Multi-pick week: A round that needs 2, 3, or 4 different teams, all of which must win.
Streak: Consecutive winning rounds. A loss breaks it even when a strike absorbs it.
Commissioner: The owner of the group your pool lives in. Sets the rules, can revive entries, can end the pool.
Who's in: The standings before the first round locks: a list of every entry.
Flagship pool: Runtiva's public pool for a whole league season. One entry per person, no revives.

Ready to play?

Survivor pools are free in the Runtiva app. Read the Commissioner Guide too.