Team Play Guide

Team Formation

Form your team at Base Camp before departing. Coordinate via Discord or in-game chat — clear communication is critical above Camp 2.

Recommended Team Size

Size	Pros	Cons	Best For
2 Players	Simple coordination, fast movement	No backup if one goes down	Experienced duos, speedruns
3 Players	Good balance of safety and speed	Middle player sometimes isolated	General summit attempts
4+ Players	Maximum safety, oxygen sharing	Slow, coordination difficult	Beginner groups, rescue teams

Role Assignment

Every team member should have a clear role. Clarity prevents hesitation and mistakes during critical moments.

Leader (Anchor)

The most experienced climber with the best traction gear (La Portivo 8000 Evo Boots is mandatory). Goes first on every segment. Sets the pace. Makes all route decisions. Must have stamina to hold falling teammates — the anchor's job is to be immovable.

Support Players

Carry extra oxygen for sharing. Follow the leader's pace. Communicate hazards and conditions. Support players carry additional tanks to share in emergencies — this is critical for surviving the Death Zone if one player's tank depletes early.

Sweeper

In teams of 3+, the last player monitors the team from behind. Watches for fallen teammates, communicates with the leader, and assists with tether management. The sweeper's job is to never let a teammate fall out of sight.

Rope Tethering System

The rope tethering system is the core safety mechanism for team climbing. Players clip to each other with ropes, preventing falls on exposed ridgelines and steep sections.

How to Attach Rope

1. Click on a teammate while holding a rope (rope must be in inventory)
2. A rope connects you and the teammate — both are now tethered
3. If either player falls, the rope catches them — the other player must brace
4. Press F to recover if dangling

Rope Tightening

Rope tightening can occur when teammates move at different speeds — this can pull trailing players off balance. If you feel the rope tightening, stop immediately and let the leader know.

Tether Management

• Above Camp 2: All players must be tethered on exposed sections
• Fixed rope sections: Stay tethered to the fixed rope and to each other
• Camp transitions: Untether and re-tether as needed
• Emergency untether: If a tether threatens to pull multiple players, untether immediately

Oxygen Sharing Protocol

When a teammate's oxygen drops critically, sharing your spare tank can mean the difference between a successful climb and a fatality.

Sharing Procedure

1. Stop in a safe location — do not attempt sharing on exposed ridgelines
2. Teammate with critical oxygen calls out "OXYGEN LOW"
3. Support player with spare tank drops it (if mechanics allow) or coordinates exchange
4. Critical player refills and announces "OXYGEN OK"
5. Resume climbing — do not wait longer than necessary

Pacing and Communication

Teams must climb at the pace of the slowest member. The leader monitors team condition and makes decisions based on the weakest player's status.

Communication Protocol

• "OXYGEN LOW" / "OXYGEN OK" — oxygen status call
• "STAMINA LOW" / "STAMINA OK" — stamina status call
• "WEATHER INCOMING" / "CLEAR" — weather condition call
• "STOP" / "RESUME" — movement control call
• "FALLING" / "CAUGHT" — emergency tether call
• "TETHERING" / "UNTETHERED" — rope management call

Recovery Procedures

If a Teammate Falls

1. If dangling, player presses F to recover
2. Entire team must halt during recovery
3. Leader assesses the situation — continue or turn back
4. If player cannot recover, rope tether holds them while team plans rescue

When to Turn Back

Team climbing introduces a new rule: one player's critical condition means the whole team turns back. Pride kills more climbers than the mountain. If any player is in critical condition, the leader calls for retreat to the nearest camp.