Apex Legends Ranked Explained: Ranks, RP and Season 31
November 9, 2026 · 7 min read
On this page
- How to unlock Ranked
- Apex Legends ranks in Season 31
- How RP works
- Challenger and Goliath matches
- Demotion protection
- Legend bans in Diamond and higher
- Ranked maps and ladders in Season 31
- What changes in Season 32
- Tips for your first Ranked games
- Frequently asked questions
- What level do you need to be to play ranked in Apex?
- What are the ranks in Apex Legends?
- How does RP work in Apex ranked?
- What is a Goliath match in Apex Legends?
- How does demotion protection work in Apex?
- How do legend bans work in Apex ranked?
- Is Emerald a rank in Apex Legends?
Last checked: November 9, 2026.
Apex Legends Ranked unlocks at account level 20. It has eight rank tiers from Rookie to Apex Predator, and you climb by earning Ranked Points (RP) from placement and kills while paying an RP entry cost for every match. Season 31 (Cipher), which started on November 3, 2026, added Legend bans in Diamond and higher, entry cost adjustments for uneven lobbies, and a clearer Ranked screen. This guide is based on EA's Cipher patch notes, its Ranked Roadmap for Seasons 31 and 32, and EA's official Ranked guide.
How to unlock Ranked
You need to reach account level 20. Season 31 removed the Road to Ranked challenges that used to be required as well, so level 20 is now the only requirement. Respawn says it's still looking at whether 20 is the right level, so this could change later.
Once you qualify, select Ranked from the game mode menu in the lobby. Ranked is played in trios on the current Battle Royale maps.
Apex Legends ranks in Season 31
| Rank | Divisions |
|---|---|
| Rookie | IV, III, II, I |
| Bronze | IV, III, II, I |
| Silver | IV, III, II, I |
| Gold | IV, III, II, I |
| Platinum | IV, III, II, I |
| Diamond | IV, III, II, I |
| Master | One division |
| Apex Predator | One division |
Division IV is the lowest in each rank and I is the highest. Ranked leaderboards are separate for each platform, even with cross-progression.
How RP works
Every Ranked match follows the same pattern:
- You pay an entry cost in RP when the match starts. The cost depends on your rank, so it gets higher as you climb.
- You earn RP for where your squad places and for kills and assists.
- Your net RP is what you earned minus the entry cost. A good match moves you up, and a bad one costs you RP.
Placement matters more than kills. EA's own example: dying in 12th place with 4 kills earns less RP than finishing 5th with a single kill. A top 5 finish also gives a reward multiplier.
You don't need to memorize the numbers. Season 31 added a Ranked tab in the inventory menu that shows your entry cost, how much RP you need to break even, and how far you are from your next division. The kill feed now shows the RP each kill earns, and the in-match net RP counter turns white once you're positive.
Challenger and Goliath matches
When fewer players are online, the matchmaker sometimes puts very different ranks in one lobby. Since Season 31, the game adjusts your entry cost when that happens.
| Match type | When it happens | Entry cost |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | Your squad is within one tier of the lobby | Standard |
| Challenger | Your Squad Tier is 2 or more tiers below the Lobby Tier | 30% lower |
| Goliath | Your Squad Tier is 2 or more tiers above the Lobby Tier | 50% higher |
How the tiers are worked out:
- Squad Tier is the average RP of your squad. Players who queued together as a premade are all counted at the RP of the highest-ranked player in that group.
- Lobby Tier is the median Squad Tier in the match.
- If a teammate never connects, your Squad Tier drops by one full tier.
The game tells you if you're in a Challenger or Goliath match on the Waiting for Players screen and again when you leave the dropship.
Demotion protection
Demotion protection keeps one bad match from dropping you a full rank. It switches on when a single match could demote you, for example when a Goliath entry cost is big enough to pull you below your rank's floor.
While it's active you have three Demotion Shields. Each time you would lose enough RP to be demoted, one shield is used instead. You're only demoted after all three are gone. Protection ends once you've gained enough RP that one match can't demote you, or when you run out of shields and drop.
Legend bans in Diamond and higher
Any Ranked match with Diamond or higher players now has a ban phase before Legend selection. These matches also use Drop Zone deployment.
- Each player requests one Legend to ban.
- The game shows every requested Legend with its chance of being banned. A Legend's chance equals its share of all requests, so if 80% of the lobby asks for Wraith, Wraith has an 80% chance on the first pick.
- The system randomly bans two Legends using those odds.
- If fewer than four different Legends were requested, the game adds the previous week's most played Legends until there are four candidates.
Respawn chose a weighted random system on purpose, so that the most-requested Legend isn't banned every single match. Have at least two backup Legends ready. Our Apex Legends classes guide can help you pick them.
Ranked maps and ladders in Season 31
Ranked uses Storm Point, E-District Night and Broken Moon this season. See our map rotation guide for timers and the other playlists.
Weekly Ranked Ladders are short competitions that run for five days each. The Season 31 schedule:
| Ladder | Dates |
|---|---|
| Ladder 1 | November 10 to 15, 2026 |
| Ladder 2 | November 17 to 22, 2026 |
| Ladder 3 | November 24 to 29, 2026 |
| Ladder 4 | December 1 to 6, 2026 |
| Ladder 5 | December 8 to 13, 2026 |
What changes in Season 32
Respawn has announced a major Ranked overhaul for Season 32 in early 2027. Details could still change, but the plan so far is:
| Change | What Respawn has said |
|---|---|
| Iron rank | Replaces Rookie and works like any other rank |
| Emerald rank | New rank between Platinum and Diamond, with four divisions |
| Grandmaster rank | New top rank; an Apex Predator badge goes to the top 750 Grandmasters at season end |
| Master divisions | Master gets four divisions |
| Open League and Pro-Am League | Diamond, Master and Grandmaster form the Pro-Am League, which keeps Legend bans and Drop Zone deployment. Open League matches all start in the dropship |
| Flat scoring | Each kill and each placement is worth a set amount of RP, with no multiplier between them |
| Team kills | Every squad member gets full RP for every team kill, so assists and participation are removed |
| Entry cost | Increases with each division instead of each rank |
| Kill vs placement weight | Open League values kills a bit more; Pro-Am values placement more |
| Ladders | Weekly Ladders are removed |
| Rewards | New seasonal Auras, Epic and Legendary Apex Packs, and rewards when you promote |
Tips for your first Ranked games
- Land somewhere quiet. Ranked punishes chaotic hot drops harder than casual matches do.
- Play around the ring. Know where the zone is heading before you commit to a fight.
- Pick fights your gear can win. Don't push a fortified building with a white shield and starter weapons.
- Value placement. A top 5 finish with one kill usually beats an early exit with several.
- Stay together. Agree on a landing spot and a plan before you drop.
If you're still learning the basics, start with our Apex Legends beginner guide.
Frequently asked questions
What level do you need to be to play ranked in Apex?
You need to be account level 20. Season 31 removed the extra Road to Ranked challenges, so reaching level 20 is the only requirement for now.
What are the ranks in Apex Legends?
The ranks are Rookie, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Master and Apex Predator. Rookie through Diamond each have four divisions, from IV up to I, while Master and Apex Predator have one.
How does RP work in Apex ranked?
You pay an entry cost at the start of each match and earn RP back from your placement and from kills and assists. Placement is worth more than kills, and a top 5 finish adds a multiplier.
What is a Goliath match in Apex Legends?
A Goliath match happens when your squad is two or more tiers above the lobby's median tier. Your entry cost goes up by 50%, because you're expected to do well against lower-ranked players.
How does demotion protection work in Apex?
When one match could drop you a rank, you get three Demotion Shields. Each time you'd lose enough RP to demote, a shield is used up instead, and you only drop once all three are gone.
How do legend bans work in Apex ranked?
In Diamond and higher matches, each player requests one Legend to ban, and the game randomly bans two Legends weighted by how many requests each got. Banned Legends can't be picked by anyone in that match.
Is Emerald a rank in Apex Legends?
Not yet. Respawn plans to add Emerald between Platinum and Diamond in Season 32, along with a new Iron rank replacing Rookie and a Grandmaster rank at the top.
