Warzone Ranked Play Guide: Ranks, SR and Rewards
-
- Rewrote the guide for the current Ranked Play: Resurgence format.
- Added Season 06 divisions, Deployment Fees, restrictions and rewards.
- Added the Ranked Series and what we know about Ranked with Modern Warfare 4.
- Removed the April 2025 Verdansk event and outdated Black Ops 6 rules.
Warzone Ranked is offline right now. The Season 06 ladder, played in Ranked Resurgence with Black Ops 7 weapons, ended in October 2026. Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 arrives in Warzone on November 6, 2026, but Activision has not yet said when Ranked returns.
💡 Highlights
- Warzone Ranked is now Ranked Play: Resurgence, using Black Ops 7 weapons.
- Season 06 Ranked has ended. No return date is confirmed for the MW4 era.
- Eight skill divisions: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Crimson, Iridescent and Top 250.
- From Silver up, each match costs a Deployment Fee in SR.
- Each season ends with a one-week Ranked Series, with SR frozen and 50-player ladders.
Warzone Ranked has changed a lot since it returned with Black Ops 6 in December 2024. It moved to Black Ops 7, switched to Resurgence, and added a Ranked Series at the end of each season. This guide covers how Ranked works today, the divisions and SR rules, what you can earn, and what we know about Ranked in the Modern Warfare 4 era. We will update it as soon as Activision announces Ranked for MW4.
About Warzone Ranked Play
Warzone Ranked Play first launched in Warzone 2.0 with Season 03 Reloaded in May 2023. The current version returned on December 5, 2024, with Black Ops 6 Season 1 Reloaded. When Warzone moved to Black Ops 7 content, Ranked came back as Ranked Play: Resurgence in Season 02 on February 5, 2026. Large-map Battle Royale ranked was replaced by a beta mode called Iron Gauntlet, which rotated with Ranked Resurgence in Season 02.
Ranked Resurgence is fast and punishing. You earn Skill Rating (SR) for outlasting other squads, for eliminations (shared with your whole squad) and for in-match challenges. Taking out players from higher divisions earns more SR. From Silver up, you pay a Deployment Fee in SR at the start of every match, so you need to place well just to break even. For multiplayer Ranked, see our Call of Duty ranked play guide.
When Does Warzone Ranked Come Back?
Season 06, “The Haunting”, started on September 17, 2026. Its Ranked ladder was shorter than usual: about three weeks of normal Ranked, then a one-week Ranked Series. It has now ended.
Modern Warfare 4 launched on October 23, 2026, and MW4 Season 1 comes to Warzone on November 6, 2026, with the new Hajin Battle Royale map and Zodiac Resurgence map. Activision’s Season 1 roadmap does not mention Warzone Ranked. In the past, Ranked returned a few weeks to two months after a new game joined Warzone, so a return in late 2026 or early 2027 is possible but not confirmed.
How To Unlock Ranked Play In Warzone
There is no level requirement. To unlock Ranked, finish in the top squads in 20 matches (Top 6 in Resurgence or Top 15 in Battle Royale, not counting casual modes). Once unlocked, it stays unlocked. On PC, Ranked requires TPM 2.0, Secure Boot and Remote Attestation as part of RICOCHET Anti-Cheat. Check the Ranked tab in the Warzone menu when the new season starts.
Ranked Series
The final week of each ranked season is the Ranked Series. Your SR freezes, and you are placed in a 50-player ladder grouped by rank. You climb by earning Ladder Points from eliminations and placement, and lose points for deaths. In Season 02, an elimination was worth +1, a death cost 2, and placement added up to +10. Top finishers earn extra rewards on top of regular Ranked rewards.
Warzone Ranks & SR Requirements
Warzone Ranked has eight skill divisions. The first six have three tiers each. Here are the SR breakpoints from Season 06:
| Skill Division | Tiers | SR to enter |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | I to III | 0 |
| Silver | I to III | 900 |
| Gold | I to III | 2,100 |
| Platinum | I to III | 3,600 |
| Diamond | I to III | 5,400 (II 6,100, III 6,800) |
| Crimson | I to III | 7,500 (II 8,300, III 9,100) |
| Iridescent | none | 10,000 |
| Top 250 | none | 10,000+ and a top 250 spot |
Deployment Fees rise in Diamond and above, and the most SR you can earn in one match drops as you climb. In Season 06, Activision raised fees in Diamond and above to slow SR inflation.
Seasonal SR Setback
The old Black Ops 6 setback rules (for example, Diamond and higher resetting to Diamond I) have not been confirmed for the current Ranked format. Expect a fresh climb when Ranked returns with Modern Warfare 4. We will add the official reset rules when Activision publishes them.
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 OP. Here is a list of all the restrictions:
| Type | Rules in Ranked Resurgence |
|---|---|
| Weapons | Black Ops 7 weapons only. Two weapons, any unrestricted primary and secondary. |
| Optics | Thermal and scanning optics such as the Bowen X-25 IR, VAS Strix 6x Thermal, Millimeter Scanner and Target Finder are restricted. Season 06 unrestricted the Solaris Holo-IR. |
| Underbarrels | Drill Charge and standard launchers are restricted. Season 06 unrestricted the M335-X Frag, M335-X Tempest and Mirage Tandem Launcher, with one-shot protection. |
| Perks | Alertness and Tracker are banned. |
| Tacticals | Pinpoint Grenade, Grapple Hook and Psych Grenade are restricted. |
| Lethals | Point Turret, Proximity Mine and C4 are restricted. Season 06 unrestricted the Claymore. |
Restrictions can change each season. Check the in-game Ranked rules before you queue.
Warzone Rankings Rewards To Expect
Here is what Season 06 Ranked offered, which shows the usual reward structure:
- Division rewards: a calling card for Silver; a calling card and weapon camo for Gold through Iridescent.
- Top Placement rewards: a weapon blueprint (the “Glory of Gilgamesh” Carbon 57) for 5 Top Placements, plus a Large Decal for more Top Placements.
- End-of-season rewards: leaderboard rewards for the Top 250, and a Top 250 Champion calling card for the #1 player.
- Ranked Series rewards: extra cosmetics for the top finishers in each ladder.
Rewards you already earned stay in your inventory. New seasons bring new rewards. For camo grinding tips, see our Black Ops 6 mastery camos guide.
How To Gain SR And Rank Up Quickly In Warzone Ranked Play
As in any competitive shooter, the fastest way up is to place high and win fights. These tips help:
- Learn the Resurgence map. Resurgence maps are small, so know the loot spots, high ground and common landing zones.
- Avoid the hottest drops at first. Land with your squad somewhere quieter, loot up and then rotate.
- Play as a squad. Eliminations count for the whole squad, so trade kills and stay close.
- Hunt smart. Taking out players from higher divisions gives more SR.
- Respect the Deployment Fee. From Silver up, every match costs SR, and the fee grows in Diamond and above. Survive long enough to earn it back.
- Play with a steady squad. Ranked lobbies are full of strong players, and a team you trust beats random teammates.
Looking For A Team To Play Warzone? Try GameTree
Ranked Resurgence punishes solo queue. Find a steady squad before Ranked returns: the GameTree app matches you with players by personality and the games you like. You can also join the GameTree LFG Discord, with about 28,500 members, at discord.gg/6duvwHx2Q2, and use the Scout bot’s /lfg command to find a squad.
Final Thoughts
Warzone Ranked is between seasons right now. The last ladder, Season 06 Ranked Resurgence, has ended, and Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 lands in Warzone on November 6, 2026. Use the break to learn the new maps and build a squad, so you are ready to climb when Activision brings Ranked back. We will update this guide as soon as the MW4 Ranked details are official.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Warzone Ranked available right now?
No. The Season 06 Ranked ladder ended in October 2026. Activision has not announced when Ranked returns with Modern Warfare 4.
When does Warzone Ranked come back?
There is no official date. MW4 Season 1 starts in Warzone on November 6, 2026, and its roadmap does not mention Ranked. Past returns came a few weeks to two months after a new game joined Warzone.
Is Warzone Ranked Battle Royale or Resurgence?
Resurgence. Since Season 02 (February 2026), Ranked has been Ranked Play: Resurgence. Large-map Battle Royale ranked was replaced by a beta mode called Iron Gauntlet.
What are the Warzone ranks?
Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Crimson, Iridescent and Top 250. The first six have three tiers. Iridescent starts at 10,000 SR.
What is the Ranked Series?
The last week of each Ranked season. SR is frozen and you compete in a 50-player ladder for extra rewards.
