How to solo queue and climb in Apex Legends ranked

Ranked modes are one of the hallmarks of online multiplayer games, and Apex Legends is no exception. Since season two, players have been able to squad up and take on others for fame, glory, and ranked points. Gain enough ranked points and you’ll make it to the rank of Apex Predator, a rarified group that counts professional players and well-known streamers among its ranks.

While some players have dedicated teammates to help them climb the seemingly endless ranked ladder, others aren’t as fortunate. The random teammates that the game pairs solo players with are occasionally great, but more often than not, they’re unreliable. The end result is that solo players are pitted against squads that have better communication and coordination, making ranked that much more challenging for solos.

If you still want to attempt to climb without a dedicated team, here are some of the best tips and tricks for climbing the ranked ladder solo.

How to solo queue and climb in Apex Legends ranked

Play as a team

Even if you aren’t playing with your friends or dedicated teammates, it’s important to remember that you’re still part of a team. If your random teammates indicate that they want to work together with you, take them up on the offer. You’re more likely to survive if you work with them instead of dropping solo somewhere else on the map because you don’t like the POI the jumpmaster picked.

In season 13’s ranked overhaul, the Apex development team at Respawn Entertainment revealed that they aimed to promote team play, accurate skill, and better competition with the changes.

“We are making a large number of changes that focus around these two core pillars, with the outcome that: players will focus on playing as a team, and playing for the win,” reads part of the introduction paragraph on the ranked overhaul blog post.

Even if you don’t agree with what your random teammates are doing or their play style, the game’s ranked system will reward you for playing with them rather than trying to branch off and do your own thing. Be friendly, be gracious, and work together.

Never drop hot

It may be tempting to drop in the middle of the action and hope to pick up easy kills early, especially on popular spots like World’s Edge’s Fragment, but it’s not an optimal strategy for players looking to gain consistent RP. It’s better to drop somewhere secluded and away from other players to give your squad time to loot and rotate.

Even if you’re aiming for the great loot in the highlighted hot loot zone at the beginning of each match, there’s stiff competition for those items, and the guaranteed fight often isn’t worth it. Dropping into a zone full of other players isn’t smart, even for the best players; after all, it dramatically increases your chance of being defeated early on.

Former No. 1 Apex Predator and ALGS winner Jacob “HisWattson” McMillin, who is currently one of the top-ranked grinders in the world, reiterated the value of a cautious early game in a conversation about solo queue climbing with Dot Esports: “Just try to land away from people,” he said. “Usually, like eight squads will die off instantly. Let those eight squads die off because you’re way more likely to win a game when there’s 12 squads than if there’s 20. Let that first wave of people die.”

On the flip side, don’t use “rat strategies” too much either. Ratting is when you intentionally avoid fighting other teams throughout the match in order to make it to the top few teams more easily. While this helps a little, you’re more likely to gain more RP—and improve your personal skill level—if you take smart fights and third parties over the course of a match.

Look for third parties

It may seem obvious to some, but it’s always preferable to take an easy third party over initiating a fight. Players who are nearing the end of a fight against another team will usually be weak, and swooping in for easy kills is the best way to get RP in ranked matches. It also requires fewer resources and provides an easy bundle of loot in the form of death boxes.

Always assume other teams in the lobby are thinking the same thing. Remember that gunshots in Apex can be heard from vast distances, and assume that potentially half of the lobby will be charging toward the location of a fight. If your fight lasts more than a minute or two, prepare for an assault from another angle if you win your fight. Always maintain situational awareness and never be afraid to retreat if a third-party attempt goes haywire.

Choose the right weapons

Given the random nature of battle royale gameplay and Apex‘s loot structure, using a different set of weapons in each match is pretty typical—but it’s not necessarily the best path to take. Solo queue players should make each match as consistent as possible to succeed, which means practicing high-risk, high-reward weapons like the Wingman in the firing range or in unranked play. Find the guns that work the best for you, keep an eye on balance changes and meta shifts, and get good with your favorites.

Traditional ranked favorites include the R-301, a steady, reliable mid-range gun that can flex to short and long ranges and isn’t difficult to use, and the aforementioned Wingman, a tricky-to-handle but powerful pistol. Other popular choices are the R-99, a close-range SMG with an incredibly high rate of fire, and the Peacekeeper, a powerful shotgun that takes a little time and effort to learn. Care package weapons are also generally a great choice, provided your squad can safely maneuver to one in the heat of battle.

Live to fight another day

It’s crucial to step up and be the best player on the squad in solo queue.

“Don’t rely on your teammates,” HisWattson said. “Assume in every single fight that you have to kill all three people.” If that’s simply not happening, realize it and accept it. It’s important for solo players to learn when the fight is lost, and how to retreat effectively.

If one player on the team gets knocked down, there’s still a small window of opportunity to turn the fight around. A quick trade will turn the fight into an even two-vs-two, and those are acceptable odds. If the fight continues and the numbers don’t equalize quickly, however, it’s highly unlikely that a duo will clutch up against a full trio, even if both members of the duo are excellent players.

HisWattson suggested this rule of thumb: “What I tell myself a lot is that if my teammates die instantly, and it doesn’t look like I can immediately trade the knockout, just run away. Literally, instantly dip…Go hide in a corner and try to salvage points.”

While this won’t improve your aim at all, it’s a good way to practice your sense of snap judgment and game sense. It may seem cowardly to run away, but it’s usually the best option. Highly-skilled players won’t think twice about it.

Pick the right legend

Running away is a good strategy, but it’s often easier said than done. Characters like Gibraltar, Lifeline, and Fuse have no movement abilities, making a hasty retreat from battle difficult. That’s why a crucial part of solo queue ranked play is legend selection. Some ranked warlords can make do with nearly any legend, but most players will want to choose a legend who has a reliable escape ability.

Loba can use her teleport to vanish and then rat or quietly go after the banners of dead teammates. Valkyrie can use her ultimate to escape from sticky situations. Bloodhound’s ultimate, Beast of the Hunt, is traditionally thought of as a tool to chase down opponents and get valuable battlefield intel. It also doubles as an escape technique since it increases movement speed and allows Bloodhound to avoid accidentally running into other squads. Wraith, Ash, Horizon, and Bangalore also have effective escape abilities.

All these tips aside, solid performances in solo ranked play are all about mentality. It’s easy to blame random teammates for failures; instead, try to improve your own gameplay when things go wrong. Accept that the circumstances of each game are different and that not every game will result in a massive gain of RP. Take regular breaks and take care of yourself in between matches; climbing is significantly easier if you’re in the right headspace. Don’t treat it like a race: there’s plenty of time to hit Platinum or Diamond later in the season, after all.

Good luck!