How Valorant Rankings Work

Valorant

19 Oct

Aidan van Vuuren

(This article has been updated as of 18th October 2023)

Before we get into how Valorant rankings work, it's important to understand the fundamentals of the game first. Valorant is a team-based first-person shooter video game developed and published by Riot Games. It was released in June 2020 for Windows and has since gained a large player base.

In Valorant, players are divided into two teams of five and compete against each other in various game modes. The objective of the game is to eliminate the other team or complete the objective of the game mode.

Each player in Valorant chooses a unique character, known as an "Agent," to play as. Each Agent has their own unique set of abilities and skills, which allows for a variety of playstyles and tactics. Players can choose from a roster of Agents that specialize in different roles, such as assault, defence, and support.

The game features a variety of weapons that players can use to eliminate their opponents. These weapons range from pistols and rifles to shotguns and machine guns.

GAME MODES:

Valorant features several game modes, including the popular "Deathmatch" and "Escalation" modes. In Deathmatch, players compete to see who can get the most kills within the time limit. Escalation is a team centric gun-game, where the weapons change based on the kill.

Valorant also has a unique game mode called "Spike Rush," which is a fast-paced, action-packed variant of the standard game. In Spike Rush, players compete to plant and defend a bomb, similar to the popular game mode "Bomb Defusal" in other first-person shooter games.

One of the main features of Valorant is its emphasis on teamwork and strategy. Players must work together and communicate effectively in order to succeed in the game. Each player has a specific role on the team, and it is important for them to fulfill their role and support their teammates in order to win.

Valorant also has a robust in-game economy that allows players to purchase and sell in-game items, such as weapons and equipment, using a virtual currency called "Radianite Points." These points can be earned through gameplay or purchased with real money.

Overall, Valorant is a fun and exciting first-person shooter that offers a unique blend of action, strategy, and teamwork. With a variety of game modes, characters, and weapons to choose from, there is something for everyone in this fast-paced and competitive game.

HOW VALORANT RANKINGS WORK?

Valorant Ranked Infographic (credits: Riot Games)

Understanding the Rank Rating or RR:

To understand how Valorant rankings work, it's important to know that their ranking system allows players to progress through different levels by earning experience points through gameplay. The ranking system consists of a series of tiers and divisions that represent a player's skill level.

There are nine tiers in the Valorant ranking system, starting with Iron and ending with Radiant. Each tier has three divisions, with the exception of the top tier, which only has one division.

Players are assigned a rank based on their skills and can progress through the ranks by earning 'Ranked Rating' by winning matches. As players win matches, they will earn RR that contribute towards their rank. Losing matches will result in the loss of points.

The exact amount of RR points required to progress through the ranks stays the same from Iron to Immortal. Immortal onwards the number of points required to rank up differs based on region.

In addition to earning points through gameplay, players can also lose points if they leave a match early or receive a penalty for toxic behavior.

Understanding MMR:

Along with the visible RR for the Competitive ranks, Valorant also maintains a hidden MMR which in turn decides the amount of RR a player gets. The Hidden MMR is also used while playing other Valorant modes. The Hidden MMR plays a vital role in maintaining the SBMM for Valorant.

Every episode, the rank resets and players play five ranked games to get a rank assigned to them. Immortal and Radiant players are all ranked down to Ascendant 1 and have to climb up the ranks to get back to the top of leaderboard. This hard rank reset helps to keep the booster accounts in check and maintain the competitive integrity of Valorant.

It's important to note that the Valorant ranking system is designed to match players with opponents of similar skill levels. This means that as players progress through the ranks, they will encounter opponents who are similarly skilled, which can make for more competitive and challenging matches.

Now that you have a basic understanding of how valorant rankings work, you can put this knowledge into action. Good luck!

Featured Image Credits: Riot Games

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