Everything you need to know about the Valorant ranking system, including conditions to unlock ranked mode, the rank order, distribution, and how to earn a rank.
Valorant’s ranking system is the core of its Competitive Mode, where players are matched with others of similar skill to battle for higher ranks and sharpen their gameplay. Each rank reflects a different level of skill and prestige, making progression both rewarding and challenging. In this article, we’ll break down everything from the rank order to distribution
Valorant currently has 5 modes: Unrated, Spike Rush, Competitive, Deathmatch, Escalation, of which Competitive is the mode that lets players engage in ranked matches.
To unlock Competitive mode, your account must reach level 20. Once you hit that level, you need to play 5 placement matches to be classified into the appropriate rank for yourself. After that, ranked mode is officially unlocked. You can now invite more friends to join to increase the winning rate, however, if the rank gap between you and your friends is too large, you will not be able to find a match.
Also read : Fastest Ways to Reach Level 20 in Valorant
There are 9 ranks in total: Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Ascendant, Immortal and Radiant.
Each of these ranks is divided into three levels, numbered from 1 to 3. The higher the number, the higher the level within that rank. To move up in rank, players need to accumulate points. For example, if you are at Diamond 3 and have earned enough points, you will be promoted to Immortal 1. The only exception is the highest rank, Radiant, which has only one level.
Valorant uses a points system called Ranked Rating (RR) to measure your skill and place you in ranks that match your level.
When you win a Competitive match, you gain RR points.
When you lose, you lose RR points.
Reach 100 RR to get promoted to the next rank. If your RR drops to 0 and you lose again, you may be demoted to a lower rank.
Behind the scenes, Riot Games tracks your skill with a hidden Matchmaking Rating (MMR), which helps match you with players of similar ability, even if your visible RR doesn’t fully reflect it.
At lower ranks, your individual performance (kills, assists, deaths, MVP rounds) can affect how much RR you gain or lose. But at higher ranks, winning the match is the main factor for ranking up. Climbing ranks is faster at the beginning and slows down as you get higher, making the top ranks a real challenge.
Also, your RR gains and losses can change depending on winning or losing streaks, winning many matches in a row gives you more RR, while losing several matches in a row causes you to lose more RR.
In Valorant ranked mode, there are some rules about who you can queue with and play against based on your rank:
Players can join Competitive mode in groups of up to five, but groups of four are not allowed.
The matchmaking system tries to pair your team with an opposing team that has the same number of players. So, if you queue as a group of five, you’ll face another group of five, which may lead to longer wait times.
Players in parties of two or three must have ranks within one level above or below each other. If the rank gap is too large, you won’t be able to queue together in Competitive mode. To be illustrated, if the lowest rank is Gold, then the highest rank can only be up to any Platinum tier.
Five-player parties do not have restrictions on rank differences. However, depending on how big the rank gap is, significant ranking penalties may apply.
Also read: Valorant Chat Commands: Full List & How To Use (2025)
Rank distribution is an important aspect of any competitive shooter, and Valorant is no exception. Riot Games has shared concerns that too many players are clustered in the lower ranks while fewer make it to the higher tiers.
Here is the current Valorant rank distribution as of patch V25 Act 3:
Iron: 5.72%
Bronze: 17.03%
Silver: 22.13%
Gold: 21.52%
Platinum: 15.86%
Diamond: 10.10%
Ascendant: 6.04%
Immortal: 1.60%
Radiant: 0.01%
From these numbers, we can see most players are clustered around the mid to lower ranks, with Silver, Gold, and Bronze making up over 60% of the player base. Meanwhile, higher ranks like Diamond and Ascendant represent a smaller portion, and the top tiers, Immortal and Radiant, are extremely rare.
That’s everything you need to know about Valorant ranks. Whether you’re a new player trying to find your place or a seasoned competitor aiming for the top, understanding how the ranking system works gives you a clear path to improve and succeed. Remember, climbing the ladder is not just about winning every match but about playing consistently, learning from each game, and working well with your team. So keep practicing, stay focused, and enjoy the competitive thrill Valorant has to offer!
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