> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://hotpotato.arrowtan.cc/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Game flow

> How a HotPotato match moves from lobby to winner, round by round.

A HotPotato match runs through a fixed set of phases. This page explains what happens in each one so you know what your players will see.

```mermaid theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark-dimmed"}}
flowchart LR
    W[Waiting] -->|enough players| C[Countdown]
    C -->|drops below min| W
    C -->|hits zero| R[Round]
    R -->|2+ survivors| T[Round transition]
    T --> R
    R -->|1 survivor| E[Ending]
    E -->|restore and reset| W
```

## The phases

<Steps>
  <Step>
    ### Waiting

    Players join with `/hotpotato join <arena>` and wait in the lobby. The match stays here until enough players are in. The minimum is set per arena with `setmin`.

    <Frame caption="Waiting in the lobby. The red leave item sits in the hotbar for a quick exit.">
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/zarrowtan/w7VKwbzoPhrocToj/images/lobby-leave-item.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=w7VKwbzoPhrocToj&q=85&s=266be0d32757534ec5df5ec9179bceb0" alt="Player waiting in the HotPotato lobby with the red leave item in the hotbar" width="955" height="448" data-path="images/lobby-leave-item.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Countdown

    Once the lobby has enough players, a countdown starts with on-screen titles. If players leave and the count drops below the minimum, it returns to waiting.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Round

    Some players become the potato, the rest are runners, and a round timer counts down. Holders pass the potato by hitting runners. When the timer hits zero, every remaining holder is eliminated.

    <Frame caption="The in-game scoreboard tracks the round, timer, and players left.">
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/zarrowtan/w7VKwbzoPhrocToj/images/scoreboard.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=w7VKwbzoPhrocToj&q=85&s=e3d4788a390e44ebca6caf5cb7722b79" alt="HotPotato in-game sidebar scoreboard during a round" width="245" height="290" data-path="images/scoreboard.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Round transition

    A short pause cleans up, teleports the survivors, and picks fresh potatoes before the next round starts.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Ending

    When one player is left, they win. Fireworks and rewards fire, stats are saved, and after a short delay everyone is sent to the return spawn and restored.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Passing the potato

Combat damage is turned off during a game, so players cannot hurt each other. A hit only does one thing: it passes the potato.

* A **potato holder** hits a **runner**: the runner becomes the potato, the holder becomes a runner.
* The potato item is locked to the holder's hotbar. It cannot be dropped, moved, swapped, or eaten.
* The holder wears a colored glow helmet so everyone can spot the potato across the map.

<Frame caption="The potato item is locked into the holder's hotbar.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/zarrowtan/w7VKwbzoPhrocToj/images/potato-item-inventory.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=w7VKwbzoPhrocToj&q=85&s=b674db7cb3337a66bcfae4c888d42c9c" alt="Hot potato item locked in the player's hotbar" width="936" height="640" data-path="images/potato-item-inventory.png" />
</Frame>

<Frame caption="The current holder glows so every player can spot the potato across the map.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/zarrowtan/w7VKwbzoPhrocToj/images/potato-holder-glow.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=w7VKwbzoPhrocToj&q=85&s=04da1fba7a33bebecf30867a3d014fde" alt="A player holding the potato, glowing so others can see them" width="2560" height="1334" data-path="images/potato-holder-glow.png" />
</Frame>

<Tip>
  Pair a short round timer with several potatoes to keep every player moving. A long timer with one potato makes for a tenser, slower hunt.
</Tip>

## Spectators

When a player is eliminated, they become a spectator.

* They are put into spectator game mode and teleported to the arena's spectator spawn.
* They stay in the match and can watch, but they no longer count as playing.
* When the match ends, their inventory, game mode, and location are restored.

<Note>
  Spectators can fly through walls, so they can wander off the map. Set an [arena bounds box](/features/arena-bounds) to keep them inside the arena.
</Note>

## What players cannot do mid-game

While in a game, players are protected and limited so the match stays fair. They take no fall or combat damage, lose no hunger, and cannot break, place, or bucket blocks. See [anti-grief](/features/anti-grief) for the full list.