“Do wins matter in placement matches?” is one of the most frequently asked questions by VALORANT players, especially at the start of a new Episode and after each Act within that Episode. While it’s no secret that winning a match plays a significant role in the overall ranking system, does it actually carry any weight after a rank reset? If you’re wondering the same, you’re in luck as we’ll be answering this burning question.
What are placement matches in VALORANT?
Image credit: Riot Games
Placement matches are the games you play while you’re placed under an unranked category in VALORANT. If you’re a new player, you can play placement matches once you reach level 20. However, if you’ve been playing VALORANT for a long time, you will play placement matches at the start of a new Episode or Act. These matches essentially determine your skill level to assign you an appropriate rank and MMR in VALORANT.
Are wins important in VALORANT placement matches?
The short answer is yes. Wins do matter in VALORANT placement matches. It’s worth noting, however, that it isn’t the only factor that you should focus on. Other attributes such as kills, K/D ratio, first blood, etc. also influence your rank while you’re playing placement matches. So, if you’ve just won a couple of matches but you were bottom fragging all the time, you’re more likely to lose your MMR which eventually leads to lower ranked rating (RR) gains later.
In case you weren’t aware, MMR is basically an invisible value that denotes your skill level in VALORANT. Unlike your visible rank, which ranges from Iron to Radiant, MMR is not displayed to players. However, it is the backbone of the VALORANT ranking system, which means it significantly matters when it comes to who you are matched against and how much your rank changes after each game.
The key takeaway is to never treat VALORANT placement matches lightly. Always give your absolute best, just as you do in every regular game.
