Rainbow Six Siege's ranked system was rebuilt from the ground up in 2026. Under what Ubisoft calls "Ranked 3.0", hidden MMR is gone: the Rank Points you see on screen are now the only measure matchmaking uses. Placement matches, squad restrictions, a season-long rewards track and the Champion rank have all changed too. In this guide we go through the rank order, how points are won and lost, and what awaits you at the start of each season.
Rank Order: From Copper to Champion
Siege has eight ranks, each split into five divisions from V to I. From bottom to top, the order is:
- Copper V–I
- Bronze V–I
- Silver V–I
- Gold V–I
- Platinum V–I
- Emerald V–I
- Diamond V–I
- Champion V–I
One of the key changes in Ranked 3.0 concerns Champion: according to Ubisoft, Champion now has five divisions like every other rank. The featured leaderboard sits at Champion I, and Ubisoft has announced that the new Legend Division will replace it in Season 3.
How Are Rank Points (RP) Calculated?
In Ubisoft's words, under the new system "your skill = your rank". The Rank Points you gain or lose after each match depend on two things: the match outcome and the relative rank balance of the two teams. Beat a stronger team and you earn more points; lose to a lower-ranked team and you lose more. The post-match report clearly shows the RP change for every game.
Matchmaking now looks only at Rank Points as well. Team balance is calculated at squad level first; when a squad contains large rank gaps, the system weights the team closer to the higher-ranked player. In other words, playing with a lower-ranked friend does not get you easier opponents, and points are calculated accordingly.
Demotion Shield: If a loss would normally drop you a division, the system can instead leave you at 0 RP in that division. This protection only applies if you started the match above 0 RP.
Start of the Season: 5 Placement Matches
At the start of every season you play 5 placement matches before receiving your starting rank. RP gains are boosted in these matches so that you can get back to your previous season's level faster. There are no squad restrictions in placements, so you can play these five games with friends of any rank. Once they are done, your starting rank is set and normal progression begins.
Squad Restrictions
To protect competitive balance, Ranked 3.0 introduced squad restrictions:
- Players from Copper to Emerald can queue with teammates within 3 full ranks of their own.
- Diamond and Champion players are limited to teammates within 2 full ranks.
For example, a Gold player can still play with a Platinum or Emerald friend as long as the gap is no more than three ranks, while a Diamond player queuing with a Gold friend runs into the two-rank limit.
Competitive Rewards
Every ranked match moves you along a season-long rewards track. A win is worth 2 points, a loss 1 point, and a new reward unlocks every 10 points. The track ends at 150 points with headgear; along the way there are Competitive Coins, Alpha Packs, a card background and a charm. Rank-based rewards are tied to the highest rank you reach during the season, so you keep them even if you later drop.
Map Ban Phase
The pre-match ban screen includes 5 maps in total: 3 from the Pro Pool and 2 from the Seasonal Pool. If a season uses a showcased map, the format becomes 1 showcased map, 2 Pro Pool maps and 2 Seasonal Pool maps. New maps added during a season appear in every ban phase until mid-season and cannot be banned for the whole season.
The Legend Division
Ubisoft has said it plans the Legend Division, which sits above Champion, for Season 3. The requirements in the announcement are: reaching at least Platinum in Season 2 and Champion in Season 3, using the R6ShieldGuard Secure Platform, and enabling app-based two-factor authentication. These conditions, aimed at making cheating and account sharing harder, are meant to make the very top of the ladder more trustworthy.
Practical Tips for Climbing
- Play your placement matches when you are ready: points gains are higher there, so a good start makes the rest of the season easier.
- Playing with friends who are far apart in rank complicates the points calculation, because squad balance is weighted towards the higher-ranked player.
- Take a break during a losing streak: Demotion Shield only helps in matches you start above 0 RP.
- Do not neglect your video settings; high, stable FPS makes a real difference above Diamond.
For smoother gameplay, see our Rainbow Six Siege X settings guide, and for buying and selling cosmetics, our R6 Marketplace guide.