Patch 7.2 Ranked Changes

TLDR; We’re improving progression, matchmaking, and competitive integrity across ranked starting in Patch 7.2 

Hey everyone,

If you haven't already, be sure to check out our latest episode of the Patch Preview, where we sat down to discuss the future of Ranked in Wild Rift and some of the changes coming in the patches ahead.

If you're joining us from that video, welcome! This article is here to dive a little deeper into the goals behind those changes, the problems we're trying to solve, and what you can expect as we continue improving the Ranked experience. As mentioned in the video, we know that Ranked is the number one topic we hear from you all most often about. Whether it’s about the matchmaking queues, losing streaks, or frustration when a great performance doesn’t feel properly rewarded, we know those experiences can make climbing feel less satisfying than it shouldWhich is why we’ve been making slight improvements over the last six months, like reductions to the queue times, but we know there is still more work to do. Which is why, over the next year, our focus is simple: Create a Ranked experience that feels more rewarding when you win, less frustrating when you lose, and more reflective of your individual contribution. 

Patch 7.2: Recognizing Your Impact 

One of the most common frustrations we hear is: “I played well, but I still lost.” While Ranked Fortitude aka Hextech Energy was originally introduced to soften some of the frustration around losses, many of you have told us that the system doesn’t clearly communicate how your performance influences your progression. Which is why we’re launching a new approach in this upcoming patch.

A New Ranked Energy System 

This patch, we’ll be replacing the current Ranked Fortitude system with our new Ranked Energy system. Your Ranked Score will be influenced by:

• Individual in-game performance
• Positive gameplay behavior
• System compensation for negative experiences, such as autofill or disruptive teammates

With this new system, after every match you play, your Ranked Score will be converted into Ranked progression rewards. Our goal with this was to create a clearer connection between your effort in-game and your progress on the ladder. So, the better your performance, the faster you’ll progress during your climb. And don’t worry, winning will still always matter, but we also wanted to make sure that exceptional play was recognized in this new system. Which is why we’ve also made the following adjustments with the new system: 

• Outstanding performances can earn additional progression after a victory.
• Exceptional performances in a loss may significantly reduce or even eliminate progression loss.
• Strong, consistent play will help players reach their appropriate rank more efficiently.

And to clarify, we’re not removing existing mechanics like Rising Star or Galio’s Aegis. Instead, we’re just consolidating them into a single system that’s easier to understand and will provide more meaningful feedback for you at the end of every game. 

Looking Ahead: Patch 7.3 and Beyond

Long term, we want the entire progression ecosystem around Ranked to feel more rewarding and easier to understand. We know these changes will take more than one patch to implement, so you can see us continuing to work in this space over the next few patches. The next thing our team is particularly looking into is how there are several currencies, progression systems, and reward tracks which we will be looking to simplify. We’re also looking into how we can reward you all more for your progression and honor, so that you can express your achievements beyond just sharing what your current rank is. We’ll continue to monitor your feedback and review the data once Patch 7.2 is live, and make improvements to rank over the next few patches. 

Thanks for your Feedback 

Everything we shared today in our video and this article have been driven by conversations we’ve had with you all and the feedback you’ve shared. All your feedback will continue to shape the future of Wild Rift Ranked and we can wait to chat more with you all as we continue to make more adjustments. We’ll see ya on the Rift!