Introduction | Valorant Ranked System Explained
“I won 3 games and got +45 RR. I lost 1 game and got -28 RR. This game is broken.”
We have all said it.
The Valorant Ranked System is one of the most misunderstood algorithms in gaming. It feels unfair, but it is actually ruthlessly logical. It does not care about your feelings; it cares about your MMR.
[!NOTE]
Patch Integrity: This guide explains the core “MMR vs. Rank” philosophy which has remained consistent since Episode 2. However, Riot Games frequently tweaks specific RR values and 5-stack penalties in new Acts. We update this guide for every major Episode.
This article de-mystifies the math behind the badge.
Table of Contents
- Rank (RR) vs. Hidden MMR
- Why You Lose More Than You Gain (Convergence)
- The “Double Rank Up” Mechanic
- Episode Resets (The Hard Reset)
- Smurfs and 5-Stack Penalties
- Is “Losers Queue” Real?
- Rank Rating (RR) Distribution Guide
- FAQ
Rank (RR) vs. Hidden MMR
You have two ranks.
- Visible Rank (RR): Gold 2, 45/100. This is your “Badge.” It is for ego and rewards.
- Hidden MMR (Matchmaking Rating): A raw number (e.g., 1450). This is your “True Skill.”
The Golden Rule:
The game always tries to push your Visible Rank to match your Hidden MMR.
Scenario A: Good MMR
- MMR: Platinum 1
- Current Rank: Gold 1
- System Logic: “This player is actually Platinum, but is stuck in Gold. I need to push him up.”
- Result: Win = +25 RR. Loss = -14 RR.
- Why: The system is essentially “betting” on you to climb. It makes losses less punishing because it believes you don’t belong in this lower rank.
Scenario B: Bad MMR (Boosted)
- MMR: Silver 3
- Current Rank: Gold 2
- System Logic: “This player got lucky carried to Gold 2, but he plays like a Silver. I need to push him down.”
- Result: Win = +15 RR. Loss = -28 RR.
- Why: The system has detected that your recent performance (or win rate) doesn’t justify your current badge. It is “correcting” you downwards.
If you are losing more points than you gain, the game thinks you are over-ranked. The only way to fix it is to win consistently against players better than you.
Why You Lose More Than You Gain (Convergence)
This is called “Convergence.”
If you have a 50% winrate, your MMR stays the same.
However, if you went on a lucky 8-game winstreak, your Rank shot up, but your MMR moved slowly (it needs more data to trust you aren’t just lucky).
Now you are a Gold player in Diamond lobbies.
- The game expects you to lose.
- If you lose, it confirms “Yep, he’s Gold.” -> Big RR Loss.
- If you win, it says “Wow, maybe he is improving.” -> MMR goes up slightly.
The Grind: You have to prove to the system over hundreds of games that you belong in the higher rank. Consistency raises MMR. Winstreaks just raise RR.
The “Confidence” Variable
The system also has a “Confidence” rating in your MMR.
- New Accounts: Low Confidence. MMR swings wildly. You might gain +30 or lose -30 easily.
- Old Accounts: High Confidence. The system “knows” you are Hardstuck Plat. It takes massive win streaks to convince the system otherwise. This is why it feels harder to climb on a 2-year-old account than a fresh alt.
The “Double Rank Up” Mechanic
Sometimes, when you win a promotion game (e.g., Silver 1 -> Silver 2), you actually skip to Silver 3.
This happens when your Hidden MMR is massively higher than your Rank.
- Trigger: Usually happens after an Episode Hard Reset or on a fresh account with high placement performance.
- Sign: Gaining +30 RR per win consistently.
- Goal: The system is fast-tracking you to where you belong so you stop stomping low-level players.
- Note: You cannot double rank up into Immortal. You must earn Immortal incrementally.
Episode Resets (The Hard Reset)
Every 6 months (New Episode), everyone’s rank is obliterated.
- Radiant players -> Placed Ascendant 1 (Max placement).
- Diamond players -> Placed Gold/Plat.
Why?
To combat “Rank Inflation.”
If nobody ever lost rank, everyone would eventually drift up to Diamond just by playing enough. The Hard Reset forces everyone to re-prove they still deserve their rank.
The “Squish”:
At the start of an Episode, Golds are playing against Diamonds who got reset. Matchmaking is chaotic. Wait 2 weeks for the dust to settle if you want fair games. If you play immediately, be prepared to face Ex-Immortals in your Diamond lobbies.
Smurfs and 5-Stack Penalties
Riot hates boosting.
The 5-Stack Penalty
If you 5-stack with a wide rank disparity (e.g., 4 Irons + 1 Ascendant), you get a -50% RR Penalty.
- If you win, you get +10.
- If you lose, you lose -10.
This prevents boosters from power-leveling accounts quickly. It makes boosting services inefficient.
Smurf Detection
If a Level 20 account drops 40 kills in a Bronze lobby, the Smurf Detection kicks in.
- The system will massively inflate their MMR.
- Next game, that Bronze account will be placed in a Platinum/Diamond lobby.
- Goal: Get the smurf out of low ELO as fast as possible.
- Side Effect: If you are a legit Bronze player and have the game of your life, the system might accidentally flag you as a smurf and put you in a hard lobby next game. Take it as a compliment!
Is “Losers Queue” Real?
This is the most debated topic in the community.
Riot developers have officially stated that “Losers Queue” does not exist. The matchmaker does not intentionally put you with bad teammates to force a loss.
However, “Engagement Optimization” may feel like it.
Game companies want you to play as long as possible.
- If you win too much, you might get bored and quit.
- If you lose too much, you might rage quit.
- The “Perfect” state is a mix of wins and losses (the 50% trap) that keeps you addicted, always chasing that next win.
Why it feels real:
- Tilt Queue: If you lose 3 games in a row, you play worse. You communicate less. You are the problem, not the queue.
- Time of Day: Playing at 3 AM gets you tired teammates and drunk smurfs. Playing at 6 PM gets you 5-stacks and students.
- Variance: Sometimes you flip a coin and get Heads 10 times in a row. Sometimes you get 10 bad teams. It’s just probability, not a conspiracy.
Rank Rating (RR) Distribution Guide
Refer to this chart to understand your gains:
| Situation | Typical Gain | Typical Loss | Meaning |
| : | : | : | : |
| Normal | +18 to +22 | -18 to -22 | MMR = Rank |
| Good MMR | +23 to +30 | -10 to -16 | MMR > Rank (Climbing) |
| Bad MMR | +13 to +17 | -20 to -26 | MMR < Rank (Falling) | | Double Rank Up | +30+ | N/A | MMR >>> Rank (Smurf/Hard Reset) |
| Performance Bonus| +2 to +5 | N/A | You played exceptionally well (Star Bonus) |
Note on Performance Bonus:
It is rare. You only get it if you strictly outperform your own average performance expectation. It is not just about Top Fragging; it’s about beating the system’s prediction of your performance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I see my Hidden MMR?
A: No. It is hidden to prevent players from exploiting the algorithm. Third-party sites (tracker.gg) show an estimate, but it is not perfectly accurate.
Q: Why do I get +10 / -30?
A: Your MMR is significantly lower than your visual rank. The game is trying to de-rank you to where it thinks you belong. You need to maintain a positive winrate (55%+) for ~20 games to fix this.
Q: Does individual performance (KDA) matter?
A: Yes, but mostly in low ELO. In Iron-Gold, fragging out helps your MMR. In Immortal+, only the Win/Loss matters. The “Encounter MMR” system cares about who you duel. Killing a higher-ranked player rewards you more than killing a bottom fragger.
Q: Does dodging affect MMR?
A: No. Dodging a lobby loses you -3 RR, but it does NOT touch your MMR. This is a strategic tool. If you get a toxic team in Agent Select, dodge. You lose 3 RR, but you save your MMR from a likely loss.
Q: How many wins to get out of Low MMR?
A: It’s not about a specific number, but a consistent trend. Usually, winning ~15-20 games with a positive win-rate (e.g., winning 20 and losing 10) is enough to realign your MMR with your rank.
Q: Does 5-stacking boost MMR?
A: Generally, Solo/Duo is better for fixing MMR. 5-stacking introduces the penalty and variable competition. If you want to prove to the system you deserve a higher rank, do it alone or with one duo partner.