Guide
How the ELO rating and levels work
Everyone starts at 1000 ELO, which is level 4, and plays 10 placement matches that take you to level 6 at most. After that, in an even match a game is worth about 25 points, with a bonus or malus for your K/D, and your level from 1 to 10 depends on your ELO. At the top there is the Elite level.
This topic is covered in depth in Academy: Competitive and ClutchLeague: ranks, placements, levels
Placement
The first 10 matches of a season are placement matches. During placement you see the points you gained or lost, but not your level or your total ELO, and the first matches weigh more (up to about 50 points each) to place you quickly. At the end you get a level, capped at 6: from level 7 up you earn it by playing.
The levels
Levels follow ELO, with the same thresholds as Faceit: level 1 from 100 to 500, 2 from 501 to 750, 3 from 751 to 900, 4 from 901 to 1050, 5 from 1051 to 1200, 6 from 1201 to 1350, 7 from 1351 to 1530, 8 from 1531 to 1750, 9 from 1751 to 2000 and 10 from 2001 up.
Above 10 there is Elite: level 10 and top 1000 of the season leaderboard. While you stay on top you get a dedicated frame, banner and title.
How many points a match is worth
The base is the team result and how favoured your team was: in an even match a game is worth about 25 points, winning as the favourite gives less and as the underdog more. Then your K/D in that match, read from the match data, works as a bonus and a malus: with the same result a high K/D wins you more (up to about 20% more) or costs you less, a low K/D the opposite.
If the match was verified with screenshots and you did not upload yours, the system assumes the worst case for your result. In the Premium Match (the credit queue) points count 20% more, in wins and in losses.
Seasons
At the end of a season your level stays and your ELO goes back to the minimum of that level (level 1 restarts from 300). The leaderboard restarts from zero.
Frequently asked questions
- How many ELO points do I start with?
- You start at 1000 ELO, which is level 4, with no VALORANT rank involved.
- Can I reach level 10 with the placement?
- No. Placement is capped at level 6: from level 7 up you earn it by playing.
- Does my K/D change my points?
- Yes, but it never changes the sign: a win always gains points and a loss always loses points. It changes how many.
- What is the Elite level?
- It is the level above 10: level 10 and among the best of the season leaderboard. It gives dedicated cosmetics and no score advantage.