$1000 Deck Challenge

Deck of Death™ Challenge Official Rules and Terms

Updated December 26, 2025

Overview

Think you’ve got what it takes to crush all three Deck of Death™ decks (Upper Body, Lower Body, and Core & Cardio) in 90 minutes or less?

Right now, there are two ways to win cash:

Finish all three decks in under 90 minutes and you can win $1,000.
Beat the current record time and you can win $2,000.

The current official record holder is Joe Cowan, who completed all three decks in 1 hour, 13 minutes, and 42 seconds (1:13:42) in a verified attempt. Watch his entry here.

This isn’t for beginners. It’s for the bold, the crazy, and the few willing to go toe-to-toe with the most brutal bodyweight challenge out there.

Eligibility

You must be 18 years or older to enter.
You must be a legal resident of the United States to claim the prize.
Only individuals may enter. No teams or shared decks.
The challenge must be completed using official Deck of Death decks: Upper Body, Lower Body, and Core & Cardio. No substitutions allowed.
Multiple attempts are allowed, but only one submission can be active at a time.

Challenge Requirements

To be eligible to win:

You must complete every single card in all three decks (over 210 total cards) within 90 minutes.
All exercises must be performed with proper form and full rep count or full time (for example, 45 second holds).
Rest breaks are allowed, but the total time from the first card to the last must be 90 minutes or less.
Any skipping, shortcutting, or poor form may result in disqualification.
All three decks must be shuffled individually, then combined and shuffled together on camera before you start the challenge, so it is clear no cards are laid out strategically.
A visible timer must be present in the video for the entire duration of the attempt.
The cards and pulls must remain visible throughout the attempt.
The video must be raw, uncut, and unedited from the moment you start shuffling until the final card is completed.

Rep Counting and Two Count Rules

To keep judging consistent, Deck of Death uses the following counting system for every challenge attempt:

Standard rep count (most movements)

For all exercises except the four listed below, the number on the card is a standard rep count.

That means if a card says 3, you do 3 total reps, not 3 per side.

This includes all unilateral and left/right style movements such as all lunges, step ups, staggered push-ups, etc.

How to handle left/right movements:
You can split the reps however you want as long as the total reps equals the number on the card and you keep it reasonable. For example:

“3 lateral lunges” can be 2 left and 1 right, or 1 left and 2 right
If you get multiple similar cards in a row, alternating which side gets the “extra” rep is recommended for balance

The only two count movements in the entire system

Only these four movements use a two count:

Side jumps
Mountain climbers
Russian twists
Bicycles

For these, 1 rep = left + right, so the card’s “20” stays 20 reps, but it equals 40 individual side motions. Examples:

“20 mountain climbers” means 20 total reps where each rep is left + right
“30 Russian twists” means 30 total reps where each rep is left + right
“25 bicycles” means 25 total reps where each rep is left + right
“15 side jumps” means 15 total reps where each rep is one jump left + one jump right

Proof and Submission

To claim the prize, you must submit verifiable evidence in one of the following ways:

Option 1: Raw, Uncut Video

Record your entire session in one continuous take from start to finish.
No edits, cuts, or angle changes.
A timer must be visible or overlaid throughout the entire video.
Decks must be visible and cards must be clearly shown as you pull them.

Option 2: Live Verified Attempt (Preferred)

You can coordinate a live challenge (in person or livestream) with our team ahead of time.
Email us at challenge@deckofdeathcards.com with the subject line “Deck of Death Challenge Submission” to set it up.

Prize Details

The next verified finisher who completes all three decks in 90 minutes or less and meets all rules is eligible for a $1,000 cash prize.
If your official time is faster than the current record, you are eligible for a $2,000 cash prize instead of $1,000.
As of this update, the record is 1:13:42 by Joe Cowan. To earn the $2,000 prize, your total time must be less than 1:13:42.
Payment will be sent via PayPal, cash, Venmo, or check.
We may offer additional prizes to future verified finishers at our discretion.
Winners may be featured in future Deck of Death™ content. By submitting, you give us permission to use your name, footage, and story for marketing purposes.
We reserve the right to update the record time and prize details as new record holders emerge. Any changes will apply going forward, not retroactively.

Disclaimers

Submissions will be judged by the Deck of Death™ team. We reserve the right to accept or reject entries based on form, clarity, or evidence quality.
We are not responsible for injuries sustained during the challenge. Attempt at your own risk and consult a physician if you have any health concerns.
This challenge may be changed or ended at any time.
Void where prohibited.