Since the introduction of Ranked 2.0, the Rainbow Six rulebook has been rewritten. Your visible rank is now the headline, but a hidden “Skill” rating is the real story. In this post, we’ll demystify the modern ladder, so you’re ready for an easy climb to the top.
Understanding Ranked 2.0
Forget what you thought you knew. Ranked 2.0, rolled out in late 2022, fundamentally changed the game’s competitive landscape. The old system was transparent: your Matchmaking Rating (MMR) was your rank, and every win or loss visibly impacted it. The new order is more sophisticated, splitting your competitive identity into two distinct parts.
- Your Visible Rank (Copper to Champion): This is your public-facing progression for the season. Think of it as your campaign medal, a reflection of your recent successes and the ground you’ve covered. Every player starts this journey at Copper V each season.
- Your Hidden Skill Rating: This is the system’s private assessment of your actual ability, the director’s cut of your entire Siege career. It’s the engine that drives matchmaking, ensuring you’re pitted against operators of a similar caliber, regardless of what shiny badge is on your profile. This rating doesn’t reset between seasons, meaning the game always remembers your performance.
This dual system means your first match of a new season, while displaying a Copper rank, will be against opponents who mirror your actual skill level. It’s a clean slate, free from chaos.
Every R6S Rank, Explained
The ladder is a direct path to prestige, composed of eight distinct tiers. Ascending requires earning 100 Rank Points (RP) per division, with five divisions typically within each tier. It’s a long, demanding climb, but each new emblem is a statement of your growing mastery.
| Rank Tier | Divisions | The Inside Read |
| Copper | V – I | The proving grounds. Every legend starts their story here. |
| Bronze | V – I | You’ve learned the ropes and are starting to land your shots. |
| Silver | V – I | Consistency is building. You’re becoming a reliable teammate. |
| Gold | V – I | The heart of the player base. You understand strategy and play objectives. |
| Platinum | V – I | You’re a force to be reckoned with, capable of turning the tide of a match. |
| Emerald | V – I | A newer tier for the truly dedicated. The line between great and elite. |
| Diamond | V – I | You possess exceptional mechanical skill and a deep tactical mind. |
| Champion | Single Tier | The pinnacle. Reserved for the absolute best players in the world. |
How ‘Skill’ Dictates Your Destiny
While your visible rank is what your friends see, your hidden Skill rating is what Ubisoft’s matchmaking algorithm cares about. This value is a complex calculation based on your historical performance, your wins, your losses, and your overall impact on match outcomes.
Because this rating is persistent, the system prevents elite players from dominating lower-ranked lobbies at the start of a season. It’s a design for fairer, more competitive matches from day one. When you win a game, you gain RP. The amount is determined by the system’s confidence in your current rank versus your hidden Skill.
If your Skill is far higher than your rank (common at the start of a season), you’ll gain a large amount of RP for a win and lose very little for a defeat, accelerating your climb to a rank that better reflects your ability.
Wiping the Slate Clean
Each competitive season in Siege lasts about three months, offering a fresh battlefield and a new opportunity to prove your worth. At the start of every season, your visible rank is reset to Copper V, but your hidden Skill rating remains untouched.
This reset cultivates a dynamic environment where placement is earned, not inherited. It also comes with a suite of rewards based on the highest rank you achieved during the season. These aren’t just trinkets; they are symbols of your dedication. From exclusive weapon charms and skins to unique operator card backgrounds, these rewards let you carry your seasonal achievements with you into every future match.
Squad Dynamics in Ranked
Rainbow Six Siege is a team-based game at its core, and the ranked system is designed to support squads. You can team up with friends, and the matchmaking system will calculate a weighted average of your squad’s hidden Skill ratings to find a suitable opposing team.
This means you can bring your less-experienced friends into the fray, but be prepared for a challenge. The system will look to balance the match, often placing you against a squad with a similar overall skill profile. A coordinated team with a wide skill gap can still be incredibly effective, using the strategic depth of a veteran player to guide the raw potential of newer ones. Communication, as always, is the key to victory.
Strategies for a Swift Ascent
Climbing the ranked ladder is less about brute force and more about sharp strategy and relentless refinement, thanks to the new update. If you’re looking to accelerate your ascent, focus on these core principles:
- Master Your Role: Don’t just pick a “cool” operator. Understand what your team needs. Are you a hard-breacher, an intel-gatherer, a roamer, or an anchor? Learning your role, either through getting a Rainbow Six boost or from watching YouTube guides, makes you an invaluable asset.
- Know the Maps: This goes beyond simple callouts. Understand lines of sight, common plant spots, destructible surfaces, and vertical play opportunities. Map knowledge is the difference between reacting and dictating the flow of the game.
- Communicate Clearly: A quiet team is a losing team. Make concise, effective callouts about enemy positions, utility usage, and your intentions. Even without a full squad, effective communication with your teammates can significantly increase your chances of success.
- Play Consistently: The more you play, the more accurately the system can place you. Consistency builds muscle memory, sharpens game sense, and helps you adapt to the ever-shifting meta.
Your Questions, Answered
Why does my rank reset to Copper every season?
This design ensures that each season is a fresh start. It pushes players to consistently prove their skill to earn the season’s exclusive rewards, keeping the competitive environment active and meaningful.
My first matches feel intense, even at Copper. What gives?
This is the hidden Skill rating at work. While your badge says Copper, you’re being matched against players of your proper caliber. This makes for balanced matches from the very beginning, even if it feels jarring to face Platinum-level players while you’re technically in the lowest tier.
Is my visible rank just for show?
Not at all. It’s your seasonal story. It represents your progress, unlocks your rewards, and gives you bragging rights. While Skill handles the matchmaking, your Rank is the prize you’re fighting for.
