What an Exhibition Match Does
An exhibition can bring in the coins your Ludus needs, but it can also tire the fighters you need for the next arena battle. This Dominus Gladiatus exhibition matches guide explains how to use those internal bouts without treating the payment as free money. Plan around both participants' recovery, not just the winner's reward.
Recorded demo player experience shows exhibitions taking place within the Ludus between two of the player's own gladiators. The October 7 developer update added the Ordinator to manage Exhibition Matches, so older recordings may show an earlier interface arrangement.
Set Up the Bout Around Your Next Match
Before arranging an exhibition, check the next scheduled arena fight and the number of gladiators it requires. A duel tomorrow and a team fight tomorrow place different demands on your roster.
Then use the exhibition arrangement in your current game to select two participants. In Metal Face's demo player experience, the player chose a main fighter and a separate training partner. After the bout, the player sent tired gladiators to rest before returning to the arena schedule.
Use that sequence as a practical check:
- Read the next arena date and lineup requirement.
- Inspect the fatigue and morale of both proposed participants.
- Review the exhibition reward shown in the game.
- Choose the two gladiators and complete the bout.
- Recheck both fighters' condition and schedule recovery.
A reserve can make this easier by taking the training-partner role, leaving another main fighter out of the exhibition. That is a roster option demonstrated in player experience, not a guarantee that a third gladiator pays for their own upkeep.
Use the Updated Reward and Cooldown Rules
The official Dominus Gladiatus update history records two important changes:
| Update | Change |
|---|---|
| September 17 | The cooldown begins after the exhibition ends rather than when it is accepted |
| October 16 | The base reward increased from 10 to 20 coins, while the bonus per Arena victory decreased from 5 to 3 |
Those figures explain why older video payments do not all match. Read the final reward displayed in your own match arrangement instead of assuming every exhibition pays an amount seen in a recording.
The cooldown change also means you cannot count the fight itself as part of an already-running wait. Schedule the next opportunity from the completed bout, not from the moment you first accepted it.
Account for Fatigue and Morale
Demo player experience describes fatigue gains for both participants and different morale outcomes for winner and loser. Even when the coins solve an immediate treasury problem, the bout can leave your intended arena entrants less ready to fight.
The September 17 update adds another restriction: a gladiator who refuses to fight is also unavailable for an exhibition. An exhibition is therefore not a workaround for a fighter's refusal.
Afterward, inspect both participants separately. A satisfied winner can still need rest, and repeatedly using the same loser can create a morale problem that deserves attention. If the upcoming arena fight requires both gladiators, leave time for their actual recovery rather than assuming you can simply send them straight back into combat.
FAQ
Who manages Exhibition Matches?
The October 7 developer update added the Ordinator for that role. Older demo recordings may show the system before this interface change.
How much does an exhibition pay?
The October 16 update set a 20-coin base and changed the bonus per Arena victory to 3 coins. Check the game's displayed reward for the actual bout you are arranging.
When does the cooldown start?
After the fight ends, following the September 17 update. It no longer starts when the match is accepted.
Can a gladiator who refuses to fight join an exhibition?
No. The official update specifically makes such gladiators unavailable for Exhibition Matches as well.