Rainbow Six Siege Rank System Explained

In Rainbow Six Siege, your Rank is more than a badge. It’s your reputation, your story, and your skill.

For years, the path to the top was a tricky, frustrating climb, marked by a mysterious MMR that you couldn’t see. But with the release of Ranked 2.0, things have changed entirely.

The new system is sleeker, more transparent, and designed to reward the grind. But how does it all work? And, how do you climb from the trenches of Copper, all the way to Champion?

In this article, we’ll break it down, covering the entire Rainbow Six Siege rank system, from its foundational tiers to the mechanics that will help you climb.

How the New R6 Ranking System Works

Forget what you thought you knew about Siege’s ranked ladder; the ranked 2.0 update has changed everything entirely.

How? The system now separates your visible Rank (the emblem on your profile) from your hidden Skill Rating.

But what’s the difference? Well, think of it this way: your Rank is your report, while your Skill Rating is your record, or the game’s accurate assessment of your skill.

This means every season, everyone starts their climb from the bottom: Copper V. But don’t panic. Your hidden Skill Rating ensures you’re not actually playing against true Copper players.

Instead, the matchmaking system places you against opponents of a similar skill level, allowing you to climb the ranks at a pace that reflects your actual skill rating.

This is good because a Diamond-level player can breeze through the lower tiers in a matter of days, while a genuine Silver player will find their level in those ranks.

Essentially, it’s a system designed to make every match competitive and every win feel earned.

All R6 Ranks in Order

The ladder itself consists of eight unique tiers, with seven of them divided into five sections. To climb, you’ll need to earn 100 Rank Points (RP) to advance from one division to the next (e.g., from Gold III to Gold II). Here are the tiers in order:

1. Copper (V-I)
2. Bronze (V-I)
3. Silver (V-I)
4. Gold (V-I)
5. Platinum (V-I)
6. Emerald (V-I) - This new Emerald tier was introduced with Ranked 2.0 to smooth the climb between Platinum and Diamond.
7. Diamond (V-I)
8. Champion - Unlike other tiers, Champion is a singular rank with no divisions, reserved for the best players in the world who break 5,000 RP.

Differences Between Ranked 2.0 and the Old Ranked System

The old system and the new one are worlds apart. Here’s a quick look at how things have changed:

Feature	The Old Way	Ranked 2.0
Starting Point	10 placement matches determined the initial rank.	All players begin at Copper V each season.
Progression Metric	Matchmaking Rating (MMR) was your visible rank.	Rank Points (RP) advance your visible rank.
Matchmaking Basis	Your visible MMR.	A hidden Skill Rating, separate from your rank.
Party Restrictions	Strict MMR limits on who could squad up.	No rank restrictions; play with any of your friends.
Climbing Feel	Often felt punishing, with large MMR swings, and smurfs.	More predictable, with steady RP gains per win.

Your Guide to Climbing the Ranks in R6S

Under Ranked 2.0, progression is incredibly straightforward…

A win nets you RP, a loss costs you RP. But the amount you gain or lose is where your hidden Skill Rating comes into play.

Suppose the system determines you’re a high-skill player currently in a low rank (for example, a Platinum player in Silver). In that case, you’ll earn a large amount of RP for a win and lose very little for a loss, as the game is actively trying to push you toward your “true” rank.

As your visible Rank gets closer to your hidden Skill Rating, these gains and losses will begin to stabilize, usually around +/- 25 RP per match. This softens the sting of a fluke loss to a weaker team and rewards consistency, making lots of steady wins against opponents the true key to climbing.

How to Start Playing Ranked in Rainbow Six Siege?

Before you can test your skills on the competitive ladder, you’ll need to reach a minor prerequisite: reach Clearance Level 50.

The developers made this decision as an onboarding step, as by Level 50, you’re expected to have basic knowledge of the maps, a handful of go-to Operators on both attack and defense, and a general understanding of Siege’s mechanics.

Once you hit Level 50, the Ranked gamemode unlocks, and there are no more placement matches; instead, you can jump right in and begin your climb from Copper V. This is also where you’ll encounter the Pick and Ban phase for the first time, which provides a bit of added strategy, where teams alternate banning one attacker and one defender for the entire match.

Rank Rewards and Seasonal Spoils

At the end of every season, Ubisoft hands out in-game rewards based on the highest rank you achieved during that season. These rewards usually come in the form of R6S cosmetic items, such as:

• Weapon Charms
• Backgrounds & Badges

These items are unique to each season, making them limited-edition collectibles, and a good reason why players buy professional R6 boosting services to get them.

What Separates the Great from the Good?

Climbing from Gold to Platinum is a matter of upgrading your mechanics and map knowledge. However, breaking into Diamond and Champion requires something extra:

• Information: High-level Siege is a game of information, requiring proactive drone usage, excellent camera work, and clear communication skills.
• Strategy: Champions don’t just default to site setups; instead, they adapt and bring operators specifically to counter their opponents’ strategy. Top-tier players also understand utility economy and know when to use an explosive to clear a shield versus saving it for a deployable cover.
• Mental: The ability to stay cool after losing a 1v3, to reset after a bad round, and to lead is what makes some of the best players.

All in all, the new Rainbow Six Siege rank system is a unique and rewarding climb that accurately measures your skills. What’s the highest rank you’ve achieved? What do you think of the new system? Let us know!