Call Of Duty: Warzone Ranked Play And Ranks Guide

by  Dana Sydorenko

Season 1 Reloaded is probably the best thing that has happened to Call Of Duty: Warzone in a long time. In this article, I’ve collected everything we know about the Warzone ranked play and why you should definitely try it.

About Warzone Ranked Play

The release date of Warzone Ranked Play was December 5, 2024. It was released as part of Season 1 Reloaded in the Black Ops 6 update. After a short break, ranked play is returning to Warzone.

The ranked play matchmaking uses the same model as the Black Ops 6 ranked mode, which is SBMM. Players with a similar skill level are placed in a lobby, which makes matches fairer. Players fight in a battle royale mode on a large map. Depending on the results of the match, players receive their ranked points, move up one of 8 Warzone ranked levels, and receive corresponding rewards. The amount of SR that is awarded at the end of the match depends on your placement based on the results of the match, as well as the number of enemy kills.

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The Latest Seasonal Update

Obviously, the most important and long-awaited update in Season 1 Reloaded was the return of Warzone Ranked Play, which takes place on a large map. A spacious map was sorely lacking, as since MW3, battles took place on more local maps, such as Rebirth Island. Now, finally, the competitive mode takes place on a grand scale on the large and long-awaited Urzikstan map. In addition to fixing various bugs, there were also many changes in the weapon balance. The list is quite huge, but the most important is probably the following:

• AK-74 – increased firing range;
• Ames 85 – increased bullet speed;
• All Black Ops 6 SMGs – reload speed increased by 10%;
• All Black Ops 6 Marksman Rifles – reload speed increased by 12%;
• All Black Ops 6 Shotguns – reload speed increased by 8%.

Three new weapons have been added:

• Maelstrom Shotgun – reward for the “Merry Mayhem” event.
• AMR Mod 4 Sniper Rifle – reward for “Archie’s Festival Frenzy” event.
• Cleaver Melee weapon – reward for “One-hit kill. Short-medium range. Medium attack speed” event.

How To Unlock Ranked Play In Warzone

With the rule update, in order to gain access to ranked play in Warzone, a player must be in the top 15 in Battle Royale or the top 6 in Resurgence and hold those places for 30 matches.

New And Updated Features

Several major changes have come to Ranked Play:

• Party Skill Restriction – Full squads can play together without restrictions. Lobby matchmaking will be based on the player with the highest Warzone ranking in the squad.
• Seasonal Setback – The SR rollback at the end of the season has been adjusted. I will go into more detail later in the article.
• Loss Forgiveness – The first loss of each player each day, regardless of their Warzone rank, does not count and will not lead to any SR deducted. Additionally, after moving up a rank, players receive temporary protection from demotion for the first three games at the new rank, during which SR will also not be deducted.

Warzone Ranks & SR Requirements

In Warzone’s ranked play, there are eight divisions that you can climb through by hitting certain Skill Rating (SR) milestones. Most divisions have three tiers, except for the last two. It’s set up just like in Black Ops 6 ranked play. So, here’s the list of Warzone ranks.

Seasonal SR Setback

End Season SR Setback has been adjusted to be more player-friendly. The CoD: Warzone rank reset at the end of the season is as follows:

Restricted Items In Warzone Ranked Play

Warzone Ranked Play has a number of restrictions on weapons and attachments, which is necessary for a balanced competitive game. It is also intended to prevent a situation where a player becomes overpowered. Here is a list of all the restrictions:

Warzone Rankings Rewards To Expect

Warzone Ranked Play is not only about competition and conquering the ladder but also the opportunity to earn valuable rewards. Among them, you can expect the following:

• Rank rewards: Warzone ranks from Gold and higher unlock exclusive skins and various cosmetics, such as emblems, calling cards, and more.
• Win challenges: Upon reaching a certain number of wins, players can unlock various ranked operator skins, weapon camo skins, and a unique combat knife blueprint.
• Seasonal rewards: Each season offers unique tier rewards for players, which become available with the rank progression.

How To Gain SR And Rank Up Quickly In Warzone Ranked Play

As in any competitive shooter, there is only one way to quickly grow in Warzone ranks – to win often. Therefore, everything primarily depends on your skill level and the time you have invested in the game to improve this skill. However, below, I will give a couple of recommendations that, together with good mechanical skills, will increase your chances of winning:

• First of all, study the map. Urzikstan is a huge map with a lot of places for ambushes. You need to know the places where good loot spawns and places popular for other players to spawn. And generally, be able to navigate the map well.
• Determine the places that are popular for spawning for most players, and perhaps you should try to avoid them first and not get into the thick of things immediately. Choose places that are not so obvious and not very popular with other players. This way, you can find the first loot, quickly arm yourself, and assess the situation around you.
• It is crucial to agree with your teammates in advance to jump to one point; do not go to different points on the map but land together. This way, you will have a better chance of killing enemies. And in general, stick together and act as a team.
• Like it or not, skill is very important, especially in ranked games, since they are mostly the place for strong players. Find like-minded people who want to grow their ranks in Warzone with you.
• Also, remember that the first loss of each day will not deduct SR. So, the first match of each day is a warm-up and will give you a chance to get into the competitive rhythm. 
• The higher you climb in the division, the more SR you will lose in case of a loss. Don’t forget about it!

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Final Thoughts

If at some point you, like me, stopped playing Call of Duty: Warzone and haven’t been following the news related to the game for a long time, then perhaps the Warzone ranked play is the best reason to return. In this article, I told you everything about ranked play in Call of Duty: Warzone, the features of this mode, and how to advance in it. I wish you many exciting hours in Urzikstan with your team!