Updated September 25, 2026: VALORANT has 25 competitive ranks across nine named ranks, starting at Iron 1 and ending at Radiant. Every named rank except Radiant has three tiers. In the current V26 Act 5 PC snapshot, Gold is the largest rank group and Gold 1 is the most common individual tier.
VALORANT ranks: quick answer
- Lowest rank: Iron 1
- Highest rank: Radiant
- Ranks in order: Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Ascendant, Immortal, Radiant
- Current distribution: Gold is the largest group at 22.30%; Gold 1 is the most common tier at 8.79%
- Promotion: 100 RR from Iron through Ascendant
- Competitive unlock: Account Level 20
- Rank decay: None, although Immortal and Radiant leaderboard positions can move
- RR Refund: Riot can restore RR lost against a confirmed cheater
The part that trips people up is the gap between visible rank and hidden MMR. Your rank is the badge everyone sees. MMR is Riot’s hidden matchmaking ladder, and it affects whether your wins pay more RR than your losses take away.
Valorant’s Competitive mode features a ranking system where players increase their Rank by earning RR (Rank Rating) for each Competitive win. For players ranked below Immortal, the amount of RR earned is determined by the match result, individual performance, round differential, and MMR. MMR is a hidden value that Valorant uses to measure the skill level of each player.
Quick take
All VALORANT ranks in order
There are nine named ranks and 25 individual steps. Radiant has no numbered tiers.
| Order | Named rank | Individual tiers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iron | Iron 1, Iron 2, Iron 3 |
| 2 | Bronze | Bronze 1, Bronze 2, Bronze 3 |
| 3 | Silver | Silver 1, Silver 2, Silver 3 |
| 4 | Gold | Gold 1, Gold 2, Gold 3 |
| 5 | Platinum | Platinum 1, Platinum 2, Platinum 3 |
| 6 | Diamond | Diamond 1, Diamond 2, Diamond 3 |
| 7 | Ascendant | Ascendant 1, Ascendant 2, Ascendant 3 |
| 8 | Immortal | Immortal 1, Immortal 2, Immortal 3 |
| 9 | Radiant | Radiant |
Current VALORANT rank distribution
Gold is the biggest rank group in the current V26 Act 5 PC snapshot, accounting for 22.30% of tracked players. Gold 1 is the most common individual tier at 8.79%. The ladder thins quickly above Diamond: Ascendant or higher accounts for 7.57%, while Immortal and Radiant together account for 1.39%.
| Rank group | Players | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Iron | 4.71% | Lowest three tiers |
| Bronze | 15.25% | 15.25% of tracked players |
| Silver | 20.19% | Second-largest group |
| Gold | 22.30% | Largest group; Gold 1 is the most common tier |
| Platinum | 18.07% | Platinum or higher: 37.54% |
| Diamond | 11.90% | Diamond or higher: 19.47% |
| Ascendant | 6.18% | Ascendant or higher: 7.57% |
| Immortal | 1.35% | Immortal or higher: 1.39% |
| Radiant | 0.04% | Rarest rank |
These figures come from vstats.gg’s V26 Act 5 all-region PC data, updated September 25. They are an approximation based on matches covered by the tracker, not a census published by Riot, so small day-to-day changes are normal.
How to unlock Competitive and get a rank
Reach Account Level 20 to unlock Competitive. The old requirement to win 10 Unrated matches no longer applies. Play regular modes and finish daily or weekly missions if you want to move through the account levels faster.
At the beginning of a Season and Mid-Season, everyone plays five placement matches. Riot divides each year into six Acts: five placements are required at the start of Acts 1 and 4. If you already finished the initial placements, Acts 2, 3, 5 and 6 require one placement match.
Ascendant 3 is the highest possible initial placement. After placement, players from Iron through Ascendant begin with 50 RR in the rank they receive.
How RR works in VALORANT
RR is the visible number that moves you between tiers. Iron through Ascendant players need 100 RR to promote. After a promotion, you start the new tier with at least 10 RR.
A demotion takes two steps: first you reach 0 RR, then you lose again. When you drop a tier, Riot places you at no lower than 70 RR in the tier below. Immortal and Radiant use RR too, but their promotion thresholds depend on the regional leaderboard.
What changes your RR gain or loss?
Winning or losing matters most. Round margin, standout performance, whether the system considered you an underdog and the distance between your rank and hidden MMR can also move the number.
- If your MMR is above your rank, wins usually give more RR than losses remove.
- If your MMR is close to your rank, gains and losses tend to be similar.
- If your MMR is below your rank, wins usually give less RR than losses remove.
That is why two players on the same team can receive different RR. Queue dodges and repeated AFK behavior can also cost RR.
Can Riot refund RR lost to a cheater?
Yes. Riot’s current RR Refund system can return rating lost in a Competitive match when a player on the other team is later confirmed and banned for cheating. Riot sends an in-game notice, then applies the refund on the results screen after your next completed Competitive match.
The number on that results screen is the net change from the new match plus the refund. For example, a refund can soften a new loss instead of showing up as a separate positive amount. Riot also caps how much RR can be restored during an Act, so a confirmed ban does not guarantee that every lost point comes back.
Rank Shields explained
When you enter Tier 1 of a named rank, such as Silver 1 or Gold 1, Riot grants two Rank Shields. If you lose at 0 RR, a shield is consumed and you stay at 0 RR instead of dropping to the named rank below.
Shields only protect the bottom tier of a named rank. They do not stop a move from Silver 2 to Silver 1. A dodge or remake does not consume one. Once both shields are gone, another loss at 0 RR drops you normally.
Pro tip
Players will receive an RR penalty for repeatedly leaving a queue too early, also known as queue dodging. Stay and play if you want to ensure the maximum amount of RR.
What is hidden MMR?
Matchmaking Rating is Riot’s hidden estimate of your skill. It is separate from visible rank and RR. Riot uses it to build matches and nudge your visible rank toward the level where the system thinks you belong.
A short win streak can put your visible rank above your MMR. If that happens, the game may award less RR for wins and remove more for losses until the two move closer. The cleanest way to raise both is boring but reliable: win more often against players around your current MMR.
Act Rank vs competitive rank
Your competitive rank is your current place on the ladder. Act Rank records your best ranked wins during the Act and appears as the triangle on your career page. Riot calls the highest ranked win in that triangle your “proven skill.”
Act Rank does not control matchmaking. Your hidden MMR does that. It is mainly a record of the level you reached during the Act and helps determine the rank shown on your Act Rank Badge.
Which VALORANT ranks can play together?
Parties of two or three must stay inside Riot’s rank-disparity limits. Four-stacks are not allowed in Competitive. Players at Immortal 1 or higher can only queue solo, duo or as a full five-stack.
| Lowest rank in a 2- or 3-player party | Highest allowed rank |
|---|---|
| Iron or Bronze | Silver |
| Silver | Gold |
| Gold | Platinum |
| Platinum through Radiant | Exactly one tier higher (Platinum 2 can queue with Diamond 2) |
Five-stack rules and RR penalties
A full party of five can ignore the rank limits, but Riot may reduce the RR gained and lost:
- If everyone is Ascendant 3 or below, playing outside the normal party range brings a 25% RR reduction.
- If the group includes an Immortal player, the reduction is 25%.
- If the group includes a Radiant player, the reduction is 75%. Pairing that Radiant with anyone below Radiant reduces potential RR by 90%.
Five-stacks only match other five-stacks, so a wide skill gap can also mean a longer queue.
Does your VALORANT rank decay?
No. Your rank does not fall just because you stopped playing. Immortal and Radiant players can slide down the regional leaderboard while they are away because other players keep earning RR, but Riot does not treat that as rank decay.
How to climb without changing everything at once
Your aim setup will not replace good decisions, but a stable setup makes mistakes easier to read. Pick one sensitivity, play enough matches to spot a pattern, and change one thing at a time. The VALORANT sensitivity guide gives you a practical starting range, while the VALORANT eDPI calculator keeps the same feel when you change DPI.
If you prefer a real setup to test, OXY’s current VALORANT settings use 800 DPI, 0.23 sensitivity and 184 eDPI. Copy the numbers for a session, not forever. Keep what helps and drop what does not.
VALORANT ranks FAQ
What is the lowest rank in VALORANT?
Iron 1 is the lowest competitive rank.
What is the highest rank in VALORANT?
Radiant is the highest rank. It has no numbered tiers and sits above Immortal 3.
How many ranks are in VALORANT?
There are nine named ranks and 25 individual ranks. Iron through Immortal each have three tiers, while Radiant stands alone.
How much RR do you need to rank up?
Iron through Ascendant players promote at 100 RR. Immortal and Radiant thresholds vary by region.
Can you skip a rank?
Yes. If your hidden MMR sits far above your visible rank, the system can promote you by more than one tier after a win.
Can a five-stack play with any rank?
Yes, a full five-stack can include any ranks. Wide rank gaps trigger RR reductions, and the group only matches other five-stacks.
Rules checked September 25, 2026: Riot Games’ current Competitive Mode FAQ, Iron through Ascendant RR guide, and RR/MMR and RR Refund explainer.
