Updated on: April 18, 2023 (Added season 4 rank decay changes and comp. points changes)

Like other multiplayer games, the competitive scene in Overwatch 2 is where players of all different skill levels get to test their mettle in order to reach the highest rank possible.

Since its release in October, Blizzard's hero shooter has seen a slightly revamped version of their traditional competitive ranks and competitive play, adding more diversity and skill tiers to create balanced games. If you're confused about how the new ranking system works, take a seat, as Rivalry has got you covered on all Overwatch 2 ranked information.

Overwatch 2 Ranked System: How has it changed?

To determine their initial rank, players must play games in any competitive mode until they receive a rank. This replaces the traditional placement matches from the first game, as players would treat them as a test they needed to ace, rather than a true reflection of their skill level. Overwatch 2 players must win 50 Quick Play matches before they can participate in competitive mode, unless they owned the original Overwatch.

The new system assesses the player's skill and more accurately places them in a rank that most reflects their abilities. From there, they can continue playing ranked games and winning to climb the ladder.

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Overwatch 2 now features two main ranked modes for players: Role Queue and Open Queue. Role Queue means a 5v5 team composition with one Tank, two DPS and two Supports. Players get to select which hero roles they'd like to play when entering the queue, getting an individual rank for each role. For example, you could rank as Platinum 1 with your Damage heroes but fall flat in Silver 4 as a Tank. You can also queue as two specific roles, or flex your skills with All Roles.

Open Queue is a flashback to the glory days of the original Overwatch, where players can choose any hero from any role and receive the same rank, no matter what category hero they play as. This rank does not reset with each new season.

New to Overwatch 2 is also Competitive Mystery Heroes. To access this, simply launch the game, press "Play," and navigate to the "Competitve" option, where you'll see all three of these modes displayed, alongside your current competitve progress, tier legends, and current regional leaderboards.

Overwatch 2 Competitive Ranks

While the original game used MMR (Matchmaking Rating) and Skill Rating (SR), Overwatch 2 competitive play relies on the player's wins/losses/draws in their games. In Seasons 1 and 2 of Overwatch 2, players needed seven wins or 20 losses/draws to get a rank update. As of Season 3, players only need five wins or rack up 15 losses/draws to get a new, adjusted rank.

Rank decay is a system previously employed by Blizzard in Overwatch 1 and the first three seasons of Overwatch 2. If players took an extended break from the game, they were slightly downranked to reflect the estimation and decline in their skill level. Players were also slightly downranked at the beginning of every new competitive season, which led to frustration in the player base.

Soon, Overwatch 2 will be adding rank placements back to game, so players can begin to climb the competitive ladder once again.

With the release of Season 4, rank decay and its lingering effects have been completely removed in Overwatch 2. Everyone's skill tier and division for each role has now been updated to reflect their current skills.

All the ranks and their five divisions are listed below in ascending order - the higher the number, the lower in the skill tier they are (5 being worse, 1 being better):

Bronze

  • Bronze 5
  • Bronze 4
  • Bronze 3
  • Bronze 2
  • Bronze 1

Silver

  • Silver 5
  • Silver 4
  • Silver 3
  • Silver 2
  • Silver 1

Gold

  • Gold 5
  • Gold 4
  • Gold 3
  • Gold 2
  • Gold 1

Platinum

  • Platinum 5
  • Platinum 4
  • Platinum 3
  • Platinum 2
  • Platinum 1

Diamond

  • Diamond 5
  • Diamond 4
  • Diamond 3
  • Diamond 2
  • Diamond 1

Master

  • Master 5
  • Master 4
  • Master 3
  • Master 2
  • Master 1

Grandmaster

Players within Grandmasters can only queue as solo or duo, not in groups, with other players that are within three divisions of their rank. For example, a GM 2 player can group with other GM 4, 3,2, and 1 players.

  • Grandmaster 5
  • Grandmaster 4
  • Grandmaster 3
  • Grandmaster 2
  • Grandmaster 1

Top 500

Top 500 is the shifting list of 500 of the highest-ranked players in your region. The Top 500 list is released two weeks into a new season and a rank icon will be available. It doesn't require a certain rank to qualify for, but most Top 500 players tend to be Master or Grandmaster players.

Overwatch 2 Competitive Points And Ranked Rewards

While competing in competitive games, players will earn Competitive Points (CP) that can be used to purchase the golden weapons in Overwatch 2. You will also be awarded CP depending on your skill tier at the end of the competitive season.

Here's how to earn more competitive points in Overwatch, simply by winning a match or by finishing the season in a certain rank. If players finish the season with the final rank of Diamond or above, they will also earn an exclusive player title, however, they must maintain this rank in subsequent seasons to keep the title equipped.

  • Win - 15 CP
  • Draw - 5 CP
  • Bronze - 300 CP
  • Silver - 450 CP
  • Gold - 600 CP
  • Platinum - 800 CP
  • Diamond - 1,000 CP & Diamond Challenger seasonal player title (Open or Role)
  • Master - 1,200 CP & Master Challenger seasonal player title (Open or Role)
  • Grandmaster - 1,500 CP & Grandmaster Challenger seasonal player title (Open or Role)
  • Top 500 - 1,750 CP & Top 500 Challenger seasonal player title (Open or Role)

Golden weapons are available for every hero in Overwatch 2 and cost 3,000 CP each. Purchasing one of these illustrious guns will take a fairly-long grind and some hard work, but they are entirely worth it for the drip!

Players will also earn titles for completing a certain number of games in Overwatch 2 competitive game modes.

  • 250 games - Adept Competitor
  • 750 games - Seasoned Competitor
  • 1,750 games - Expert Competitor

Rivalry have got you covered with all the latest Overwatch news including how to unlock all heroes, Overwatch 2 system requirements, the ultimate Support player guide, and tons more! If that isn't your cup of tea, we cover esports betting too, from League of Legends to CS:GO. Don't miss out!

FAQs about Overwatch 2 Ranking System

Is there ranked in Overwatch 2?

Yes, there are two ranked modes in Overwatch 2 - Open Queue and Role Queue. They are ranked separately, so you could be Silver 5 in Open Queue but Platinum 1 as a DPS in Role Queue. Competitive modes are not unlocked by default and require players to play and win 50 Quick Play games or to have owned the original Overwatch.

How is my Overwatch 2 rank determined?

In the previous game, players used to have to complete a certain amount of placement games to get their rank. In the new Overwatch, a player's rank is determined through their hidden MMR, game performance, and general win/loss ratio. If you continuously win matches, it goes without saying that your actual rank will reflect this, and you will climb through the skill tiers.

Did Overwatch 2 reset ranks?

While Overwatch 2 ranks remained in the same ballpark compared to where you ended up in the original Overwatch, Season 9 of Overwatch 2 will be resetting ranks and bringing back placements to Overwatch 2, so watch this space!

What is MMR in Overwatch 2?

MMR in Overwatch 2 has been described by Blizzard Entertainment as an internal metric/matchmaking rating that decides an individual's skill level relative to other players to create fairer and more balanced games. This used to work alongside players' Skill Rating (SR).

Can I play with friends in Overwatch 2 ranked games?

Yes! You can group up with any number of people for a full squad of five players if you are reasonably similar in skill level. Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond players can play with people who are within two skill tiers. Overwatch 2 Master players can squad up with anyone within one skill tier. Grandmaster players can only group within three skill-tier divisions from them.

What rank is the average Overwatch 2 player?

The average rank for players depends on the console they use. The average rank for a PC player is around Platinum, while most console players are around mid-high Gold.

How many ranks are there in Overwatch 2?

There are seven ranks (not including Top 500), each with 5 separate sub-divisions. These include Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Master, and Grandmaster.

What is the point of gold guns in Overwatch 2?

Although golden guns don't have any in-game benefits or bonuses, they look cool! They are exclusive weapons that add a golden sheen to your favorite hero's weapon. Plus, you get to flex how hard you've worked, as Overwatch 2 golden guns cost a whopping 3,000 Competitive Points each!

Overwatch 2 ranks