Ranked mode: climbing the tiers
An ELO ladder, six tiers, series that lengthen as you climb, and a season that puts it all back in play. It is the most demanding format in the game.
How it works
Ranked mode pits two players against each other over a multi-mode series of rounds: flags, capitals, globe, silhouettes, borders, Rankle. The winner of the series gains rating points, the loser gives some up.
An ELO, not a win counter
The calculation is a classic ELO, the same principle as in chess: beating a much higher-rated player is worth a lot, beating a much lower-rated one almost nothing. So the number of games you play does not move your tier — only the quality of the opponents you beat.
Longer series at the top
Series length depends on tier: five rounds up to Silver, seven up to Diamond, nine above. The higher you go, the less luck weighs — a long series leaves little room for a fluke on one flag.
Seasons
The ladder runs in seasons. At the close, the best players are rewarded and a new season starts. That lets a player who arrived mid-way aim for the top without having to make up a year's head start.
The tiers and their thresholds
Six tiers, from Bronze to Master. The thresholds are the game’s own, read directly from its code — they move if the balancing moves.
| Tier | Rating (ELO) |
|---|---|
| Bronze | 0 – 1,199 |
| Silver | 1,200 – 1,499 |
| Gold | 1,500 – 1,799 |
| Platinum | 1,800 – 2,099 |
| Diamond | 2,100 – 2,399 |
| Master | 2,400 + |