"High Table duels are a myth."
"Wrong! They're a cold, hard fact, and part of the foundation of the Table to stop its more combustible members from outright war. It's also, win or lose, what you say you want. A way out."

—John Wick and Winston Scott^[src]

High Table Duels are essentially trial by combat, in which two warring factions offer up a proxy to participate in a High Table sanctioned duel, along with a "second" to support the proxy. Duels must be overseen by a Harbinger or similar High Table representative and exist to prevent faction warfare, which would threaten the integrity of the High Table. The duels can also be used to challenge high-ranking members of the High Table and even heads of crime families.

Rules of Engagement

Upon the challenged accepting the duel, both parties must discuss their demands and rules of engagement at a predetermined location. The rules include time, weapons, and location. The rules of engagement are decided through a card game, where a representative from each party flips a random steel card on the table. Whoever's card bears the higher number, will decide either time, weapon, or location.

As the duel commences, both proxies and their seconds will drink, as the Harbinger recites an oath. The proxies will then remove all body armour and equipment before being provided with the chosen weapon and fighting to the death, or to a certain point as determined in the card game. Following the duel, the victor's demands will be met and the loser's second executed.

"I commend your souls to God. We begin as we end. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust."

—The duel's oath

The graphics on the High Table steel cards for the rules of engagement are based on 17th-19th century classical paintings.

Known paintings on the steel cards

The Barque of Dante by Eugène Delacroix (Card 3)

The Archangel Michael by a Neapolitan master of the 17th century (Card 4)

Death of Orpheus by Émile Lévy (Card 8)

Saint Francis of Assisi in Ecstasy by Caravaggio (Card 14)

David with the Head of Goliath by Caravaggio (Card 19)

Charon Carries Souls Across the River Styx by Alexander Litovchenko (Card 23)

History

High Table duels have likely existed for decades, possibly since the founding of the High Table. The duels were likely covered up and painted as a myth by crime family heads and high-ranking Table agents who did not want to advertise a legality in which they could be challenged for their positions or removed from power.

John Wick: Chapter 4

"Per the Old Ways and the Old Laws, John Wick calls you to a duel. To settle your differences the old fashioned way, as gentlemen should."

—Winston delivers John's challenge to the Marquis

After the attack at the Osaka Continental, John meets with Winston at Charon's grave where he expresses his condolences. He questions Winston about the Marquis de Gramont and learns that he can found in Paris. Winston asks John what he plans to do once he finds the Marquis, and John says that he is going to kill him. Winston states that the High Table will simply replace him afterwards and suggests that he turns their own rules against them by issuing a duel between John and Vincent, which will guarantee John's freedom win or lose. Although John doesn't sit at the table, his family, the Ruska Roma, does and he can have them issue the challenge and offer John up as a proxy. However, since the Ruska Roma tore up John's ticket, Winston tells him to travel to Berlin to have it mended.

Upon arriving in Berlin, John requested to speak to Pyotr but was promptly shot by the Priest and knocked out. John finds himself with a noose around his neck, surrounded by contemptuous members of the Ruska Roma. Katia proclaims that the Ruska Roma operates under the table and that John is excommunicado and has no business at the Ruska Roma. John retorts that it is ultimately Pyotr's decision whether to re-induct John, to which Katia coldly states that the Marquis had Killa assassinate Pyotr. John informs Katia that the Marquis can be killed in a High Table duel, however, John must be part of a High Table crime family in order to issue a challenge. Katia is doubtful, but the Priest affirms that this is legal as per the "Old Ways". Katia then tells John to assassinate Killa in order to be re-inducted into the Ruska Roma and attain a "Crest".

At Killa's nightclub, John, Mr. Nobody, Caine and Killa play poker to decide who would kill John and claim the bounty money. Killa cheats and deals himself five 2s, crowning himself the winner. Killa then states that, "Just so you know, Pyotr wasn't personal. Well... maybe a little", before John cuts his neck with a playing card. A huge shootout ensues and John chases Killa throughout the nightclub, eventually knocking him off a balcony, killing him instantly. John punches a deceased Killa twice in the mouth and extracts one of his gold teeth as evidence of Killa's death.

After assassinating Killa, John presents Katia with Killa's tooth. The Ruska Roma sets up a ceremony in order to re-induct John into the fold. Molten steel is poured into a steel bucket, which bears a mold of the Ruska Roma's Crest. Katia and John both recite an oath and press their arms on the mold, branding each with a Crest.

Winson enters the Louvre to challenge the Marquis. The Marquis maliciously compliments Winston's boldness, implying that he would have Winston killed, however, Winston presents the Ruska Roma's challenge. The Marquis initially declines, calling the Ruska Roma a "second-rate [High Table crime family]", but accepts after Winston mentions the glory he could attain by being the man to kill the legendary hitman, John Wick. The Marquis then tells Winston to meet him at the Eiffel Tower to discuss rules of engagement. The Marquis orders Winston to leave, but is cut off by Winston, who demands that in addition to John's freedom, his excommunicado lifted, his reinstatement, and the reconstruction of the NYC continental, all at the expense of the High Table. The Marquis tells Winston that he too will be executed, should John lose, to which Winston responds "Such is life."

At the rules of engagement, John shows his Crest to the Harbinger who nods in approval. John then sits with the Marquis as the Harbinger warns both parties that only one proxy can survive. As the challenged party, the Marquis chooses first. For the time of the duel, the Marquis wishes to duel at sunrise and flips an eight. John wishes to duel immediately, but flips a three. For the place, the Marquis chooses Le Centre Pompidou and flips a four, however, John flips a nineteen and chooses the Sacré Coeur. For the weapons, the Marquis picks blades but flips a fourteen. John chooses pistols and flips a twenty-three. Finally, both John and the Marquis choose no quarter, which means surrender is not an option; the duel only ends when one of the men dies. The Harbinger is ready to end the meeting, when the Marquis nominates Caine to fight in his place, to everyone's surprise. The Harbinger then summarizes the conditions of the duel: sunrise, at the Sacré Coeur, and with duelling pistols. He adds that failure to appear to the duel in time will result in forfeiture and execution of the party.

The Harbinger later is seen walking the halls of the Louis Vuitton Foundation with the Marquis. The Harbinger expresses his disdain for the Marquis' plan, stating that the foundation of the High Table will be in jeopardy, should Caine lose. The Marquis simply retorts that his victory will do the opposite. The Harbinger reminds the Marquis not to let his ambition exceed his worth and walks off-screen. Chidi soon approaches the Marquis and conveys his doubts about the Marquis trusting his fate to Caine. The Marquis responds, stating that Caine has something to live for, die for and kill for (referring to Caine's daughter), whereas John has nothing to live for. He also sets up a $26 million bounty on John for every assassin in Paris, in order to prevent him from showing up at the duel in time, which would grant him the victory by default.

John and Caine arrive to the duel together and join their seconds. Drinks are served as the Harbinger recites an oath and the men prepare to duel. The duelling pistols are provided and John and Caine remove their suits and step thirty paces away from each other. The Harbinger confirms that both men are ready and recites another oath in latin. John and Caine fire and are both hit. The Harbinger then orders the men to move to twenty paces. John and Caine fire and are both hit. The Harbinger now orders them to step to ten paces. John tells Caine that "Those who cling to death, live", to which Caine responds "Those who cling to life, die". Both men appear to fire and John falls to the ground. The Marquis demands the duel to be halted and attempts to claim the coup de grâce. He snatches the weapon from Caine, and releases him from servitude. Winston, who has realised John's intentions, stalls the Marquis by calling him an "arrogant asshole", and reveals that John never fired his pistol. John proceeds to execute the Marquis, ensuring his victory.

The Harbinger takes a long pause, before proclaiming that John's obligation to the High Table is satisfied, and that John is now a free man. He tells Winston that he will be reinstated as the manager of the newly rebuilt NYC Continental. The Harbinger even goes as far as freeing Caine and ensuring his daughter's protection, despite Caine losing the duel.

Following the duel, John is fatally wounded and is consoled by Caine. John attempts to leave the church, but collapses at the stairs, seemingly succumbing to his wounds.

Known Rules

"Failure to meet at the appointed hour will result in forfeiture and immediate execution."

—The Harbinger

• If one of the duelists is wanted dead by the High Table, they appear to be given a temporary reprieve for the duration of negotiations in which no one may attack them and they can leave unharmed.
• The duel will always end in death if the combatants choose no quarter. The fact that no quarter has to be agreed to by the duelists suggests that there's a non-lethal option for the duels, possibly one of the participants being allowed to surrender.
• The proxy must be accompanied by a second.
• The second will be executed, should their proxy lose or fail to meet the duel's deadline.
• Failure to meet at the appointed time will result in forfeiture.
• The duel must be accepted by the challenged party before duelling and a duel cannot be arbitrarily issued. This is confirmed when the Marquis initially declines the challenge, but accepts when Winston appeals to his ego.
• An excommunicated individual can still issue a challenge, as long as they belong to a crime family and have a Crest.
• The challenger must be a part of a High Table family and have a family Crest.
• The appointed weapon must be used by both parties.
• Should pistols be chosen, each party starts the duel thirty paces away from each other, and approaches the other at 10 paces after each round.
• Should the proxy be pardoned by his second before the opposing proxy dies, the proxy is released from his obligation and will not be executed upon defeat. This will only occur if the second takes the proxy's place in the duel. This is confirmed when the Marquis pardons Caine before attempting to kill John and explains why Caine was not executed upon the Marquis' defeat.
• The challenged party flips their card first when discussing rules of engagement.
• The challenged party (and for that matter, possibly the challenger) have the right to a "nomination". This is seen when the Marquis nominates Caine to fight John Wick in his place.
• The victor's demands must be met, however, at the discretion of an overseeing Harbinger, the second proxy's demands may be met, should they be pardoned by their second and survive. This is confirmed when the Harbinger releases Caine from his obligation and promises safety for Caine's daughter.
• The High Table cannot interfere with the duel. This includes obstructing proxies from reaching the duel, however, the opposing parties can obstruct one another. This is confirmed when the Marquis sends The Myrmidons to stop John from reaching the duel without repercussions.
• All body armour and protective equipment such as bulletproof suits must be removed prior to the duel.
• An excommunicado order can be lifted by duelling a representative of all 12 High Table seats, like the Marquis. Though it was previously thought that only the Elder held such power, it is confirmed in John Wick: Chapter 4, when John's excommunicado status is lifted after his victory. Given that duels can lift an excommunicado order, they can presumably cease bounties and possibly even subvert blood markers, however, as previously mentioned, the duel must be accepted by the challenged party and may be declined at their discretion.

Known Participants

Trivia

• The idea of the High Table duel is inspired by and a homage of the film The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.