# FRC Alliance Selection — Pick Order**Reference:** 2025 Game Manual Section 11 / FMS Manual## The Serpentine Draft8 alliances (Alliances 1–8). Each alliance gets **2 picks total** — one per round.### Round 1 — Ascending (captains pick in order 1 → 8)- Pick 1: Alliance 1 Captain- Pick 2: Alliance 2 Captain- Pick 3: Alliance 3 Captain- Pick 4: Alliance 4 Captain- Pick 5: Alliance 5 Captain- Pick 6: Alliance 6 Captain- Pick 7: Alliance 7 Captain- Pick 8: Alliance 8 Captain### Round 2 — Descending (order reverses: 8 → 1)- Pick 9: Alliance 8 (second pick, back-to-back with Pick 8)- Pick 10: Alliance 7- Pick 11: Alliance 6- Pick 12: Alliance 5- Pick 13: Alliance 4- Pick 14: Alliance 3- Pick 15: Alliance 2 (second pick)- Pick 16: Alliance 1## Full Pick Order```1 → 2 → 3 → 4 → 5 → 6 → 7 → 8 → 8 → 7 → 6 → 5 → 4 → 3 → 2 → 1```Each number = the Alliance Captain whose turn it is to pick.- **Round 1:** 1→8 (ascending), one pick each- **Round 2:** 8→1 (descending), one pick each — BUT Alliance 8 picks twice in a row at the start (picks 9 & 10), and Alliance 1 picks twice in a row at the end (picks 15 & 16)## Key Notes- **Alliance 8 does NOT pick second overall** — they pick 8th in Round 1, then immediately pick again in Round 2 (picks 9 & 10 back-to-back)- **Alliance 1** picks 1st in Round 1, then last in Round 2 (picks 15 & 16 back-to-back)- **Captains choose any available team** — not just the next-ranked available. A captain can pick any team that hasn't been drafted yet, regardless of ranking. Teams often pick strategically based on complementary capabilities, scouting data, robot strengths, or matchup needs — not just raw EPA. For example, Alliance 8 might pick a highly-ranked defensive bot instead of the 2nd-ranked overall if it fits their playoff strategy.- If a team declines, the scorekeeper clicks "Decline" — they become unavailable- If a team doesn't make a pick in time, that slot is skipped (Alliance Selection continues)- 45 seconds per pick in Round 1, 90 seconds in Round 2## Why Serpentine?The reversal balances the draft — Alliance 1 (top seed) gets first pick in Round 1 but last pick in Round 2. Alliance 8 (8th seed) gets last pick in Round 1 but first pick in Round 2. Prevents the top seed from always getting the best strategic advantage.---_Last verified: 2026-04-12 (game manual 2025 section 11)_