October 5, 2023
We all know and love Apex Legends. Since its launch, it has stood out as one of the most popular battle royale games. With the introduction of a new ranked system, climbing the ranks has become an even more strategic endeavor. This guide aims to equip aspiring legends with the knowledge and strategies needed to ascend the ranks.
1. The New Ranked System
Previously, when playing Apex Legends rankeds, you were matched with other players with similar Ranked Points. Now, ranked matchmaking is based on something called Hidden Matchmaking Rating (popularly called MMR). MMR adjusts depending on your performance through the matches, so it learns from you; it is you. If you perform well and get a lot of kills during your matches, your MMR will increase.
Other players can’t see your MMR score (hence the hidden part). You won’t see your teammates’ or opponents’ MMR levels during a Ranked match, only your own.
The game uses MMR to pair you with players of similar skill. This ensures a good challenge while still giving everyone a fair chance to win. Keeping MMR hidden prevents cheating by inflating points through unethical practices like farming kills or purposeful losing. It also is a small barrier to protect less experienced players from unfair competition (smurfing).
So now Apex Legends rankeds require you to play 10 Provisional Matches at the start of every season. These Provisional Matches will decide your starting rank and calculate your MMR depending on your performance. These Provisional Matches are like any other placement matches in other games we all know: Valorant, League of Legends, Overwatch…
Once you get your starting rank, each ranked match you play will earn you a certain amount of Ladder Points (LP), which are the necessary points to climb up the ranked ladder.
So now there is a strong emphasis on obtaining something called Bonuses. Bonuses are a system to reward your gameplay whether you win or lose the match. Earning bonuses in Ranked can increase the LP you gain when you win a match or help reduce the LP you lose if you didn’t survive long but played well.
There are three primary groups of bonuses:
- Elimination bonuses: given when you and your team eliminate opponents. This bonus is calculated for each player based on their kills, assists, and participation, excluding multiple eliminations of the same player.
- Rating bonuses: given when your MMR is significantly better than your current LP, helping you catch up to where the system thinks you should be.
- Skill bonuses: given when your team faces a tougher opponent or performs exceptionally well in a challenging match.
These bonuses are linked to your placement. As Apex Legends is a Battle Royale, the main goal is always to be the last squad standing. Positioning is prioritized over everything else, and it determines the bonus gains and the loss mitigation (1st to 10th placement: bonuses, 10th to 20th: loss mitigation). This means that you only get elimination, rating, and skill rewards if you finish in the top ten.
As before, each ranked match has an Entry Cost, but now this cost is based on rank. The amount of LP you lose upon entering a match will always be the same.
2. Understanding How Ranked Works
At the start of a season you will have to play your 10 Provisional Matches. Each Provisional Match will build your MMR. During these matches, your rank will quickly increase based on how well you play during each match. Both bonuses and Loss Mitigations play a significant role during this phase.
Once you finish all your Provisional Matches, you will earn your first LP Score and, with it, a Division. A Division is how each Rank (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Master, and Apex Predator) is divided. Each Division is separated by 1000 LP, and every Rank, except Apex Predator, has 4 Divisions.
After receiving your LP placement, the LP you are awarded each match depends on your placement. You start earning LP bonuses once you reach the top 10. So beware, placing under top 10th will cost you LP.
3. Communication and Team Composition
The higher rank you get, the more important the legend you choose is. Strong characters won’t take you directly to high elo, but they could help a bit. Be aware of nerfs and buffs, and read the patch notes to be always on top of any meta changes. But if you don’t want to do the extra work, just learn to play Bloodhound very well; they will always be good.
Having this in mind, certain legends’ abilities work better together. For example, Bloodhound can track enemies, giving important intel to track an attack with Bangalore’s and Caustic’s offensive kit in closed areas. The combination of smoke and poison can overwhelm and distract enemies, allowing your team to move in and take them down with ease.
Apex Legends has the best ping system I’ve ever seen in a videogame, so use it. Use it as much as you can. Communication is key. Additionally, you can use the in-game voice chat to share crucial information about enemy positions. Even the smallest updates can be of help in the long run.
Always remember to stay calm and be kind. Being a positive force on your team is crucial. Thank your teammates for helping you find that R301 you were looking for, celebrate that nerve-wracking kill, and try to support each other. A positive mindset brings positive outcomes.
3. Knowing the Positioning
Understanding the map’s layout is crucial to make informed decisions during a match. Knowing the hotspots, terrain, and tight spots can give you an advantage over your opponents. You should know every map as well as you can.
You have to learn how to approach and engage your enemies and use the terrain for your benefit. A high ground is usually an advantage, but you still need to hide behind something (crates, boxes, rocks, doors, etc.) during a fight. The less exposed you are, the harder it is for your enemies to eliminate you.
Moving from one cover to another is another important skill to have. Staying in the same spot can allow the enemy to corner you.
This leads me to running away: don’t run into the open field in a straight line; you will be an easy target, so use a combination of sliding, jumping, and moving side to side from one cover to another. This way, you can find some seconds to heal (if necessary), and will make you a harder enemy to hit.
If you see a squad from afar, don’t rush in to try and get the kill. Stop for a moment, see what they’re doing and where they’re going, and develop a plan with your squad. Position yourself to have the upper hand, listen to their footsteps and movements, and capitalize on the information you’ve gathered.
4. Mastering the Movement
In Apex Legends, movement is an art. Practice slide-jumping to advance faster down slopes, try to learn wall-jumping and wall-running to surprise opponents, and access hard-to-reach areas. Additionally, crouch-sliding and bunny-hopping can be employed for unpredictable and erratic movements, making it harder for your opponents to land shots.
Adjust your mouse sensitivity to a level that allows precise control during both high-speed maneuvers and accurate aiming. Controlled mouse movements are essential for optimal aiming while maintaining high mobility.
Additionally, if you want to master a very mobile legend, learn how to use their abilities, whether it’s Wraith’s rift or Octane’s stim. Practice and practice, and you will gracefully traverse the Apex battlefield and outmaneuver your opponents.
5. Patience and Breaks!
Take breaks. If you’re feeling burnt out, stop playing. Don’t fall into the trap of ‘one more game to get the points back.’ Close the game, go for a snack, and take a walk outside. Failing is an important part of success, and everybody makes mistakes. Reflect on your last games and see what you could’ve done better so you can do better in the next games.
Climbing the ladder in Apex Legends is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. Consistent performance across multiple matches is the key to long-term success. Celebrate your wins, learn from your loses, and gradually climb those ranks. Patience is a virtue, especially in a game like this.
Conclusion
All tips aside, accept the outcome of each game and keep in mind that not every match will result in a positive balance of LP. There’s plenty of time to hit the high ranks each season, so don’t rush it and prioritize your mental health. Most importantly, have fun!