Fortnite Ranked explained: All ranks, rewards, and how it all works

Competition is at the heart of online multiplayer shooters like Fortnite. The fast-paced nature of these games makes for some enthralling matches that are decided by split-second reactions. Where there’s high competition, there is usually also a pecking order to climb, not just for bragging rights but also in-game rewards.

In the case of the Epic Games-developed title, that kind of scenario boils down to Fortnite Ranked, the competitive side of Fortnite, which sorts the players into various ranks and tiers based on their skill. Eventually, these players can also end up making it into the global leaderboards, which lets them know precisely where they stand compared to the best players in the game.

Introduction to Fortnite Ranked and matchmaking

You can enable Fortnite Ranked in a compatible mode by clicking on the button above the Play button in the in-game lobby and then using the Ranked toggle. For absolute beginners, this option is unlocked only after you complete a certain quest that requires the player to outlast 500 opponents in unranked matches.

In solo ranked matches, you are paired up against players of a similar rank to ensure a fair and even contest. In duos and squad matches, the Party Rank—the highest rank among all players in a duo or group—is used as the metric for matchmaking. In exceptional cases, though, you may be matched with players having very different ranks from yours to avoid long wait times.

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Fortnite ranks and tiers

There are eight distinct ranks in Fortnite that you progress through as you participate in ranked matches. You can check your ranked mode progress at all times from the in-game lobby. While the first five ranks each feature three numbered tiers, the final three tiers are self-contained. Listed below are all the unique ranks and tiers available in Fortnite.

Bronze

• Bronze I
• Bronze II
• Bronze III

Silver

• Silver I
• Silver II
• Silver III

Gold

• Gold I
• Gold II
• Gold III

Platinum

• Platinum I
• Platinum II
• Platinum III

Diamond

• Diamond I
• Diamond II
• Diamond III

Elite

Champion

Unreal

Fortnite Ranked modes and rules

Ranked matches are available across eligible Fortnite modes, which include Battle Royale, Zero Build, Reload, OG, Arenas, and Rocket Racing. Each of these modes has its own rankings, except Battle Royale and Zero Build, which share ranked progress in certain aspects.

How you perform in these modes determines whether your rank upgrades or downgrades. Mainly, a combination of your placement at the end of a match, eliminations, and time survived contributes towards your rank change. Other factors that apparently carry an impact on rank, even though relatively lower, are stats such as damage inflicted and consistency across matches. When teams are involved, the overall stats of the entire team are taken into consideration.

It’s worth noting that players who reach the highest rank, Unreal, are safe from downgrades for the entire duration of the ongoing season. Another thing to keep in mind is that the rank you finish the season with doesn’t carry over into the new Fortnite season. All players have to grind again to reach their coveted ranks in a fresh seasonal campaign.

Fortnite Ranked leaderboard

Getting on the leaderboard in Fortnite is a special distinction reserved for those who reach Unreal, the highest rank possible, in the game. This global table consists of the world’s most skilled Fortnite players during a particular season. Each mode in Fortnite Ranked has its own leaderboard with different top players.

Those who land a spot in the Ranked Unreal Leaderboard have their usernames displayed on the game’s official website and on certain third-party tracker sites. However, you can opt to hide yourself at least from the leaderboard tables hosted by third parties. To do this, open Fortnite, click on the profile image at the top-right corner and, in the Menu tab, select “Settings.” Then, go to the Account and Privacy Settings tab and, under the Gameplay Privacy section, disable the Public Game Stats toggle as shown in the screenshots below.

Fortnite Ranked rewards

There are a bunch of rewards up for grabs when you play Fortnite Ranked matches. These are different from Battle Pass rewards and are totally free.

Firstly, once you hit the Gold rank, you unlock a free in-game item, such as a skin or an emote, as a reward. Thereafter, each time your rank increases, say from Gold III to Platinum I, you receive a new free reward. It’s important to mention here that there are no rewards for tier upgrades within individual ranks.

Moreover, there are ranked quests, completing which also gives you an in-game reward. These missions usually involve actions like eliminating a specific number of players in a given ranked mode. There are Ranked Cups as well, in which you can compete in ranked matches to unlock special items.

There’s no doubt that Fortnite Ranked is a great way to test your abilities against some of the toughest opponents in Epic’s popular multiplayer game. In ranked matches, strategy and reaction time will be among the key factors that decide how quickly you climb up the rankings ladder. In case you’re a newbie and Fortnite Ranked feels too overwhelming, you may find it useful to practice in unranked matches before you step into the more competitive parts of Fortnite.