Rivals, Backers & Sidebets

From Act 2 onward every race is a gamble: Sidebets create Rivals, Rivals lead to one-on-one Head-to-Heads, and each planet is graded by the Backer paying for your run.

All 11 Rivals and what beating them gives

There are 13 racers in the League. Shade is you and Kestar Bool can never become a Rival, which leaves these 11 for Best of the Best.

The three Backers

Pick the easiest Contract every time. A Satisfactory rating by Derven Acos unlocks the Backer's Favor; an Excellent tour from all three is Pride of Gathleon.

I'll Take That Bet

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Win 10 Sidebets.

TypeBronze

MissableNo

How to earn it

Win 10 Sidebets. From Act 2, before each Standard or Eliminator race you can bet on one of three competitors; finish ahead of them and you win credits.

Tip

Comes naturally during the Gauntlet grind.

First Time, Big Time

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Win your first Rivalry Head-to-Head.

TypeBronze

MissableNo

How to earn it

Win your first Rivalry Head-to-Head, a one-on-one race your Rival challenges you to one or two planets after the rivalry starts.

Tip

See Best of the Best for how to set up rivalries on purpose.

Best of the Best

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Beat every Racer in a Rivalry Head-to-Head.

TypeSilver

MissableNo

How to earn it

Beat all 11 Rivals in a Head-to-Head (Kestar Bool can't become a Rival, so he isn't needed). To create a rivalry, bet on the same competitor several times on one planet; they confront you at the start of the next planet, and challenge you to a Head-to-Head a planet or two later. Five Rival wins also unlock Favors: Lyren Shok (Fan Club), Griff Halloran (Victorious Loser), Sen Fira (Silent Defiance), Ary Quill (Family Legacy) and Fola Kanjen (High Roller).

Tip

There's some luck in who shows up as a Sidebet, so restart a tour until a Rival you still need is offered in the first race. If someone you're targeting is already standing in the hub waiting to talk (white diamond icon), they won't confront you; quit to the main menu and continue. Each Rival you beat unlocks a new colour for your speeders, so the colour list doubles as a tracker. The full list of 11 Rivals and what each one unlocks is in the table above.

Beginner's Luck

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Win a Sidebet against your current Rival.

TypeBronze

MissableNo

How to earn it

Win a Sidebet against your current Rival. Bet on the same competitor a few times on one planet and, at the start of the next planet, they may stop you and declare you rivals. From then on they appear with a red cross in the Sidebet list; pick them and beat them once.

Tip

Sidebets only start in Act 2, so this is the earliest it can happen. Bet on the same racer every race of a planet to make the rivalry likely.

Gathii vs. Bool

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Win a Sidebet against Kestar Bool.

TypeBronze

MissableNo

How to earn it

Win a Sidebet against Kestar Bool. Every so often he's one of the three Sidebet options; bet on him and finish ahead.

Tip

He's the toughest racer in the field, so take this one on Cadet.

Star Racer

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Have a Backer rate you as Excellent.

TypeBronze

MissableNo

How to earn it

Get an Excellent rating from a Backer. From Act 2 you pick a Backer (the Hutt, the Pirate or the Broker) before each planet, and they grade you on two things: your race placements and their Contract, a challenge you choose. A podium in most races plus a fully completed Contract earns Excellent.

Tip

Comes naturally once you know to pick an easy Contract (see Pride of Gathleon).

Poodoo Racer

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Have a Backer rate you as Poor.

TypeBronze

MissableNo

How to earn it

Get a Poor rating from a Backer: ignore the Contract and finish every event on a planet in last place.

Tip

Do it on a Cadet run where you have tokens to spare.

Pride of Gathleon

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Achieve an Excellent Tour rating from each Backer.

TypeBronze

MissableNo

How to earn it

Earn an Excellent tour rating from each of the three Backers. That needs Excellent on most planets before Derven Acos (four planets in Act 2, five in Act 3); one Satisfactory is forgiven if the rest are Excellent. Any race where you finish too low, or a Contract you don't complete, drops that planet's grade.

Tip

Always take the easiest Contract: for the Hutt, Pre-Race Checks or activating Abilities; for the Pirate, redlining or time spent in last place; for the Broker, time at very high speed or double overtakes. Skip Mystery Encounters, Scrap Dealers and Field Tests on these runs, since they don't advance the Contract. Satisfactory ratings with each Backer also unlock the Team Vranki, Bloody Bounty and Deeper Pockets Favors.