Call of Duty Vanguard is no longer supported with additional content or significant updates, and players have largely moved on to more recent releases. Nevertheless, Vanguard’s multiplayer and Ranked Play is still available.
While Call of Duty is typically seen as a more casual shooter thanks to its no-frills shooting, Vanguard’s ranked mode gave players a way to turn the dial up a little. Vanguard Ranked Play served up competitive action, with skill divisions and a skill-based matchmaking system to separate the wheat from the chaff.
So what did Vanguard ranked mode look like? Here is all there is to know about the competitive experience in Call of Duty Vanguard.
Vanguard ranked mode release date
Call of Duty Vanguard’s ranked mode was released on Friday, February 18, 2022, to a great reception from those looking for a more competitive mode than the typically chaotic TDM modes and the like.
Vanguard ranked mode explained
Call of Duty Vanguard’s ranked mode saw players battling it out with much more at stake. Winning matches would see you progress through the competitive ladder, whereas losing matches would see you drop.
If you wanted to put your rank on the line with your friends, then you could – though there were matchmaking restrictions to stop players boosting others and breaking the ranking system in general:
- Master and Challenger players could play with players up to one adjacent Skill Division away.
- Elite players could play with players from two Skill Divisions away.
- Players below Elite could play without any restrictions.
These restrictions were determined by the player with the highest Skill Division in the party, so not necessarily the host of your group.
Call of Duty: Vanguard ranks
The Vanguard ranking system was structured around divisions that grouped players of similar skill when matchmaking. These were:
- Contender
- Specialist
- Advanced
- Expert
- Elite
- Master
- Challenger
- Top 250
Your goal? Reach Top 250. You would begin by playing five placement matches to determine your starting rank and Skill Rating (SR). From here, winning and losing matches would impact your position in the overall ladder.
Vanguard ranked rewards
The Vanguard ranked rewards were generally sprays, emblems, and stickers, with each division offering slightly cooler designs. However, there were also rewards like charms, operator skins, and weapon blueprints for reaching certain milestones, such as winning 100 games and so on. These would refresh each season, with new rewards up for grabs.
So there you have it, all there is to know about Call of Duty Vanguard Ranked Play mode. While it’s no longer the latest and greatest in the series, we have fond memories of tearing it up in ranked to see how high we could go.