Ranking in Valorant is the most important component of competitive mode, and all players strive to improve it throughout the season. However, even so, each player's ranking is regularly reset, and in order to regain it, you need to play a certain number of matches called Placement matches. Many players do not pay attention to this phenomenon, so today we have prepared some information for you about the Valorant placement matches calculator and how they affect your rank.

What are placement matches in Valorant?

First, let's figure out what this term means. Placement matches in Valorant are matches that each player must play in order to get their first rank or regain it after another reset during the season. If we draw an analogy with other competitive games, placement matches are, in simple terms, calibration. It is through these matches that the system analyzes your gameplay, number of wins and losses, impact in rounds, KDA, and overall contribution. And it is Placement matches that calibrate you in the Valorant ranking system.

When can you play Placement matches

Until now, many players do not know how to play placement games in Valorant. We emphasize that you cannot play these matches at any time, so you cannot recalibrate your rating either. Placement matches take place in three cases:

1. When you first enter ranked mode – 5 placement matches
2. After resetting your rank during an act change – 1 placement match
3. At the end of the season – 5 placement matches

How placement matches affect your rating

Now that we’ve covered the basics, it’s time to answer the main question: do placement matches matter Valorant? It should be noted that the answer to this question is quite ambiguous, and in some cases these matches play a crucial role, while in others, on the contrary, they have almost no effect, so below we will analyze all 3 cases when Placement matches are available.

• Placement matches when entering ranked mode for the first time – When newbies reach level 20 on their Valorant account, ranked mode becomes available to them. For the first time, in order to get your initial rank, you will need to play 5 placement matches. But will they have a significant impact on your rank? The answer is no. The Valorant system begins to analyze your play from the very first match, and as you level up to 20, you are already assigned a hidden rating. Of course, it is always better to win your first 5 matches, but even if you lose, your final rank after calibration will not be significantly lower.

• Valorant placement matches new act – The second case when placement matches are available is when the act changes, and this match has no effect. We remind you that when the act changes, which happens approximately once every 2 months, each player in the rating needs to play 1 placement match to regain their rank. This match has no significant impact; it doesn't matter if you lose or win, you will regain the rank you had in the previous act.

• Placement matches after the end of the season – The last case when these matches are available to players is at the end of the season and the beginning of a new one. The season in Valorant lasts one year, and after it ends, your rank will be reset, and you will receive a gun buddy for the weapon with the highest rank you achieved during the season. To regain their rank, players will need to play 5 placement matches, and in this case, they are critically important. Based on the results of these matches, the system will determine what rank to award you in the new season, so it's worth giving it your all during them. Interestingly, even if you win all 5 placement matches Valorant at the beginning of the season, your rank may turn out to be lower than it was in the past, which means that your hidden MMR has decreased.

After reading our article, you learned what placement matches are, when they become available, and how they affect your rank. Remember that you should try your best in every match, regardless of whether it affects your rating or not, because it will give you the necessary experience for future competitions.