diff --git a/Source/Core/Core/HW/EXI/EXI_DeviceSlippi.cpp b/Source/Core/Core/HW/EXI/EXI_DeviceSlippi.cpp
index 6c1b7772e1..a82da7fcea 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Core/HW/EXI/EXI_DeviceSlippi.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/Core/HW/EXI/EXI_DeviceSlippi.cpp
@@ -1873,6 +1873,16 @@ void CEXISlippi::startFindMatch(u8* payload)
       return;
     }
   }
+  else if (search.mode == SlippiMatchmaking::OnlinePlayMode::TEAMS)
+  {
+    // Some special handling for teams since it is being heavily used for unranked
+    if (localSelections.characterId >= 26 &&
+        SConfig::GetInstance().m_melee_version != Melee::Version::MEX)
+    {
+      forcedError = "The character you selected is not allowed in this mode";
+      return;
+    }
+  }
 
 #ifndef LOCAL_TESTING
   if (!isEnetInitialized)
@@ -2300,6 +2310,25 @@ void CEXISlippi::prepareOnlineMatchState()
         return;
       }
     }
+    else if (lastSearch.mode == SlippiMatchmaking::OnlinePlayMode::TEAMS)
+    {
+      auto isMEX = SConfig::GetInstance().m_melee_version == Melee::Version::MEX;
+
+      if (!localCharOk && !isMEX)
+      {
+        handleConnectionCleanup();
+        forcedError = "The character you selected is not allowed in this mode";
+        prepareOnlineMatchState();
+        return;
+      }
+
+      if (!remoteCharOk && !isMEX)
+      {
+        handleConnectionCleanup();
+        prepareOnlineMatchState();
+        return;
+      }
+    }
 
     // Set rng offset
     rngOffset = isDecider ? lps.rngOffset : rps[0].rngOffset;
@@ -2371,9 +2400,10 @@ void CEXISlippi::prepareOnlineMatchState()
     }
 
     // Turn pause off in unranked/ranked, on in other modes
+    auto pauseAllowed = !SlippiMatchmaking::IsFixedRulesMode(lastSearch.mode) &&
+                        lastSearch.mode != SlippiMatchmaking::OnlinePlayMode::TEAMS;
     u8* gameBitField3 = static_cast<u8*>(&onlineMatchBlock[2]);
-    *gameBitField3 = SlippiMatchmaking::IsFixedRulesMode(lastSearch.mode) ? *gameBitField3 | 0x8 :
-                                                                            *gameBitField3 & 0xF7;
+    *gameBitField3 = pauseAllowed ? *gameBitField3 & 0xF7 : *gameBitField3 | 0x8;
     //*gameBitField3 = *gameBitField3 | 0x8;
 
     // Group players into left/right side for team splash screen display