Since Season 2, there is finally a ranked mode in Apex Legends. We explain how it works, how to start it, and how to level up.
What is the Ranked mode? In ranked games, you advance through different divisions that are supposed to reflect your skill level. The mode is designed to ensure that players of the same skill level can compete against each other, providing more exciting matches.
However, it primarily serves to allow players to measure themselves against each other. Particularly competitive players find it important to see an objective value that indicates how good they are.
With the start of Season 2, the ranked mode that enables this finally arrived. You can read more about what else has changed in Season 2 in our article:
Ranked Games in Apex Legends: Here’s how you can participate
How do I start a Ranked game? You make your selection for Ranked directly on the game screen. Where you could switch between Standard and Training, you will now also find the Ranked – similar to what it was with the Elite Queue for the Hunt Event.
Simply choose before starting the search on the left under your character that you want to start a ranked game. The option should be located far left in the selection.
Who can participate? Anyone who wants to participate in ranked games must reach at least level 10. However, you can join at any time, whether alone, in pairs, or in a trio.
You do not need a Battle Pass or other prerequisites for the mode. However, for games in higher leagues, you will need to pay points.
This is how matchmaking works: Apex Legends tries to match you with teams of similar group strength – but this doesn’t always succeed.
The game level is also always adjusted to the strongest player in the group. So if you play with a significantly stronger player, you might have issues. This is to ensure that no one is completely “carried”.
This is how matches work in the various leagues
What leagues are there? The Ranked mode is divided into six different leagues:
- Bronze
- Silver
- Gold
- Platinum
- Diamond
- Apex Predator
Each of these leagues, except Apex Predator, has four divisions. Division IV is the lowest, and Division I is the highest division. Apex Predator is somewhat like the “Grandmaster” rank, which currently does not have its own leaderboard. That may come in the future.
This is how you level up: During games in the ranked mode, you can earn Ranked Points (RP). You need these to level up. The cost of participation in games varies depending on the ranks:
- Bronze (free, everyone starts here)
- Silver – 120 RP, games cost 1 RP
- Gold – 280 RP, games cost 2 RP
- Platinum – 480 RP, games cost 3 RP
- Diamond – 720 RP, games cost 4 RP
- Apex Predator – 1000 RP, games cost 5 RP
The fee is deducted only after the match – you can negate it with earned points. You earn points by getting kills in games or finishing in higher placements:
- 1 RP per kill, up to 5 RP per round
- Top 10 earns 2 RP
- Top 5 earns 4 RP
- Top 3 earns 7 RP
- A victory earns 12 RP
The placements are not cumulative. Only the highest reward counts. So you can earn a maximum of 17 RP – minus the participation fee.
Can I also drop down? Yes, it is possible to drop to lower divisions within the leagues. If you are playing in Division III and consistently lose, you will drop to Division IV. However, it is not possible to drop between leagues. If you lose in Gold IV, you do not drop back to Silver. This also applies to Apex Predator.
In Division IV, it is also not possible to fall below the required number of RP for participation. You can always participate in a game. However, if you earn fewer or only as many RP as the participation cost, you will not gain any plus and will remain at the same level.
How long does the Season last?
This is how series work: The ranked seasons are called “series” in Apex Legends. The series are independent of the ongoing seasons in Apex Legends. However, the first series coincides with Season 2 and runs until September.
However, this does not always have to coincide, as EA has announced. Exact details will be available at the end of Season 2.
What happens if someone leaves the match?
These penalties exist: Anyone who leaves a match early receives a game penalty. This ranges from five minutes to a week. It increases for each time you leave the game while you could still be saved.
On the other hand, there is also a “loss tolerance”. If a teammate lets you down or an error causes a loss, you will not lose RP due to the deduction of the participation fee. However, the gains and losses still balance each other out.
As an example:
- You play a Platinum game and someone leaves the game
- You score 2 kills – but are then wiped out
- You earn 2 RP for the kills but pay 4 for participation
- That would actually be a 2 RP deduction from your account. Instead, you will receive 0 RP
What rewards are there?
This is what you get for Ranked: For participating in ranked games, there are some rewards. Mainly, these are the rank badges that you can wear as badges for each league:
However, the graphic about the leagues also mentions further rewards, such as weapon cosmetics and “Dive Trails”, presumably various light trails when jumping. Other rewards may come in the future.
With a bit of luck, you might even get to try out a new legend in the Ranked Season:
