Submitting flags and using hints

On the map, each country or marker is a challenge. Click it, read the description carefully, use any supplied files or links, and submit your answer to score points for your team.

Challenge types

Type	What you do
Flag	Type the exact secret string, such as ctf{...}. It must match exactly, including braces, case, and punctuation.
Multiple choice	Pick one option. Correct = points; wrong can incur a penalty.
Conquest	Capture or hold a target. The system checks the configured conquest target and awards points to the team that holds it.
Text	Type a free-text response. The organiser may review it rather than scoring it as an exact-match flag.
File upload	Choose a file and submit it for review. After upload, the challenge can show that your file has already been submitted and is under review.

Correct means the team gets the challenge points. Wrong attempts can deduct a penalty if the organiser configured one.

How to submit each challenge type

Flag

Use the flag input when the challenge expects an exact answer string.

• Enter the full flag in the format the challenge expects.
• Pay attention to uppercase/lowercase, braces, punctuation, and prefixes such as ctf{.
• Avoid leading or trailing spaces when pasting.
• If the prompt shows an example format, follow it exactly.

If the flag is marked wrong, first check whether the challenge wants the wrapped flag or the raw value you found.

Multiple choice

Multiple choice challenges show a set of options instead of a text box.

• Read the full prompt before selecting an option.
• Pick the best answer and submit it.
• If the organiser configured penalties, wrong guesses can reduce your team score.

Use caution before guessing repeatedly on multiple choice if the challenge mentions penalties.

Text

Text challenges accept a written response instead of a fixed flag string.

• Follow any formatting rules in the prompt.
• Include enough detail to answer the question directly.
• Some text submissions are manually reviewed, so points may not appear instantly.

If a text submission stays pending, that usually means an organiser needs to review it.

File upload

File upload challenges expect evidence or an output file.

• Check the prompt for the required file type or naming rules.
• Upload the requested file.
• Wait for organiser review if the challenge does not score immediately.

After upload, the challenge can show that your team already has a submission under review.

Conquest

Conquest challenges are different from normal one-time solves.

• Your team usually needs to capture, control, or hold the target the organiser defined.
• Points depend on the conquest state rather than only on typing one answer once.
• Read the challenge text carefully for what counts as a successful capture.

If conquest scoring looks wrong, check the challenge rules first, then ask an organiser whether the target is still active.

Challenge behaviours that affect submissions

Some challenge settings change when or how your team can submit:

• Launchable: You may need to click Launch first, wait for the target details to appear, then solve the challenge through that running service.
• Timebomb: The challenge is only available during a specific time window. After it closes, you may not be able to submit.
• Choice group: Solving one challenge can lock the others in that same group for your team.
• Prerequisites: Some challenges stay locked until your team completes earlier ones.

These are not always separate answer types. Some of them change availability or flow around the submission itself.

Hints

If a challenge has a hint, click Buy Hint. The hint cost is deducted from your team's score, then the hint text is shown. Everyone on the team benefits from the revealed hint, so discuss before buying if your team is coordinating.

Locked challenges

• Prerequisites - Some challenges unlock only after you complete others.
• Timebombs - Visible and solvable only in a set time window.
• Choice groups - You can complete only one challenge in the group (e.g. pick one of three tracks).

Submission tips

• Copy flags carefully and avoid extra spaces at the start or end.
• Read the challenge description for required format. Some tasks want a raw value; others want a wrapped flag.
• Check whether a wrong answer has a penalty before trying many guesses.
• If a challenge has an attachment, download it from the challenge panel and work locally.
• If a launchable challenge has a Launch action, start the target first and wait for the challenge instructions to show the address or port.
• If a text or file-upload challenge does not score right away, check whether it is waiting for organiser review.
• If a challenge is missing or locked, check prerequisites, timebomb windows, and choice-group rules before assuming something is broken.

See also: Navigating the map, Leaderboard and score, and Troubleshooting event access.