byJohn Uke Last update: October 7, 2024
Table of Contents
💡 Highlights
- Apex ranked mode is a competitive mode for similarly ranked players, accessible from level 20.
- Seasons are divided into 2 splits of about 2 months, with ranks reset at each split.
- Ranked points (RP) determine progression; RP is needed to start a ranked match.
- RP is earned based on match performance, including placement, kills, and assists.
- Recent changes focus on competitive matchmaking, preventing rank boosting by limiting teams to within three ranks.
- There are 8 Apex ranks with 4 divisions each, except Apex Predator.
Apex Legends is one of the most popular competitive hero shooters, and it shows no signs of losing popularity and relevance. Respawn regularly changes the game, not only delighting us with new content but also changing the ranking system to keep it fresh and relevant. In May 2024, Apex Legends Season 21 was released, and some changes occurred as well. So, I decided to write this article about the Apex ranked system and closely examine how it works now.
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Apex Legends Ranked Mode At A Glance
The Apex ranked mode is a competitive mode where similarly ranked players compete against each other to win and rank up. Players are matched to approximately the same skill level based on their current rank in order to ensure fairer and more competitive matches. To access the ranked mode, you must be level 20 or higher.
In Apex Legends, the ranked system is tied to seasons and at the end of the season, players receive ranked rewards. Each season is divided into two splits, which last approximately two months each. At the beginning of each season split, the Apex ranks are reset to zero. The progress of each account is determined by rank points (RP), and to start a ranked match, you must deposit a certain amount of RP, which will depend on your current rank. Players who play for the first time start with 1 RP, and if there was already a rank in the last split, then the player starts from the reset point determined by the previous rank – that is, the rank is softly reset to zero.
About The Latest Updates and Changes
The previous season had many changes and balance tweaks, one of which was related to the Apex ranked system. Yet, there have been no major changes in the new 21st season. The ranking point calculation remains unchanged as in the previous season. The developers added minor updates that they did not manage to implement in Season 20.
We just rolled out a @PlayApex patch with the following updates:
— Respawn (@Respawn) April 8, 2024
✅ Ranked parties now have a limit of a 3-rank tier difference between players
🏆 Previously earned Ranked badges should now display the correct rank
⛔ A fix for Connection error Code:Cloud when reconnecting after…
The main changes to the Apex ranked mode in Season 21 affected matchmaking. Players on a team that want to queue for a ranked match must be within three ranks. This is intended to prevent rank boosting, where a higher-ranked player takes a lower-ranked friend into a game, thereby helping them rank up. Limiting the spread of ranks in an Apex match will make the games more fair, giving both teams the same chance of winning.
All Apex Legends Ranks In Order
The Apex ranking system consists of 8 ranks and has 4 divisions, except for the highest rank, Apex Predator. Players must complete each division to advance to the next rank.
Rank | RP Requirement | RP needed for the next Division | |||
Division | IV | III | II | I | IV-I |
Rookie | 0 | 250 | 500 | 750 | 250 |
Bronze | 1000 | 1500 | 2000 | 2500 | 500 |
Silver | 3000 | 3600 | 4200 | 4800 | 600 |
Gold | 5400 | 6100 | 6800 | 7500 | 700 |
Platinum | 8200 | 9000 | 9800 | 10600 | 800 |
Diamond | 11400 | 12300 | 13200 | 14100 | 900 |
Master | 15000 | ||||
Apex Predator | Top 750 players |
What Is RP In Apex Legends?
Ranked Points are points that a player receives for winning and spends for participating in a ranked game. RP characterizes a player’s progress in rank.
RP Distribution During Matches
RP is awarded to players after each match and depends on their performance. The amount of RP received depends on the place taken at the end of the match, as well as on kills and assists. You can learn more about the Apex ranked distribution below.
Placement | RP Given | RP per K/A |
---|---|---|
1 | 125 | 26 |
2 | 95 | 22 |
3 | 70 | 18 |
4 | 55 | 16 |
5 | 45 | 16 |
6 | 30 | 12 |
7 | 20 | 12 |
8 | 20 | 12 |
9 | 10 | 12 |
10 | 10 | 12 |
11 | 5 | 10 |
12 | 5 | 10 |
13 | 5 | 10 |
14+ | 0 | 10 |
How To Earn More RP?
In order to get more RP, you obviously need to play well and take high places in the match results – to be at least in the top 5. Kills and assists will additionally bring RP, and it will also be a bonus if you eliminate a player of a higher rank than you in the match. If you are among the top 5 players in several matches in a row, you will receive +10 RP for each winning streak extension. The maximum bonus is 40 RP.
RP Entry Fees
When playing ranked games, a certain amount of RP is withdrawn for each match, which depends on your current rank in Apex. To help you understand better, I have compiled the table below:
Rank | RP Entry Cost |
---|---|
Bronze | 0 |
Silver | 20 |
Gold | 40 |
Platinum | 60 |
Diamond | 80 |
Master | 100 |
Apex Predator | 100 |
How Does The Apex Ranking System Affect Matchmaking?
Matchmaking is based on current ranking points (RP). The system matches players in the lobby with players of similar rank. This does not mean that there will be players of the same rank as you in every match, but there will be players who are not very far from your rank. A similar restriction applies to teams. You may be in a lobby with friends of other ranks, but only if you are within three ranks from each other. A Platinum player will not meet a Bronze player in the lobby; the same applies to a team of players. This way, the matches should be fairer.
What Ranks Can Play Together Apex?
To maintain competitive balance while still allowing friends of different skill levels to play together, Apex Legends implements rules about which ranks can team up in ranked play. The following table outlines these rank compatibilities:
Rank | Can Play With |
---|---|
Rookie | Rookie, Bronze, Silver |
Bronze | Rookie, Bronze, Silver |
Silver | Rookie, Bronze, Silver, Gold |
Gold | Silver, Gold, Platinum |
Platinum | Gold, Platinum, Diamond |
Diamond | Platinum, Diamond, Master, Predator |
Master | Diamond, Master, Predator |
Predator | Diamond, Master, Predator |
Rewards To Expect For Each Of Apex Ranks
Respawn has announced that the Apex ranked reward system will return to its previous model. In Season 21, players who reach the same rank in both season splits will receive an animated badge, while players with different ranks will receive a static badge based on their higher rank in the split. The developers’ goal is to make both splits equally valuable to players.
Rank | Rewards |
---|---|
Rookie | Badge |
Bronze | Badge, Holospray |
Silver | Badge, Holospray |
Gold | Badge, Holospray, Weapon Cosmetic |
Platinum | Badge, Holospray, Weapon Cosmetic |
Diamond | Badge, Holospray, Weapon Cosmetic, Banner Frame |
Master | Badge, Holospray, Weapon Cosmetic, Banner Frame |
Apex Predator | Badge, Holospray, Weapon Cosmetic, Banner Frame |
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Final Thoughts
The developers continue to hone and polish the Apex ranked system, which is clear to everyone and works well, and they also do everything to keep things fresh and interesting. In this article, I described how matchmaking and the rank system works from Season 21 on. All that remains to do is to choose a the best Legend and join a team or create your own. Rush into the new season!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Apex Skill-Based?
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Yes, Apex Legends uses skill-based matchmaking to select players for a match.
How Does RP Work In Apex?
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RP characterizes the progress of your account and is also a kind of currency for admission to Apex ranked matches. You receive RP based on your performance at the end of the match. The higher the rank and division, the more RP is needed to rank up.
What Ranks Are There In Apex Legends?
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The ranking system in Apex Legends consists of 8 ranks: Rookie, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Master, and Apex Predator.
How Does Ranked Work on Apex?
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Ranked in Apex Legends uses a points system. Players earn Ranked Points (RP) for match placement and kills/assists. Higher ranks require more RP. Matches pit players of similar skill levels. Ranks reset partially each split, encouraging ongoing competition and skill improvement.
What Is Apex Ranked Split?
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Apex Ranked Split refers to a competitive period in the battle royale game Apex Legends. During a ranked split, players compete to climb the ranked ladder and improve their skill rating. Each split typically lasts about 6 weeks, after which ranks are partially reset.