Requirements
Now that Overwatch’s competitive ranked mode is available, here’s everything you need to know about the new mode and how to get started.
Firstly, in order to even participate in Overwatch’s first ranked season, you have to be at least level 25. This ensures that the players in ranked mode won’t be coming in completely fresh, and will at least have a decent idea of how the characters work, and what sort of team dynamics would be beneficial to them.
After you’ve reached level 25, you will be able to select the new ranked option when you hop into the play menu in Overwatch. However, before you can start climbing the ladder, there’s one more thing you need to do. Players will have to go through 10 placement matches to determine their skill level. The skill level ranges from anywhere between one to a hundred, and this will also determine the kinds of players you’ll be matched up with and against.
Once you’ve hit level 25 and you’ve completed the placement matches, it’s time to hop into Overwatch’s competitive ranked mode.
Map Differences
In ranked mode, you’ll be playing control, escort, and assault matches – just like what you’ve been doing in the quick play mode. However, in control matches, you can play up to five rounds, and the first team that wins three rounds will be crowned the winner.
For escort and assault, you’ll spend one round defending, and one round attacking. Pushing the payload past the checkpoints will earn your team a point. If neither team manages to push the payload all the way to the end, the team that managed to push it the furthest will be crowned the winner. In the event of a tie, the game will go into sudden death, and there will be a random coin toss to decide which team defends and which one attacks.
Attackers will be given two minutes to capture a point. If they manage to capture it, they’ll win. If not, the defenders win.
Rewards
After completing your placement matches, you’ll receive a cool icon and spray for that season. However, there are even more rewards to be had in ranked mode.
As you play more ranked matches, you’ll gain competitive points. These points can be used to purchase golden weapons for your characters which, y’know, look really sick. You can gain competitive points just by playing ranked matches. Points will also be awarded based on your ranking at the end of the season.
In addition to that, if you manage to work your way up into the top 500 players of that ranked season, you’ll earn a special icon, as well as an animated spray. Pretty dope.
Season Length and Penalties
Each season will run for about two and a half months, followed by a two-week break to allow Blizzard to collect data and make some tweaks and refinements in preparation for the next season. For this first season, it will only go on for a month and a half.
Of course, at the end of each season, your ranking will be reset, and you’ll have to start up the whole process again when the next one comes around. Each year will consist of four separate competitive seasons as well.
Blizzard has also prepared severe consequences for players who are inactive or leave matches early. If you are inactive for thirty seconds, you’ll be kicked out of the game. Similarly, if you leave a match early, you’ll be unable to join a new match until the original one has been completed. There will be an option that allows you to rejoin your original game, but if you do not do so, you will receive a penalty.
The more penalties you accumulate, the longer the amount of time you’ll have to wait before you can join another ranked match. Blizzard has also made it clear that repeated violations may result in a ban for the entire season, as well as forfeiture of any rewards.
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Best of luck out there this season and beyond!
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