> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://countertrade.gitbook.io/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://countertrade.gitbook.io/docs/battles/join-a-room.md).

# Join a room

Find an open public room in Battle Hub, then join it with two wallet signatures, or with an approval and a join transaction when you pay the network fee yourself.

You join an open public room by paying its entry fee on-chain. Joining moves the fee into escrow and puts you in the battle once the room goes live. Usually you only sign — the network fee is covered for you — and when it isn't, your wallet sends the join itself.

## Finding a room

**Battle Hub** is where battles are listed, grouped into **Live Now**, **Starting Soon**, and **Recently Ended**. Each row shows its format, stake, and timing. Rooms you can still enter are under **Starting Soon**; open one to start the join.

## Before you start

* Be signed in, and set a trader name if you haven't — joining prompts **Choose your trader name** first. See [Account and wallet](/docs/account-and-profile/account-and-wallet.md).
* Have the wallet you signed in with connected. Until you connect it, the primary button is disabled and reads **Connect a wallet to join**. See [Account and wallet](/docs/account-and-profile/account-and-wallet.md).
* Hold enough of the room's [entry-fee](/docs/funds-and-settlement/entry-fees-and-escrow.md) token in that wallet. If your wallet is on another network, joining first asks it to switch to the room's network: approve the switch in your wallet.

You can join a room only while it's **open** and before its join deadline. One account joins a room once.

The entry fee is real money and goes on-chain the moment you join. Results are final once the room settles — there's no process to contest an outcome — so join battles whose stake and rules suit you. See [Battle rules and scoring](/docs/battles/battle-rules-and-scoring.md).

## Steps

1. Open the room page. When the room is open and you're eligible, the primary button reads **Join room**.
2. Select **Join room**. In a team room, pick a side first — the button then reads **Join Side A** or **Join Side B**.
3. Sign in your wallet. Most joins take two signatures and no transaction: the button shows `Sign 1 of 2 in your wallet…` for your entry, then `Sign 2 of 2 in your wallet…` to authorize the exact entry fee. Nothing leaves your wallet until both are signed, and you pay no network fee. The button then shows `Sending…`.
4. Wait for the join to be recorded. The button shows `Confirming your join…` until your entry appears, usually within seconds.

The button changes to `Joined ✓`. Your entry fee is held in escrow until the room finalizes and pays out, or the room is cancelled and refunds it. Once the room is live, the primary button becomes **Open terminal** so you can start trading.

### When you pay the network fee yourself

Some joins can't be covered — for example on a smart-contract wallet, in a free room, in a room below the covered entry fee, or when the covered joins are used up for now. The button then asks for an approval and a transaction instead, and your wallet pays a small network fee in ETH on Base:

1. Approve the exact entry fee in your wallet. The button shows `Approving…` while the approval confirms.
2. Confirm the join transaction. The button shows `Joining…` while your entry fee moves into escrow.
3. Wait for `Confirming your join…`, then `Joined ✓`, as above.

See [Network and gas](/docs/funds-and-settlement/network-and-gas.md) for when a join is covered.

## If something goes wrong

* **This token requires resetting allowance to 0** — only on the self-paid path: some tokens won't accept a new approval over an existing one. Select **Reset allowance to 0**, confirm it in your wallet, then start the join again.
* **Insufficient token balance** — your wallet doesn't hold enough of the entry-fee token. Fund that wallet and retry.
* **Room is full** or **Join deadline has passed** — the room stopped accepting joins before your transaction landed. Pick another open room.
* **You already joined this room** — you're already in. Open the room to trade or track it; you can't join twice from one account.

## Related

* [Entry fees and escrow](/docs/funds-and-settlement/entry-fees-and-escrow.md)