Arena rating and calibration: how to climb

Rating is the number that places you on the leaderboard and decides who you are matched with. Everyone starts at 500; a win adds rating, a loss takes it away, and how much depends on how strong your opponent is.

How rating is calculated

Rating uses the Elo system with a step of 32:

• against an equal opponent it is +16 for a win and −16 for a loss;
• beating a stronger opponent gives more, beating a weaker one gives less;
• a win always gives at least +1;
• there is no rating cap.

Against a weaker opponent it works the other way round: beating someone 200 below you gives +8, while losing to them costs −24.

Calibration

Your first 10 fights of a season on each ladder — 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, 5v5 and the battleground each count separately — use a step of 48 instead of 32: ±24 against an equal opponent. This helps newcomers and returning players reach their real place faster. The step is personal: if you are calibrating and your opponent is not, their change is still calculated with the normal step. The arena shows how many calibration fights are left: "Calibration: N / 10".

Team fights

In 2v2, 3v3, 5v5 and on the battleground each fighter's rating uses the same formula, but against the average rating of the enemy team.

How to climb

1. Start the season actively: during the 10 calibration fights every win is worth half as much again.
2. Don't avoid strong opponents: beating someone 200 above you gives +24, and losing costs only −8.
3. Get PvP gear with Resilience — see Arena Points and Honor.
4. Keep a separate talent specialisation for the arena — Specialisations.

No matter how much you play, rating only changes through wins and losses. And if you stay away from 1v1 fights for a long time, a high rating slowly slides down — see Arena seasons.

Rating titles

Rating unlocks achievements, from Contender at 1,200 to Merciless at 2,500 in any mode; 1,800 also grants the Duelist title. They are all listed under Achievements.