How to rank higher in Overwatch 2 competitive - Upcomer
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How to rank higher in Overwatch 2 competitive

A new way to play competitive Overwatch 2

It has been over a month since Overwatch 2’s release and there is still a long way for a lot of players trying to climb up the ranks.

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There are lot of changes in Overwatch 2 with regard to ranks, skill tier divisions and competitive rank modes. To rank higher in Overwatch 2 competitive mode you have to understand everything the mode entails.

Overwatch 2
Overwatch 2 competitive| Image provided by Activision Blizzard

How to unlock Overwatch 2 competitive play and rank system

To unlock competitive modes in Overwatch 2 as a new player, you’ll need to win 50 games in Quick Play. Your performance in all of the Quick Play games will determine matchmaking for your initial competitive matches.

After winning the 50 games, you’ll also unlock the ranking system. Overwatch 2 competitive play has a ranking system for both Role Queue and Open Queue, and you can choose to play anyone. Role Queue gives ranks for specific classes while Open Queue provides a universal rank.

The Overwatch 2 competitive ranks are as follows in ascending order:

  • Bronze
  • Silver
  • Gold
  • Platinum
  • Diamond
  • Master
  • Grandmaster
  • Top 500

Each rank is divided into five levels that players must advance through in order to progress to the next rank. So a player who starts on Bronze will pass through Bronze 1, Bronze 2, Bronze 3, Bronze 4, and Bronze 5 to qualify for Silver; and repeat the same process over and over again for other levels.

How to rank higher in competitive

After playing a few competitive games, you will be ranked into the tiers based on performance. However, you can move up or down if you win seven games or lose twenty games. So if you win 6 games but lost 19, the next match will determine your next rank in the game. Moreover, the rank you advance to will be determined by the gap between your wins and losses. So a Bronze II player who wins seven straight matches with no losses or ties will move up more than another Bronze II player with losses in between.

These different tiers can only play with other players two skill tiers away from them. This means that a Silver player for instance can play against Gold and Platinum but not Diamond players. For master Tier plays, they can only play with those one tier from them while grandmasters can only play with people with master or top 500.

Overwatch 2 competitive progress
Overwatch 2 competitive progress. Image provided by Activision Blizzard

To climb the ranks in competitive play you need to be willing to try different tactics with your team and prioritize good team composition. If you win six games as a support and then win the last one as a tank you will not be promoted as that win will count towards your tank wins instead. This is because ranking differs for each role, so you will be ranked per the role the hero plays.

Another common way to rank higher is to be careful with positioning as getting cut out often may lead to more deaths and; eventually game loss. The structure of the competitive mode can leave you stuck in a tier for so long as it’s easy to lose a lot. You should also watch replays and keep open communication with other teammates.

Competitive Points

Competitive Points in Overwatch 2 allow players to unlock golden weapons. To get competitive points in Overwatch 2 you need to win or draw matches and finish a ranked season. You get 15 points for a win and 5 points for a tie. The competitive points earned for finishing in each ranked skill tier at the end of the season are as follows:

  • Bronze: 65 points
  • Silver: 125 points
  • Gold: 250 points
  • Platinum: 500 points
  • Diamond: 750 points
  • Master: 1,200 points
  • Grandmaster: 1,750 points
  • Top 500: 1,750 points
Author
Image of Rashidat Jimoh
Rashidat Jimoh
Jimoh Rashidat is a freelance esports writer with over two years of experience. She covers FIFA, League of Legends and general gaming content.