The Index...

is where the challenging maps are ranked. Currently, there are maps on the index, with maps hidden and ineligible for competition points due to being rotational maps out of the current selection. To get on the index, a map must have have a non-TAS UV-Max demo of the map hosted on DSDA.  This is to both bar impossible maps from getting on the index,  and to prove that at least someone knows approximately how difficult a map is to complete 100%.

The maps are split into 7 difficulty tiers, and each tier is assigned point values as part of the system of competition.  The tiers are defined as follows:

• DOOMED (8000)  -  The hardest maps only, "You are DOOMED!!!"
• Legendary (2500)  -  Extremely hard maps, takes considerable effort and skill from very skilled players
• Elite (800)  -  Hard maps, may take a lot of effort for really skilled players,  might not for the best handful of players
• Jaded (300)  -  A middleground for players who are looking to challenge themselves beyond the previous tiers, but are not quite ready for the hardest maps
• Veteran (100)  -  Your average Kaizo-Doom map, nothing too insane for very skilled players
• Marine (30)  -  Maps that stand out in WADs comprised of Fairweather maps or act as breathers in comparison to things found higher in the list
• Fairweather (10)  -  The minimum bar for modern challenge maxing. Many maps found here are not excessively difficult by today's standards, but they will give you a sense of what you're getting into.

In addition,  there are also tags given to each map,  that add extra info about the type of map it is with regards to its difficulty.  The tags are defined as follows:

• Length  -  self-explanatory,  darker shades represent longer maps
  • Short  =  0-10 minute estimated UV-Max
  • Medium  =  10-30 min estimated UV-Max
  • Long  =  30-60 min estimated UV-Max
  • Very Long  =  60+ min estimated UV-Max
• Platforming  -  present if the map has a notable platforming section of any kind
  • Easy  -  simple SR40s or W-key platforming,  allows you to take your time, otherwise low penalty for failure
  • Medium  -  may require some line-up jumps,  or be strict with timing,  or punish mistakes harshly,  or map contains lots of platforming
  • Hard  -  may require lots of line-ups and SR50,  harsh penalties,  tightly timed sequences
• Tricks  -  the map's current easiest route utilizes tricks to beat without them.  Includes avjs,  glides,  wobbles,  rocket jumps,  zero presses,  etc.

You may also have noticed some maps have dashed borders instead of solid ones...these are rotational maps for wads where a group or all of the maps are uniform in difficulty and style.  Standout maps in these wads are displayed like any other map,  but the rotational maps are only in for a single competition before being swapped out for others in the same wad for the next competition.

The placement of maps are fluid,  so maps can move between tiers based on community appraisal.  Maps will be added and removed off the index prior to every new competition,  to give recently released hard maps a chance to make the list,  and to rid old hard maps that now lack players' interest in being run.  These old maps are then moved to the legacy list,  where they are stored for historical purposes,  with their point value still counting toward a player's total accumulated points.

Just getting into challenging maps?

The index can be intimidating at first, not only in its difficulty, but also in how they are styled, and in what skills/experience they test. Some of these wads may not be familiar to you, or the map authors may not be ones you have ever played a map from. Due to this, some mostly easier maps from more accessible wads have been selected for beginner challenge maxers, with consideration for how they test different skills and knowledge that are required for challenge maxing:

BFG Skills/BFG Spam:

Cybershot (Download)

A map where you can practice 2-shotting cybers with the BFG without time pressure, plenty of space, and even plenty of ammo.

Scythe 2 Map28 (Download)

A pure BFG spam map in a compact, circuit layout. Cells and health are relatively plentiful.

Speed of Doom Map28 (Download)

Macroslaughter in a moody, beautiful hell. Displace demon from brimstone through letting your tracers run wild.

Slaughter

10x10 Map06 (Download)

A very compact map formed around a central hub. While not full out BFG slaughter, it will be your primary weapon.

Haste Map06 (Download)

A linear sequence of setpiece, slaughtery encounters. BFG and the rocket launcher have primacy here.

MSCP Map06 (Download)

An icy battlefield, the openness of the map allows both less restricted player movement, but also more sightlines for the monsters.

Sunlust Map15 (Download)

A difficulty spike in the infamous megawad, it warns you of the maps to come. Tip: use anticipation and aggression via a prefire with the BFG in the final encounter.

Sunlust Map18 (Download)

A very open, horizontal map on an alien surface. The floor viles and chaotic infighting can burn the player; being aggressive is the answer in some difficult maps, but reckless play here can hurt.

Sunder Map02 (Download)

A slower-paced, medium-sized slaughtermap. The slaughter isn't too heavy here, and the rocket launcher is the primary workhorse weapon.

Tough Maps in Easier Wads

Valiant Map28 (Download)

A bouncy midi, some pretty light bridges on a beautifully shadowed moon, and a bit of slaughter to boot.

BtSX E1 Map24 (Download)

Although quite infamous with co-op monsters, the marquee fight in this map is still a nice challenge for players.

Speed of Doom Map24 (Download)

A beautiful map that slowly fills with imps and archviles. Major health pickups are not too plentiful, but rockets are.

Beginner Platforming/Trick Maps

Axodius Map05 (Download)

Contains some simple jumps and tricks of low difficulty.

Practice Hub (Download)

A wad where you can practice various speedrunning skills. While the index does not care about speedrunning, speedrunning tricks and techniques are often common in challenging maps.