Warzone Ranked Play, explained: Requirements, map, mode, ranks, and more

Call of Duty: Warzone is more competitive than ever thanks to the launch of Warzone Ranked Play, a mode built for players who want a more structured, skill-based take on the battle royale experience.

Whether you’re just looking to sharpen your game or to grind your way to the top, this guide breaks down everything you need to know about Warzone Ranked Play.

All the information here is up-to-date as of Warzone season three Reloaded, marking the debut of ranked mode in the Black Ops 6 era.

Warzone Ranked requirements

Before jumping into Ranked Play, you’ll need to prove yourself by placing well in regular matches. Specifically, you have to finish in the Top 6 in Resurgence or Top 15 in Battle Royale at least 20 times.

Matches played in Casual Battle Royale, Bootcamp, or any limited-time mode won’t count, so make sure you’re racking up those top finishes in the core modes.

Warzone Ranked Play map, mode, and player count

Ranked matches are back on the big map, and this time, they’re set on the iconic Verdansk in Battle Royale mode. Ranked Play deploys 150 players in Trios, which means a total of 50 teams in each match, giving you plenty of opportunities to strategize and make your way up the ranks.

Before this return in the BO6 era, Modern Warfare 3‘s Warzone featured Ranked Resurgence, first on Fortune’s Keep and later on Rebirth Island.

Warzone ranks and tiers

Here’s a breakdown of all the Warzone ranks, tiers, and the Skill Rating (SR) needed to reach each one:

SR points are awarded based on squad placement and number of eliminations:

Eliminations take into account the skill gap between you and the player you take out. You’ll earn extra SR when taking down someone higher ranked than you. Conversely, the reward is reduced if you’re eliminating a much lower-ranked player. The bonus or penalty adjusts based on whether your opponent is within three ranks above or below your own. The SR cap per match for eliminations has been raised from 150 to 200.

For every match, you’ll “pay” a Deployment Fee, a fixed amount of SR that’s automatically taken from your total when you drop in. The higher your rank and tier, the more SR it costs, so you’ll need strong placements or a high amount of eliminations just to break even or come out ahead.

All players are getting a one-time reset back to Bronze at the start of season three Reloaded, regardless of their previous rank. The usual soft reset system will be back in place when season four kicks off. Here’s how it will work:

Warzone Ranked Play operator skins

Here’s a look at all the operator skins based on ranks:

Warzone Ranked Play restrictions and gameplay adjustments

Here are all the restrictions and adjustments in ranked mode:

Restricted weapons

• All Modern Warfare (MW2 and MW3) weapons
• D1.3 Sector (Blade Launcher) special secondary weapon from Black Ops 6

Restricted attachments

• All thermal optics
• Underbarrel launchers
• Drill Charge Launcher, High Explosive Launcher, Standard Launcher
• Barrel
  • CHF Barrel
• Fire Mods
  • Rapid Fire
  • Dragons’s Breath
  • Goblin Mk2 7.62 Mini-Rocket Conversion

Other restrictions

• Perks
  • Birdseye
  • Specialist
• Wildcard
  • Bandolier
• Loot item
  • Ammo Satchel
• Vehicle
  • Cargo Truck
• Contract
  • Big Game Bounty
• Misc
  • One-shot headshots
  • Shoot during freefall
• Train Recon contract
• Proximity Chat
• Text to chat
• Emotes
• High Value Loot Zones
• Gulag rocks
• Live pings

Gameplay adjustments

• The first circle now spawns closer to the center of the map, giving players more room to land and maneuver early on. Late-game circles can still pull to the edges, though.
• The Trophy System is now available at Buy Stations, giving squads a better way to protect their vehicles from incoming explosives during rotations.