Ranking Up: Valorant Ranks Explained

Valorant

2 Jan

Ganesh Jadhav

Riot’s 5v5 tactical shooter Valorant has been a go-to game for many casual gamers. It has been catering to hard core FPS fans and bringing in a diverse set of new fans to the game and the genre since its 2020 release.

Amongst various plus points that work in the favor of Valorant are easier game mechanics, unique and simple objective based gameplay, and a great matchmaking system amongst others.

While the others are more subjective, the matchmaking system is certainly one of the best ones available. While it isn’t perfect, it is one of the better ones to try your luck in. Let’s deep dive into the world of Valorant ranked and the ranks.

The Matchmaking system

Similar to multiple other SBMM (skill-based matchmaking) systems, Valorant ranking is possibly based on Glicko-2 which is a modified ELO rating system. In the ELO rating system, an individual skill is quantified by comparing their dexterity to the masses.

Initially, a median rating is assigned, this rating is further adjusted after comparing the skill level of two players of the similar ELO rating bracket and the loser loses ELO points while the winner gains ELO points.

After multiple such continuous refinements, the ELO rating closely represents an individual skill rating.

In the case of Valorant, there are two ranking systems in place, a hidden MMR (matchmaking rating) and a visible rank. Let’s understand both these individually before exploring what they imply.

The Hidden Matchmaking Rating

The Hidden MMR of Valorant is a hidden ELO rating (for understanding purpose) assigned to a player based on his skill level. This rating is different from the individual’s rank.

This rating is used for matchmaking of Deathmatches, Unrated and other game modes. While the rank does assign a name to an individual’s skills, the hidden MMR more accurately represents its skill level.

How is Hidden MMR calculated for Valorant?

A hidden MMR is assigned to every new individual at the Tutorial, during the ‘Skill Test’. The score achieved is used to assign a base ELO rating to an individual.

Valorant Skill Test to determine your base Hidden MMR (credits: Screenshot via Valorant / Riot Games)

Over the next few matches, this rating is continuously refined using the unrated game modes until the player is eligible to play competitively i.e. account level 20.

Rank Assignment

Once you are ready to play competitively, the hidden MMR is then used to match the individual with other similarly ranked players. After playing five competitive games, you are assigned a visible rank.

The visible rank represents your approximate skill level. After you are assigned a rank, the hidden MMR is used to determine the ‘Rank Rating’ won or loss after a match.

If your hidden MMR aligns with that of your visible rank’s skill group, you are assigned less RR and if there’s a huge gap, you are assigned more RR. Alternately, your hidden MMR is also adjusted depending on your performance every game, rated or unrated. Thus creating a system which accurately represents your skill level.

Valorant Ranks

There are a total of nine ranks in Valorant namely;

Iron
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Diamond
Ascendant
Immortal
Radiant

Every aforementioned rank has three divisions; so Iron will have Iron 1, Iron 2, Iron 3 and so on. To climb out of each such division, a player needs a total of 100 RR, and to climb out of each rank, 300 RR.

For Immortal and Radiant, the RR is compounded, the threshold for ranking up is different for different levels. The threshold for qualifying as a Radiant is different for every region too.

These ranks are reset after every episode, the player then has to play five competitive games to gain a visible rank.

Valorant Ranked Infographic (credits: Riot Games)

The highest individual rank achievable after rank reset is Ascendant. Players have to climb out of their respective rank reset to get back to their original rank. The rank reset helps maintain a good balance of player rank distribution.

Understanding the ranks

Valorant Ranks Distribution. Credit: Riot Games

The Iron and Bronze ranks are filled with players who are still learning the game mechanics. These players are getting to know how the movement and shooting works.

Silver-Gold represents players who are currently learning maps, map angles, agent mechanics and more. Platinums have everything down and work on sharpening their skills further.

Diamond and above is more about grinding through the ranks, there is obviously a difference in the experience, but as one plays regularly, the game sense and the mechanics sharpen.

Valorant rank distribution

Iron: 5.1%
Bronze: 15.9%
Silver: 22.5%
Gold: 20.9%
Platinum: 16.2%
Diamond: 11.1%
Ascendant: 4.8%
Immortal: 2%
Radiant: 0.05%

As seen from the rank distribution, 45.4% players are ranked Silver-Gold. Platinum and bronze add the next 30 percent to the distribution. The upper echelon of Valorant makes up for only 2.05% of Valorant players.

More than 70% of players belong to the average skill, which is a sign of a stable matchmaking system. Moreover, a hidden MMR along with a visible rank helps to adjust the ranks based on the player’s skills and manages the distribution.

How to consistently rank up in Valorant?

The first and most important way to rank up is individual training. One must continuously train their aim, crosshair placement, positioning and movements to get better at the base skill set of Valorant.

Deathmatch is an efficient way to practice, additionally, mixing Deathmatch with the new Team Deathmatch helps you practice multiple angles and weapons. They also help with agent abilities, providing an individual with a complete practice experience.

Another major factor in consistently ranking up in Valorant is practice. Regularly playing the game and experiencing multiple agents can help you understand the games from different perspectives.

Once you are ready individually, playing competitively is getting into a cesspool of players that come from different places and hence might not have the same set of skills or the same attitude towards the game.

The difference can lead to traction, so a better way to rank up is finding a five stack. A five stack is the same bunch of players you can play with. Ensure your attitude towards the game matches with each other.

Queuing restrictions in Valorant

Valorant only allows for two, three or five players to stack together. If the lowest rank of the stack is Iron 1 the highest can be silver, If lowest is Silver, the highest is Gold, if the lowest is Gold, the highest is Platinum.

For Platinum and above, the highest rank can only be one rank above in the same tier. If you are platinum 1 the highest rank can be Diamont 1 and so on.

There are no rank disparity restrictions for five-stack, but if the disparity is high enough, the players may get up to 25% lower RR. (Applies to both victories and defeats, so you lose less too!)

If you can’t find a stack, a duo or trio is a better way to play. If you have to SoloQ, here are a few tips to ensure you have the best experience possible.

Maintain utmost composure.
Communicate as much as possible with your teammates, starting with agent select.
Cooperate with your teammates and try to play your best game.

Hope that helps with your Valorant Ranked experience, and your understanding of rank is better. Follow Strafe for more such Valorant guides.

Featured Image Credits: Riot Games