A brand-new feature just dropped in Apex Legends and it’s shaking up the competitive scene in a whole new way. Welcome to Ranked Ladders, a limited-time ranked sprint that gives you unlimited games to prove your skills—but only your top 10 matches actually count.
Sounds good? Maybe. But dig a little deeper, and things start to get… complicated.
Let’s break down how Ranked Ladders work, what you can earn, and whether or not this new system is a fair fight.
🧠 How Ranked Ladders Work
The Ranked Ladder event runs for a few days at a time—three days and five hours during the first cycle—and lets Players grind as many Ranked matches as they want. But here’s the catch: only your 10 highest RP matches count toward your leaderboard placement.
You’ll be placed in a ladder with 100 other players of a similar skill level, supposedly based on your skill rating rather than just your current ranked tier. So if you’re Plat 2, for example, you could be grouped with other Plat players—or even Golds and Diamonds—depending on recent performance.
This means every single match is an opportunity to outdo your previous score. Bad game? Who cares. Just play another and try to climb higher.
🏆 What Can You Win?
The rewards are mostly cosmetic for now, but there is something worth chasing:
- Top 10% Placement: Battle Pass Stars
- Top 10% in 3 Ranked Ladders in a Season: Dive Trail
And yes, the Dive Trail is yours to keep—for a split. Once the next Ranked Ladder event drops in the following split, you’ll need to place top 10% again tounlock it.
It’s not a bad incentive, especially considering it’s free, but is it enough to justify the grind?
😬 Is It Fair?
Here’s where the controversy kicks in.
On the surface, the idea of matching players by skill rating instead of rank tier makes sense. It’s designed to prevent lower-ranked players from getting destroyed by grinders who tank their MMR.
But in practice? It’s a bit messy.
Players have already reported seeing Gold, Plat, and Diamond players all lumped together in the same ladder. Since RP gains are heavily influenced by entry costs and match performance, lower-ranked players are technically able to gain more net RP per match than higher-ranked ones—making it easier to spike into the top 10%.
And there’s no separation between solo players and pre-made squads, which means a three-stack could be dominating the ladder while Solo Queue heroes are left scrambling. This is a major concern for competitive balance and makes the system feel inconsistent at best.
🧠 Strategy for Success
Despite its flaws, there is a clear path to climbing Ranked Ladders:
- Spam Games: You can play unlimited matches. Use that to your advantage to farm better results.
- Chase Kills: Focus on high KP games. Even if you don’t win, kill-heavy games weigh more in RP.
- Don’t Tilt: Bad games don’t matter unless they’re one of your top 10. Just reset and queue again.
It’s not about consistency—it’s about explosiveness. One or two huge games can completely shift your leaderboard placement.
🧪 First Impressions: Fun or Flawed?
Content creators like The Gaming Merchant have already tested the system live and while it’s fun to chase kill records and RP bombs, it’s also clear this is not a perfect system. The skill disparity, the matchmaking quirks, and the solo vs. squad imbalance all need work.
That said, free cosmetics for doing what you were already doing is hard to complain about. And if Respawn can iron out the kinks—maybe by tier-locking ladders or offering solo-only queues—this could become a standout recurring event.
Final Thoughts
The Ranked Ladders system is a great concept with a rocky execution. The top 10 RP match format rewards aggression and high-skill pop-off games, but without proper matchmaking restrictions, it’s not exactly the fairest competitive environment.
Still, free battle pass stars and the chance to flex a Dive Trail for a split? Worth diving into.
Just be prepared to fight sweaty squads, grind for hours, and pray for back-to-back banger games.
For more Apex Legends breakdowns, ranked updates, and new feature reviews, be sure to check out ALegends.gg.
Source: The Gaming Merchant
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new Ranked Ladder in Apex Legends?
Ranked Ladder is a time-limited event where you can play unlimited Ranked games, but only your 10 best matches count toward your leaderboard position.
How is matchmaking determined in Ranked Ladders?
It’s based on skill rating, not rank tier, meaning Gold, Plat, and Diamond players might all be grouped together depending on recent performance.
What rewards can I earn from Ranked Ladders?
You can earn Battle Pass Stars for placing in the top 10%, and if you finish top 10% in three ladder events, you’ll unlock the Dive Trail for a split.
Is there matchmaking for solo vs. squads?
No. Whether you’re solo or in a full team, you’ll be placed in the same ladder, which can lead to unfair matchups.
How do I climb the Ranked Ladder fast?
Focus on getting high kill games with strong placements. You can play as many matches as you want, so grind until your top 10 games are maxed out with RP.
