Former CSGO pro NBK slams Valorant ranked system, and here's why

Fariha Bhatti Published 28/07/2021

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive veteran Nathan “NBK-” Schmitt may have transitioned to Valorant for good, but it doesn’t mean he likes everything about his new “main game.”

Valorant’s ranked mode has gone through quite an overhaul in Episode 2, but higher level players such as NBK still think that it is lacking. The former Counter-Strike: Global Offensive pro recently expressed his disappointment in the ranked system.

I need to sustain a 67% winrate to be radiant this act since my MMR doesn’t go up – Safe to say I don’t want to play ranked anymore and this is my last post about this poor MMR system ???? pic.twitter.com/zCGlKEfSE5
— Nathan Schmitt (@NBK) July 19, 2021

While Valorant has quickly become a popular first-person shooter with its exceptional characters and vivid graphics, players still think that its ranked experience isn’t up to par. Numerous pro players have criticised the ranked experience for its unreasonably long queue times, poor matchmaking, and a presumably unfair meta braced by overpowered weapons. The developer reworked the ranked games in Episode 2, but NBK still believes that the ranking system is hopeless.

Is ranked progress a problem in Valorant?

The newly-turned Valorant pro took to Twitter and said that he doesn’t want to play ranked anymore as he can’t progress beyond Immortal. Looking at the screenshot shared by NBK, it’s evident that he’s gaining less ELO when he wins and losing more in his ranked matches. Due to this rating distribution, it’s become impossible for him to hit Radiant unless he maintains a ridiculous 67% win rate.

While NBK’s concerns are valid, ranking up after Diamond in Valorant is much trickier than simply maintaining a positive win rate. After hitting Immortal, you’re not just “grinding” for a higher rank, but you’re competing against other players to acquire the coveted higher spots. To rank up quicker, you need to skip other players with higher MMR, beat them, or reach another vacant ladder step. This can be achieved by playing more games and then boasting a higher MMR.

The developers have kept the ranking system quite transparent, yet it can still be confusing. Most recently, Valorant pro Yassine “Subroza” Taoufik blasted the ranked system.

NOTHING Makes sense in Valorant Ranked.
— TSM FTX Subroza ???????? (@Subroza) July 19, 2021

Valorant’s rank system has continually gone through various changes since the release of the game. It’s safe to say that the developers are still not satisfied with how the rated ladder operates. With tons of pros complaining about the poor ranked experience, players shouldn’t be surprised if the Riot Games delivers another massive overhaul to satisfy its higher-ranked player base.

Fariha Bhatti

About Fariha Bhatti

Fariha Bhatti is a long-time gaming writer who loves competitive FPS games and slots with particularly fun themes. She got her start playing classic games developed by SNK, from legendary fighting game series The King of Fighters to challenging platform franchise Metal Slug. She now spends most of her time playing Valorant and Counter-Strike 2 while working her way through new slot releases to find her next favorite. Fariha has been published at PCGamesN, TalkEsport and ONE Esports.

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