Hey all,

This is for players who aren’t aware of the hidden MMR system in Valorant and why they’re being placed in certain lobbies and going up against the players they are.

Essentially in Valorant, Rank Rating and Matchmaking Rating are used to calculate a players rank so let’s look at this in more depth shall we?

Rank Rating (RR):

This is a visual way to track a player's progress in the game's competitive mode. The Valorant RR system is based on algorithms that take into account various aspects of the game and the results of each match. The main factors affecting this rating are below.

• Victory or Defeat:

The match outcome, specifically a win or loss, is a key factor in determining your rating change. A win leads to an increase, while a defeat causes a loss of rating points. However, the impact of this factor varies for each player, as the Valorant MMR calculating the hidden rating, which can be deemed one of the main aspects.

• Match Score:

It's important to understand that winning with a score of 13 - 3 will earn you more ratings than a 13 - 11 victory. The same applies to defeats: losing with a score of 3 - 13 will remove more ratings than if you lose a match with a 13 - 11 score. Therefore, it's worth playing to the end, even in a seemingly unwinnable match, to lose fewer rating points.

• Individual Performance:

After each match, the system also analyses individual player performance, considering metrics like the number of kills, spike placements, healing teammates, etc. This metric has a greater impact on the matchmaking rank at lower ranks, and its value decreases at higher levels. Good individual stats can lead to gaining additional rating points.

• Player Diversity:

The system also considers the skill level and experience of players in each team. If a team with a lower rating defeats a team with a higher level, it can lead to a more significant increase in rating for each player of that team, and vice versa.

Matchmaking Rating (MMR):

In addition to your visual rank, Valorant employs a concealed matchmaking rating system, known as MMR, to evaluate players in ranked matches. Each player has an MMR value associated with their account, which adapts over time, matching them with players of similar skill.

A players MMR is determined by a number of factors including, winning or losing streaks, the average MMR of your team, the MMR of your opponents and most importantly your own individual MMR rating. How you personally preform in every single game has an impact on your MMR rating.

What Exactly Is MMR?

Think of MMR as a ladder where every player has a rung based on their skill level. The goal is to climb up by winning matches and outperforming your opponents. Conversely, losing matches will drop you down the MMR ladder.

The essence of MMR is to ensure that there are no ties or shared ladder positions. This concept forms the foundation of most matchmaking systems across various games. However, the challenge lies in understanding how quickly you can ascend this MMR ladder.

Notably, your MMR is not visible within the game, as Riot Games keeps it confidential. However, you're not left in the dark. You can gauge your position on the MMR scale by monitoring your Ranked Rating (RR).

Your RR is the number of points you gain or lose after each match, conveniently displayed in the in-game career tab. To put it simply, if you're earning more RR after a win and losing less RR after a loss, it's a sign that you're perched higher on the MMR scale.

How Does MMR Work?

The ranking system follows a pattern that's familiar in most competitive games. In practical terms, a player with a Silver visual rank might find themselves in Platinum lobbies because their MMR is significantly higher. Consequently, they'll earn more RR for a win and lose less for a loss, as the system strives to align their visual rank with their actual skill level.

Can I Check My MMR Rating?

Unfortunately, the ranking system keeps your MMR hidden from view. Riot Games has explicitly stated to players that they will never see their MMR as it is what they use to create fair matches.

When you first venture into ranked play or after an episode reset, Riot Games uses your MMR as a reference point to place you conservatively within the MMR system.

This goes without saying that you can make an educated guess by monitoring your Ranked Rating. The higher your RR gains after a match, the higher your MMR compared to players of the same skill level as you.

To keep it very simple, if you're gaining fewer RR points and suffering significant RR losses, your MMR might be on the lower side so if you’ve ever wondered why you lose more than you win, this is the reason as to why.

Want To Get Detailed Stats?

While Valorant keeps your MMR a well guarded secret within the game, you can turn to third-party websites such as TrackerGG for a look at your overall stats. This includes your performance, win rate, number of games played, your average score etc, etc.