Valorant, made by Riot Games, is a top game in the world of tactical shooting. One of the main parts of the game is its matchmaking, which works to set up fair and balanced matches for players of all skill levels. But how does Valorant matchmaking actually work? In this text, we will look at the key things that affect matchmaking and how Riot Games makes sure players have a good time in every match.
Valorant matchmaking is meant to pair players with others who have similar skills. The game uses a rank system that sorts players from Iron to Radiant. This rank system is key to making sure players get matched with others who are at a similar skill level, which helps keep the game fair and fun.
In Valorant, there are two main types of matches: Competitive and Unrated.
Unrated Matches: These are more laid back and do not change your rank. They are great for players who want to practice or just enjoy some fun without thinking about ranks.
The main way Valorant finds your skill level is through Matchmaking Rating (MMR). Your MMR is a hidden score that goes up or down based on how you do in matches. Winning helps your MMR rise, while losing makes it drop. The system tries to match you with others who have similar MMRs to keep the games fair.
Winning matches helps you rise in rank, while losses may cost you rank. Yet, Valorant’s system does not only think about wins or losses. It also looks at how well you do as a player, so skilled players can still rank up even if their team doesn’t win.
When you start ranked play, you must first do placement matches. These will decide your starting rank based on how you do. If you do well, you’ll start higher. After that, the matchmaking will keep changing your rank based on how you perform later.
This matchmaking system is often compared to the Elo system used in other games. In this system, players have a score, and the game matches players with those who have a similar score. But Valorant’s way is more detailed, looking at more than just wins and losses.
While your rank is shown, your MMR is kept secret. This helps the game match players better, so you’re not stuck in bad matches just because of your visible rank. The system helps find players with similar skills, not just those in the same rank.
How long it takes to get into a match can change based on a few things. These include how many players are around your skill level and where you play. To make good matches, Valorant’s system may tweak the MMR slightly to find enough players to match up, which might cause small skill gaps, especially in areas with fewer players.
Things That Affect Matchmaking
A few things can affect how you experience Valorant’s matchmaking.
The matchmaking looks at how balanced a team is. This means it checks both skill levels and the agents picked. Teams that have a good mix are more likely to have a fun game compared to teams that are not well balanced. Yet, the skill of players is still the main thing.
Besides checking skill, Valorant thinks about the roles of agents too. The system won’t always let a player pick their favorite role or agent, but it aims to have a good mix of agents in each team, like Duelists, Controllers, Initiators, and Sentinels.
Matchmaking in Valorant also considers your internet connection. Players with better, faster connections (lower ping) usually do better than those with slower ones. The system seeks to match players with similar internet speeds to keep lag from being a problem.
Valorant’s matchmaking is made to give fair and balanced matches for all players, no matter their skill level. By looking at many things like how well you play, team mix, and player MMR, the system tries to make a fair game where players can always get better. While it’s not perfect and can sometimes lead to mismatches, Riot Games is always trying to improve this system to give the best fun to the community. Whether you’re climbing the ranks or just having a good time, Valorant’s matchmaking keeps the game exciting and competitive for everyone.
