diff --git a/ctfcli/core/deployment/registry.py b/ctfcli/core/deployment/registry.py
index 0db741f..98fa9e1 100644
--- a/ctfcli/core/deployment/registry.py
+++ b/ctfcli/core/deployment/registry.py
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@ def deploy(self, skip_login=False, *args, **kwargs) -> DeploymentResult:
             )
             return DeploymentResult(False)
 
+        if self.challenge.image.compose:
+            click.secho("Cannot use registry deployer with __compose__ stacks", fg="red")
+            return DeploymentResult(False)
+
         # resolve a location for the image push
         # e.g. registry.example.com/test-project/challenge-image-name
         # challenge image name is appended to the host provided for the deployment
diff --git a/ctfcli/core/deployment/ssh.py b/ctfcli/core/deployment/ssh.py
index a39b5a1..28d58fe 100644
--- a/ctfcli/core/deployment/ssh.py
+++ b/ctfcli/core/deployment/ssh.py
@@ -19,6 +19,47 @@ def deploy(self, *args, **kwargs) -> DeploymentResult:
             )
             return DeploymentResult(False)
 
+        if self.challenge.image.compose:
+            return self._deploy_compose_stack(*args, **kwargs)
+
+        return self._deploy_single_image(*args, **kwargs)
+
+    def _deploy_compose_stack(self, *args, **kwargs) -> DeploymentResult:
+        host_url = urlparse(self.host)
+        target_path = str(host_url.path)
+        if target_path == "/":  # Don't put challenges in the root of the filesystem.
+            target_path = ""
+        elif target_path == "//":  # If you really want to, add a second slash as part of your path: ssh://1.1.1.1//
+            target_path = "/"
+        elif target_path.startswith("/~/"):  # Support relative paths by starting your path with /~/
+            target_path = target_path.removeprefix("/~/")
+        try:
+            subprocess.run(["ssh", host_url.netloc, f"mkdir -p '{target_path}/'"], check=True)
+            subprocess.run(
+                ["rsync", "-a", "--delete", self.challenge.challenge_directory, f"{host_url.netloc}:{target_path}"],
+                check=True,
+            )
+            if not target_path:
+                remote_path = f"{self.challenge.challenge_directory.name}"
+            else:
+                remote_path = f"{target_path}/{self.challenge.challenge_directory.name}"
+            subprocess.run(
+                [
+                    "ssh",
+                    host_url.netloc,
+                    f"cd '{remote_path}' && docker compose up -d --build --remove-orphans -y",
+                ],
+                check=True,
+            )
+
+        except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
+            click.secho("Failed to deploy compose stack!", fg="red")
+            click.secho(str(e), fg="red")
+            return DeploymentResult(False)
+
+        return DeploymentResult(True)
+
+    def _deploy_single_image(self, *args, **kwargs) -> DeploymentResult:
         if self.challenge.image.built:
             if not self.challenge.image.pull():
                 click.secho("Could not pull the image. Please check docker output above.", fg="red")
diff --git a/ctfcli/core/exceptions.py b/ctfcli/core/exceptions.py
index 1ac3a62..d508233 100644
--- a/ctfcli/core/exceptions.py
+++ b/ctfcli/core/exceptions.py
@@ -37,6 +37,14 @@ class RemoteChallengeNotFound(ChallengeException):
     pass
 
 
+class ImageException(ChallengeException):
+    pass
+
+
+class InvalidComposeOperation(ImageException):
+    pass
+
+
 class LintException(Exception):
     def __init__(self, *args, issues: dict[str, list[str]] | None = None):
         self.issues = issues if issues else {}
diff --git a/ctfcli/core/image.py b/ctfcli/core/image.py
index c97ead8..64e78d2 100644
--- a/ctfcli/core/image.py
+++ b/ctfcli/core/image.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 from os import PathLike
 from pathlib import Path
 
+from ctfcli.core.exceptions import InvalidComposeOperation
+
 
 class Image:
     def __init__(self, name: str, build_path: str | PathLike | None = None):
@@ -15,6 +17,11 @@ def __init__(self, name: str, build_path: str | PathLike | None = None):
         if "/" in self.name or ":" in self.name:
             self.basename = self.name.split(":")[0].split("/")[-1]
 
+        if self.name == "__compose__":
+            self.compose = True
+        else:
+            self.compose = False
+
         self.built = True
 
         # if the image provides a build path, assume it is not built yet
@@ -23,6 +30,9 @@ def __init__(self, name: str, build_path: str | PathLike | None = None):
             self.built = False
 
     def build(self) -> str | None:
+        if self.compose:
+            raise InvalidComposeOperation("Local build not supported for docker compose challenges")
+
         docker_build = subprocess.call(
             ["docker", "build", "--load", "-t", self.name, "."], cwd=self.build_path.absolute()
         )
@@ -33,6 +43,9 @@ def build(self) -> str | None:
         return self.name
 
     def pull(self) -> str | None:
+        if self.compose:
+            raise InvalidComposeOperation("Local pull not supported for docker compose challenges")
+
         docker_pull = subprocess.call(["docker", "pull", self.name])
         if docker_pull != 0:
             return None
@@ -40,6 +53,9 @@ def pull(self) -> str | None:
         return self.name
 
     def push(self, location: str) -> str | None:
+        if self.compose:
+            raise InvalidComposeOperation("Local push not supported for docker compose challenges")
+
         if not self.built:
             self.build()
 
@@ -52,6 +68,9 @@ def push(self, location: str) -> str | None:
         return location
 
     def export(self) -> str | None:
+        if self.compose:
+            raise InvalidComposeOperation("Local export not supported for docker compose challenges")
+
         if not self.built:
             self.build()
 
diff --git a/ctfcli/core/lint.py b/ctfcli/core/lint.py
index 7f3dd69..17149ba 100644
--- a/ctfcli/core/lint.py
+++ b/ctfcli/core/lint.py
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ def lint_challenge(challenge, skip_hadolint: bool = False, flag_format: str = "f
         prop.lint(challenge, issues)
 
     # Check that the image field and Dockerfile match
-    if (challenge.challenge_directory / "Dockerfile").is_file() and challenge.get("image", "") != ".":
-        issues["dockerfile"].append("Dockerfile exists but image field does not point to it")
+    if (challenge.challenge_directory / "Dockerfile").is_file() and challenge.get("image", "") not in [".", "__compose__"]:
+        issues["dockerfile"].append("Dockerfile exists but image field does not point to it or compose")
 
     # Check that Dockerfile exists and is EXPOSE'ing a port
     if challenge.get("image") == ".":
diff --git a/ctfcli/core/properties/image.py b/ctfcli/core/properties/image.py
index 584baeb..5fca305 100644
--- a/ctfcli/core/properties/image.py
+++ b/ctfcli/core/properties/image.py
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@ def resolve(self, ctx: PropertyContext) -> Image | None:
         if not challenge_image:
             return None
 
+        # Check if challenge_image is explicitly marked as __compose__
+        if challenge_image == "__compose__":
+            return Image(challenge_image)
+
         # Check if challenge_image is explicitly marked with registry:// prefix
         if challenge_image.startswith("registry://"):
             challenge_image = challenge_image.replace("registry://", "")
diff --git a/ctfcli/spec/challenge-example.yml b/ctfcli/spec/challenge-example.yml
index 9b8f46d..c611181 100644
--- a/ctfcli/spec/challenge-example.yml
+++ b/ctfcli/spec/challenge-example.yml
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ type: standard
 # Settings used for Dockerfile deployment
 # If not used, remove or set to null
 # If you have a Dockerfile set to .
+# If you have a docker-compose.yaml file, set to __compose__. Note that this will send the entire challenge directory to the remote server and build it there.
+#  Only compatible with ssh, not registry.
 # If you have an imaged hosted on Docker set to the image url (e.g. python/3.8:latest, registry.gitlab.com/python/3.8:latest)
 # Follow Docker best practices and assign a tag
 image: null