Ranked in Apex Legends plays by its own rules: an entry cost for every match, points for placement and kills, and two resets per season. This guide goes through all of them based on EA’s official help pages. It applies to Season 30 (Marked), which ends on 3 November 2026, and is accurate as of 20 October 2026. EA has already said the biggest changes to Ranked matchmaking will arrive in Seasons 31 and 32, so some numbers may change once the new season starts.
How to unlock Ranked
Ranked unlocks once you reach level 20 and complete three sets of Road to Ranked challenges. The challenges only count in Core, not in Wildcard or Mixtape. Players who had Ranked access before Road to Ranked was introduced keep it. Why it pays to spend your first few dozen matches in regular play is covered in our beginner guide.
Ranks, divisions and RP
Progress is measured in RP (Ranked Points). The ranks are Rookie, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Master and, at the top, Apex Predator. Every rank up to and including Diamond has four divisions, from IV to I. Apex Predator is the top 750 players in Master on each platform.
| Rank | RP to the next division | Aura colour |
|---|---|---|
| Rookie | 250 | grey |
| Bronze | 500 | bronze |
| Silver | 500 (Silver I → Gold IV 750) | silver |
| Gold | 750 | gold |
| Platinum | 750 (Platinum II → I and I → Diamond IV 1000) | teal |
| Diamond | 1000 | blue |
| Master | – | purple |
| Apex Predator | top 750 in Master per platform | red |
Rookie is the starting rank. Once you climb out of it, you can’t drop back in.
Entry cost per match
Every Ranked match costs RP. The entry cost is taken at the start and refunded if you finish in the top half of the lobby.
| Rank | Entry cost (RP) |
|---|---|
| Rookie | 0 |
| Bronze | 10 |
| Silver | 20 |
| Gold | 38 |
| Platinum | 48 |
| Diamond | 65 |
| Master and Apex Predator | 90 |
How RP is scored
You earn RP for placement, kills and assists. Healing and reviving teammates earn nothing. EA’s rules:
- If your team finishes off a player you didn’t damage, you get half the kill value (participation).
- Kill value grows the higher you place. Beyond 8 kills, each additional kill is worth half.
- Killing a higher-ranked player gives a bonus: one rank above you +15%, two +25%, three +35%, four or more +50%.
- Consecutive top-5 finishes add RP: the second in a row +10, the third +20, the fourth +30, the fifth and every one after +40.
The takeaway, which EA’s official guide spells out too, is that placement matters more than kills. Finishing 12th with four kills earns you less RP than finishing 5th with one. Playing to get your squad into the endgame pays off more in Ranked than chasing every fight.
Placement matches and resets
Ranked resets twice per season: at the start of the season and at the start of Split 2. At the start of a season, your rank is assigned based on your hidden MMR (matchmaking rating). New players are placed using their MMR from Unranked Trios. EA’s official guide says you play 10 placement matches before receiving your first rank.
In Split 2 of Season 30 (from 15 September 2026), the reset moved players like this:
| Rank before the reset | Where the reset puts you |
|---|---|
| Bronze | Bronze IV, 1000 RP |
| Silver | Silver IV, 3250 RP (+250 demotion protection) |
| Gold | Gold IV, 5750 RP (+250 demotion protection) |
| Platinum | Platinum IV, 8750 RP (+250 demotion protection) |
| Diamond IV and III | Platinum III, 9250 RP |
| Diamond II and I | Platinum II, 10000 RP |
| Master and above | Platinum I, 11000 RP |
At the end of the season, ranks reset along with Battle Pass levels. What stays and what goes is covered in our current season guide.
Season rewards
Rewards arrive at the start of the next season, based on the highest rank you reached during the season, in either split. You get an animated badge if you reach the same or a higher rank in the second split than in the first.
Parties and platforms
A premade party can be no more than two ranks apart. A Bronze player can queue with Rookie, Bronze, Silver and Gold, but not with Platinum or higher. Matchmaking uses the highest RP in the party. EA notes these rules can change during tests.
Ranked progress is tracked separately for each platform. PS4 and PS5 count as one platform, as they’re two generations of the same console.
Ranked Ladders: weekly leaderboards
Ranked Ladders are weekly leaderboards that run from Tuesday to Sunday, with up to 100 players each. You qualify after 5 Ranked matches and need crossplay switched on. Your score comes from your 5 best matches. Rewards depend on your placement, from Tier 1 for the top 10% to Tier 4 for the bottom 50%. In Split 2, Ladder 6 runs from 27 October to 1 November 2026.
What’s being tested and what’s coming
EA has been testing matchmaking changes during Season 30. The Season 29 tests (parties limited to players within one rank of each other, Diamond and above solo only) won’t become permanent. Solo queue won’t return in that form, although EA hasn’t ruled out further solo queue tests. The results are summarised in our news piece on the matchmaking tests.
From 9 October 2026 until the end of the season, a test of longer queues for Platinum and above is running, adding up to roughly 30 seconds for Master players. On 30 September 2026, EA said the biggest Ranked matchmaking changes will land in Seasons 31 and 32, and the Season 30 page announces a major Ranked update planned for Season 32. EA hasn’t said what it will include yet.
Maps and Drop Zone in Ranked
In Season 30, the Ranked map changes every 4.5 hours. Higher up, Drop Zone kicks in: once a lobby passes a certain share of Diamond, Master or Predator players, every squad gets an assigned drop location (POI). The current rotation is in our maps and modes guide, and for picking a legend, see our overview of legends and classes.
Join our Discord to find a Ranked squad that actually communicates: Discord GamersTogether.
FAQ
From level 20, after completing three sets of Road to Ranked challenges. The challenges only count in Core.
Rookie 0, Bronze 10, Silver 20, Gold 38, Platinum 48, Diamond 65, Master and Apex Predator 90 RP. If you finish in the top half of the lobby, you get it back.
Placement. According to EA’s official guide, 12th place with 4 kills earns less RP than 5th place with one kill.
The top 750 players in Master on each platform. PS4 and PS5 count as one platform.
Yes, as long as you’re no more than two ranks apart. Matchmaking then uses the highest RP in the party.
Information verified on 20 October 2026. These rules apply to Season 30 Marked and we’ll review them after 3 November 2026. You’ll find more guides in our Apex Legends section.