Valorant has finally introduced the long-awaited Competitive Mode with the Ranked system. But how does it actually work? How do you enter the Ranked Mode and how do you unlock additional ranks on the list?
What is a Ranked Mode? The release version of Valorant received a competitive mode with a Ranked system with Patch 1.02. This refers to a ranking system where you are assigned ranks and tiers based on your performance in the game. The better you play, the higher you climb in the Ranked list.
Your opponents should therefore match your actual skill more closely, unlike in the unranked public matches. In those, you could theoretically encounter a pro player like Shroud, which is less likely in the ranked mode, provided you stay in the lower ranks.
Otherwise, a ranked game is identical to a regular round in Valorant. You still play 5vs5 on the same maps and with the same weapons and agents. But be prepared for players who will play more fiercely and operate closer to your skill level.
All about Competitive Mode – Unlocking, Ranks, Matchmaking
How does the Ranked Mode work? To participate at all, you first need to qualify for the Ranked Mode and then determine your starting rank in a number of placement matches. Good players start significantly higher than newcomers. How all this works and which ranks are available has been summarized by Riot in a blog. We’ve summarized it here for you.
How do I unlock the Ranked Mode?
This is how you get into the ranking: Before you can attempt the ranked battles, you must ensure that you roughly know what you are doing. Therefore, as a new player, you can’t just jump right in. Instead, you must have completed 20 rounds in Valorant. Before that, you can’t start any games in Ranked Mode.
Which matches count towards that: The absolute number of matches played since the beginning of your Valorant career counts. You do not have to play 20 matches since the introduction of the Ranked Mode. It is sufficient if you have participated in a total of 20 games at any point.
How many placement matches do I have to play until my rank is determined?
Help, I still don’t have a rank: That’s because the system needs to find out how it can assign you a rank. For that, another 5 rounds as placement matches must be completed. Only then will the system determine your starting rank in the appropriate tier.
How does the game determine my starting rank? According to Riot, during your placement rounds, your personal performance is analyzed primarily. Won rounds are less significant. Rather, it is about whether you participated sensibly in the game or just acted as a kill feeder or semi-afk.
What does the Ranked list look like and how do I climb?
These are the ranks: There is a total of 22 ranks in Valorant. They are divided into a total of 8 tiers. Each tier comprises 3 ranks, with only the last tier having one rank. Each rank is also illustrated with a rank badge.
The tiers of ranks are:
- Iron
- Bronze
- Silver
- Gold
- Platinum
- Diamond
- Immortal
- Radiant (formerly Valorant and renamed upon release)
How do I rank up? Just like in the placement rounds, an internal system constantly checks your performance in ranked games. Additionally, there is an increasing weight on won and lost games. Wins are therefore essential in Ranked Mode to rank up. Good performance in the match enhances this further.
On the other hand, you can drop in rank if you perform poorly and lose frequently.
How does matchmaking work? Ranked games in Valorant group you only with players of your rank as well as 2 ranks above or below. In groups, more leeway is possible, but only extreme deviations will not be tolerated.
What happens if I don’t play for a while? Then nothing happens to you, you do not lose a rank due to extended absence. However, your rank will no longer be displayed after 14 days of absence. It will reappear when you start playing again.
Fun fact: Just about 30 hours after the release of the Ranked Mode in the beta, a player named Tyson “TenZ” Ngo reached the maximum rank “Valorant”. The former Counter-Strike pro from the US organization Cloud 9 played exceptionally well and thus started at a high rank. Over the past weekend, he continued to play very strongly and managed to rank up quickly to the maximum rank.
