Apex Legends: How does rank mode work?

Respawn just explained how the game’s Ranked Leagues system works on Reddit.

To start the journey to rank up, you will start at Bronze IV, then go to Brozne I, similarly to Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond ranks. The final rank, Apex Predator, is the only one that doesn’t split into four categories.

You rank up by Ranked Point, and the calculation is quite simple:

• Per life :1RP (max 5 per game)
• Top 10: 2RP
• Top 5: 4RP
• Top 3: 7RP
• Win: 12RP

Bonus RP for rank does not accumulate. That is, if you win, you only get 12RP, not including the 7RP of the top 3, etc. (you still get RP for every life you earn). Meaning, the maximum score that a player earns a match is 17RP, equivalent to winning and eating 5 lives.

You have to use RP to participate in ranked matches, and the cost increases with each rank, making it increasingly difficult to climb:

• Bronze: free
• Silver: 1RP
• Gold: 2RP
• Platinum: 3RP
• Diamond: 4RP
• Apex Predator: 5RP

For example, if you have enough RP to get to Gold II, the second highest tier in Gold. If you play ranked and get 2 lives but not in the top 10, you get 0RP at the end of the game. If no points are earned, you will lose 2RP of the participation fee.

If you lose your RP, you also have a chance of being relegated – for example, a player can drop from Gold II to Gold III – but you cannot drop to a lower rank. Once you’re Gold, you’ll stay at Gold until you reach Platinum.

This system seems to have a problem: If you are Gold and perform too poorly, lose all RP points and do not have enough 2RP participation fee, what will happen? That’s not possible, as Respawn confirmed on Reddit. Once you reach a rank, you cannot lose RP to relegate. So, if you have 280RP, which is Gold rank, and play so poorly that you don’t earn any RP, you won’t be charged 2RP for the participation fee and still have 280RP at the end of the game.

When playing with friends, everyone pays RP based on rank, but Apex will find matches based on the highest ranked member of the party. This is to avoid good players pulling up their Bronze teammates.

The first Competitive Season will last until September, ending at the end of Season 2, however the later ranked series may be longer. It all depends on what Respawn has learned in the first rank mode, and the developer says they will be “updated and adjusted” continuously.

Another Reddit post also explains why these rankings and scoring decisions are generated, as well as details about bonus points, penalties (if you quit early, you will be timeout), losers (if you agree). team exit game, you won’t lose RP) and plans for the series’ future.

Apex Legends Season 2 begins July 2, in addition to the new rank mode, the game will have a Battle Pass and new Challenges. Maps and weapons have also changed with the presence of a new character named Wattson.