Apex Legends ranked runs from Rookie through Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond and Master up to Apex Predator, the top 750 Master players on each platform. You pay an RP entry cost each match and earn it back through placement and eliminations. In Season 31: Cipher, which began on November 3, 2026, Diamond and higher lobbies also vote to ban two Legends per match.
Updated November 7, 2026.
Ranked in Apex Legends rewards two things: staying alive and taking fights you can win. This guide covers how the ladder works today, what changed in the official Cipher patch notes, and what Respawn has said is coming in Season 32. For the bigger picture, start at our Apex Legends hub.
What are the Apex Legends ranks in order?
According to EA's help centre, the tiers from lowest to highest are Rookie, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Master and Apex Predator. Bronze to Diamond each have four divisions, numbered IV (lowest) to I (highest). Rookie is a starting tier you cannot drop back into once you leave it. Master is a single pool, and Apex Predator is not a separate RP target: it is the top 750 Master players on your platform.
You need to be at least account Level 20 to play ranked. Respawn's ranked roadmap confirms that Season 31 removed the old Road to Ranked challenges and returned to the Level 20 gate. Your ranked progress is tracked separately on each platform.
How much does each ranked match cost?
Every match charges an entry cost in Ranked Points (RP). If your squad finishes in the top half of the lobby, the entry cost comes back to you. Here are the base costs EA lists:
| Tier | Divisions | Entry cost per match |
|---|---|---|
| Rookie | Intro tier | 0 RP |
| Bronze | IV to I | 10 RP |
| Silver | IV to I | 20 RP |
| Gold | IV to I | 38 RP |
| Platinum | IV to I | 48 RP |
| Diamond | IV to I | 65 RP |
| Master and Apex Predator | Single pool (Predator = top 750) | 90 RP |
Season 31 also adds wide-match scoring. Each lobby gets a Lobby Tier, which is the median of every squad's tier. If your squad sits two or more tiers below that median you play a Challenger match with a 30 percent cheaper entry cost. Two or more tiers above it and you play a Goliath match with a 50 percent higher cost. Respawn says these matches should be uncommon and mostly happen outside peak hours.
How do you earn RP in Apex ranked?
- Placement: the higher your squad finishes out of 20 teams, the more RP you bank.
- Eliminations: kills and assists earn RP, and they are worth more the higher you place. Kills past eight are halved, and participations (team kills you did no damage in) count as half.
- Beating stronger players: EA lists kill bonuses of +15 percent for one tier higher, rising to +50 percent for four or more tiers higher.
- Top-five streaks: back-to-back top-five finishes add 10, 20, 30 and then 40 bonus RP, and 40 per game while the streak lasts.
- No RP for support actions: heals and revives do not award RP on their own.
What is demotion protection?
When a single bad match could drop you a division, demotion protection switches on and gives you three Demotion Shields. Each shield blocks one demotion. You only fall once all three are gone, and protection ends early if you earn enough RP that one match can no longer demote you.
What changed in ranked for Season 31: Cipher?
- Legend bans in Diamond and above: every player can request one ban. Requests are tallied and two Legends are banned, with each Legend's chance equal to its share of the votes. If fewer than four Legends get votes, the previous week's most played Legends are added to the pool.
- Clearer ranked UI: the waiting screen now shows your Squad Tier, the Lobby Tier, the entry cost and whether you are in a Challenger or Goliath match. A new Ranked tab lists your RP goals.
- Ranked map rotation: Storm Point, E-District Night and Broken Moon.
- Weekly ladders: five ladders are scheduled this split, from November 10 to December 13, 2026.
For a full rundown of the season itself, read our Apex Legends Season 31 Cipher guide.
How do splits and resets work?
Each season has two ranked splits. At the start of a season your rank is placed from your ranked matchmaking rating. At the mid-season split, EA's help page says players are pulled back down: for example, Diamond IV and III go to Platinum III, and Master or higher goes to Platinum I. The exact Season 31 split date has not been announced in the patch notes we reviewed, so check in-game before you plan a final push.
What is changing in Season 32?
Respawn's ranked roadmap outlines a bigger shake-up for early 2027. Rookie becomes Iron, a new Emerald tier slots between Platinum and Diamond, and a new Grandmaster tier sits above Master, with the Predator badge going to the top 750 Grandmaster players at season end. Ranked splits into an Open League (Iron to Emerald) and a Pro-Am League (Diamond and up). Kill and placement scoring will be flattened, and weekly ladders end. RP numbers for the new tiers are not announced yet.
How should you use this information?
The entry cost is the number to respect. From Gold up, a quick early death costs more than most fights pay back, so survival and good positioning matter more than chasing kills. Our how to rank up in Apex Legends guide turns these rules into a practical plan.
Rules change often. Ranked values in Apex are adjusted mid-season, so treat the in-game Ranked tab as the final word. RankSurge is independent and is not affiliated with Electronic Arts or Respawn Entertainment.
Frequently asked questions
What level do you need to play ranked in Apex Legends?
You need to reach account Level 20 before ranked unlocks. Respawn's Season 31 ranked roadmap confirms the old Road to Ranked challenges were removed and the game went back to the simple level requirement, although the team said it is still exploring the exact threshold. Ranked progress is also tracked separately on each platform, so a new platform means starting your ranked history again.
What is Apex Predator?
Apex Predator is not a tier you reach with a fixed RP total. It is the top 750 players in the Master pool on each platform, so your position depends on how everyone else is doing. You can drop out of Predator if other players pass your RP. Respawn plans to move the badge to the top 750 of a new Grandmaster tier in Season 32.
How do Legend bans work in Season 31?
In Diamond and higher lobbies each player can request one Legend to ban at the start of the match. The game tallies the requests and bans two Legends, and a Legend's chance of being banned equals its share of all requests. If fewer than four different Legends get votes, last week's most played Legends are added so at least four are in the pool.
What are Challenger and Goliath matches?
They are new Season 31 scoring rules for lobbies with a wide skill spread. The Lobby Tier is the median of all squad tiers. If your squad is two or more tiers below it, you play a Challenger match and your entry cost drops by 30 percent. If you are two or more tiers above it, you play a Goliath match and pay 50 percent more to enter.
When does the Season 31 ranked split happen?
Each Apex season has two ranked splits, with a rank reset at the mid-season split. The Season 31 patch notes list weekly ladders running from November 10 to December 13, 2026, but the exact split date was not stated in the official notes we reviewed. Check the in-game Ranked tab or EA's official news page for the confirmed date before planning your final climb.