Ranked Matches 3.0: FAQ
Ranked Matches 3.0 — is a mode that allows each user to challenge the strongest players, to prove themselves the best and demonstrate their skills. The aim of the mode is to achieve as many victories as possible to end up among the best of the best.
Leagues and Divisions
There are now only 7 leagues instead of 21 in the Ranked Matches progression. The first 5 leagues (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond) consist of 4 divisions each. Next come the leagues for the strongest players – Master and Grandmaster. To enter a new league, you have to gather 400 Rating Points (RP) in your current league – 100 Points in each of the four divisions (except for the Master and the Grandmaster leagues).
Click on the image to see the divisions and the respective number of points 
The Master and Grandmaster leagues have no divisions. In the Master league, you need to collect the required amount of RP to proceed to the top Grandmaster league. This league has no restriction on the maximum number of Rating Points. Anyone with a "balance" of over 2300 RP will be able to enter the league.
The leagues with no divisions have inactivity penalties – the player will lose 50 RP each day after a few days of not playing Ranked Matches. The penalty will be active until the player loses enough points to be rolled back to the Diamond league.
Additionally, every league has penalties for losing. That means that in case of a defeat you lose points instead of gaining them. Below, we will tell you more about how it works.
Advancing through leages and divisions
Each new season for the player begins with a calibration. At the first launch of a reworked Ranked Matches season, everyone starts with the same number of points. In the following seasons, the number of points will depend on the league, in which the player ended up in the previous season.
For the calibration, the player needs to play 5 matches. Each victory will add 50 points and each loss will subtract the same amount. These points will determine the league and division in which the player will begin their Ranked Matches journey. Thus, if the player achieves the highest number of victories at the calibration stage, they will start from the Silver league, otherwise – from the Bronze one.
After going through the calibration process, it is time to conquer the top! To advance through each league (except for the Master and the Grandmaster ones), you have to gain 100 points in each division. Upon reaching the required amount for the next league, you have to prove your skill by winning 3 out of 5 matches. If you fail, don't worry, you will remain in the current league; however, the number of RPs you gathered will be slightly reduced, so you can quickly get back to the placement matches.
Example: you are in the last division of the Silver league; you have gathered 800 RPs but did not manage to achieve 3 victories to advance to the Gold league. In this case, you will remain in the Silver league’s top division but your RPs will be slightly diminished. To redo the advancement trial, you will need to gather 800 RPs once more.
Advancing through the leagues gradually becomes more difficult. The penalty for defeat in the Bronze one is very low and victories bring more points. The next leagues give you less points for victories and have stricter loss penalties.
For experienced players there are also bonus points for their place within the team – depending on your place after the match, you gain extra points. The system is loyal towards players who did well in the match regardless of their team's loss or victory. Meaning that the top player of the the winning team will receive extra points, while the one in the defeated team will lose less.
Matchmaking
To select players for a match, the system takes into account the number of Rating Points the player has. The players matched into a room fall into a 100-point difference range. For example, if a player with 2020 RPs starts searching for a match, the players selected to match him or her would have 1920-2120 RPs. If there are not enough such players, the system starts gradually expanding the searching field.
If the player has invited friends into the match, the team building will be based on the highest number of points among the stack members. For example, if the players with 1400, 1600 and 1700 RPs start searching for a game, they will be matched against players with 1600-1800 RPs.
On top of that, there is a limitation for the teams – if the difference in Rating Points within the team is over 800, they will not be able to start searching for a game together. The team leader will receive a notification, warning that the gap in the rating is too big.
Motivation and rewards
Taking part in Ranked Matches is an exciting process that helps you improve your mastery, your teamwork, and your tactics. First and foremost, this mode is aimed at players who have something to show. You are in for not only cool and epic battles but also a tough journey to demonstrate that you are the best of the best. You will need to put in a lot of effort to achieve the best results. We are sure that you can do this, so show us – Who is the Grandmaster around here?
Currency and shop
For your successes in the Ranked Matches, you will receive a rating currency. It is earned both for victories and for advancing through the divisions and leagues. But bear it in mind that you can only acquire the currency when you get into a new league or a division for the first time.
For example, if the player started off in the first division of the Silver league and made their way to the fourth division in Gold one, they will receive a reward. Advancing further to the third division, they will get the rating currency, but if the player rolls back to the fourth division of the Gold league and then returns to the third one, they will not receive the reward again.
Furthermore, after the calibration matches, you will automatically receive currency for all the leagues and divisions you have skipped. For example, if you were placed in the Silver league, you will receive currency for all the previous leagues and divisions.
The rating currency is given out each season.
Receiving rating currency and points for the match
A separate store similar to the Event Shop was designed for the Ranked mode. In the Ranked Matches Store, using the currency you have acquired, you are able to obtain unique items that are solely available during Ranked Matches seasons. Among the items you can find:
- weapon camos;
- skins;
- weapon charms;
- achievements and other articles.
FAQ
Matchmaking
Q: Is it possible to take into account the player's rank for matchmaking in the RM as well, so that players with a big difference in ranks would not be matched to the same room?
A: The new system implies matchmaking based on the player's rating, not rank, to create more balanced matches. We consider the player's rating a more reliable parameter to compare players' skills.
Q: Would not the changes in the matchmaking impact the match searching time? Will the matches start as fast as now?
A: The matchmaking has expandable player searching ranges. The parameters will be tweaked at the early stages of the new system launch to set the best searching time to players' rating ratio.
Q: Why is there a restriction on inviting a friend with a big rating gap? What if someone in the higher leagues decides to invite a newbie-friend into the game? The new players only get a small amount of points after the calibration and cannot play with fighters from the higher leagues.
A: This restriction is put into place to create a more equal playing field and to prevent weaker players from boosting their rating by playing together with experienced fighters. The rest of the game modes do not have this restriction and, thus, it is possible to invite a friend for a regular match.
Q: Is it possible to create a matchmaking system that allows solo players to play against solo players, and stacks vs stacks? Like, a squad of 3 and 2 players against a similarly composed one.
A: We considered this option but we think it might lead to longer waiting times. In the future, such a separation might be added into the Ranked mode.
Cheaters
Q: I am afraid that in the very first days, cheaters will advance to top leagues and divisions together with ordinary players and interefere with the game. Will there be any kind of protection against this?
A: We are constantly fighting against cheaters in the game; currently, some improvements to the MRAC system are being tested. The tweaks will help combat dishonest players more effectively.
Q: How will the current system compensate for playing against a cheater? Will there be any changes or tweaks?
A: The current compensation system for playing against cheaters will be paused to launch RM 3.0. We plan to rework and adapt it to the new realities, then to re-introduce it into the game. It should be pointed out that sanctions for playing with cheaters will remain and will not be softened.
Q: Will there be more limitations on the access to the Ranked Matches based on hours spent in battles? This could reduce the number of cheaters in RM since they would not be able to quickly level up in PvE and spoil the game for others.
A: We plan to rework the amount of experience gained for completing Special Operations to rule out the possibility of quickly getting high ranks. The estimated time to reach a rank necessary to access RM will be no less than 10 hours.
Balance of Equipment
Q: Have you balanced RM 3.0 via unified equipment? Would it be possible, for example, to add a mode with old vendor guns and equipment?
A: Such a separation of matchmaking queues will negatively impact the match searching times.
Q: Is there any list of prohibited guns and equipment for the new Ranked Matches?
A: The list of prohibited items remained the same as in the old system. Feel free to comment below if you have any suggestions!
Maps
Q: Is it possible to implement the system of "banning" maps (or selecting only a few ones)? For example, to remove 3 maps I do not want to play from the search or, conversely, to look for only a selected few?
A: Currently, there is no such possibility, but it might be added later. Follow the updates!
Q: Are there any changes to the maps and modes available in RM 3.0?
A: The first season of the new system is a test one, so the list of maps and modes remained the same as in the previous season. In the upcoming seasons, the list of maps and modes might be changed.
Currency
Q: Is the Rating currency saved up after the end of the previous season?
A: The Rating currency have not been reset and is transferred to the new season.
Q: Is there a limit to the Rating currency after which it will not be possible to earn more?
A: There is no limit to the total Rating currency, but there is a limit to how much you can earn for matches – 3300. After reaching it, you will no longer earn currency for matches, but you will still get it for entering a new league or division, and as an ultimate reward at the end of the season.
Other
Q: Is the amount of points determined by the K/D ratio or are there other variables taken into account? How are the Rating points counted for Medics? A Medic can really impact the gameplay without making many kills.
A: The current system does not take into account the number of kills and deaths, but points earned. Thus, different actions throughout the match are encouraged (jump and slide kills, reviving, helping allies, planting and defusing bombs).
Q: What should I do if I have only gathered 11 stripes out of 12 for the first leagues? Will the cycle of 12 RM seasons be completed?
A: In the new Ranked system, the leagues are different from the ones in the old system and the old achievements for completing the season in a certain league will not work (but the players who have already obtained the stripes will still keep them). New achievements will be designed for the new system.
Q: Will the the top players leaderboard differ depending on the regional server? For example, for Amsterdam - one leaderboard, and for Istanbul - another?
A: No, the leaderboard will be the same for all regional servers.
Q: How often will the seasons restart?
A: Every 3 months, there will be a new Ranked season with new rewards.