Valorant pro Hiko complains about “trash” ranked system

Riot Games’ implementation of Episode 2 adjustments to Valorant’s competitive ladder has generated significant controversy among the player base. While casual competitors generally praised the developer’s attempts to enhance the tactical shooter’s competitive integrity, elite professionals expressed serious concerns about fundamental design flaws.

The comprehensive ranking overhaul introduced substantial modifications to how participants measure their progression and face opponents. This restructuring aimed to refine competitive balance but instead exposed critical weaknesses in the matchmaking algorithm that disproportionately affect top-tier competitors.

During a recent broadcast with teammate Peter “Asuna” Mazuryk, Spencer “Hiko” Martin vehemently criticized Valorant’s competitive framework as fundamentally broken. His primary complaint centered on the system preventing Asuna from accessing matches on his primary gaming identity.

• Valorant Episode 2 adds Yoru, rank updates, and big balance patch

100 Thieves professional competitor Hiko systematically detailed the operational challenges that high-skill participants encounter following the ranking modifications. He revealed that extended waiting periods post-update compel players to desert their principal accounts entirely. For instance, his colleague Asuna locates matches within minutes using his secondary Radiant-ranked profile, yet cannot secure any games on his main Platinum III account despite identical skill levels.

“Matchmaking consumes significantly more time on his primary profile than his alternative account, despite the alt profile holding the top Radiant position. He believes his matchmaking rating on the Platinum 3 account exceeds that of his #1 Radiant profile, which demonstrates why the current ranking framework is fundamentally flawed,” Hiko explained during his analysis.

The professional competitor further clarified that extended waiting periods stem from Asuna’s underlying skill rating on his main Platinum III identity. According to Hiko’s assessment, the primary account’s concealed MMR exceeded the rating on his Radiant profile. This inconsistency indicates that participants who achieved elevated rankings in previous competitive seasons struggle to locate appropriately matched opponents.

What’s the problem with Valorant ranking system?

Following the recent competitive updates, Valorant’s opponent selection process became heavily dependent on the concealed matchmaking rating alongside the visible competitive tier. Essentially, if Riot’s algorithm determines your capability corresponds to Radiant level, you’ll compete against similarly skilled opponents irrespective of displayed rank. However, competitors with elevated MMR frequently encounter difficulties finding suitable matches due to rating discrepancies, compelling them to establish secondary accounts.

This creates a perverse incentive structure where maintaining progression on primary accounts becomes practically impossible for elite players. The system’s over-reliance on hidden metrics creates situations where visual ranks become essentially meaningless for matchmaking purposes, undermining the entire competitive progression system.

Professional players recommend several temporary workarounds: queueing during peak hours, playing in pre-made squads, or temporarily accepting lower-ranked matches to reset MMR calculations. However, these solutions merely address symptoms rather than resolving the core algorithmic issues.

Valorant’s opponent selection challenges have persisted since the game’s initial launch. When Episode 2 first launched, Tyson “TenZ” Ngo voiced his exasperation regarding extended queue durations when he failed to secure any matches for 24 consecutive hours. The development team acknowledged the concerns and indicated that problems were addressed in update 2.01. However, Hiko’s reports of identical difficulties continuing indicate unresolved systemic problems.

4 hours into my 24 hour stream and we couldn’t get 1 game on my main sadge

— TenZ / Tyson (C9) (@TenZ_CS) January 14, 2021

• Valorant patch 2.01 nerfs Jett, brings big changes to Split

Secondary account creation has evolved into a significant disruption for the Valorant community. While Riot has implemented measures to combat the issue, recent ranking modifications inadvertently promote establishing new profiles. This destructive pattern introduces additional smurfs into the ecosystem and hinders authentic competitive progression efforts.

The current framework essentially penalizes players for historical performance excellence, creating a scenario where maintaining a single primary account becomes impractical. This forces even professional competitors to fragment their gameplay across multiple identities, further degrading matchmaking quality for all participants and undermining competitive integrity.

For players struggling with similar issues, consider reviewing our comprehensive Complete Guide to competitive systems, which explains how MMR mechanics typically function in tactical shooters and what design principles create sustainable competitive environments.

No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » Valorant pro Hiko complains about “trash” ranked system Professional Valorant players reveal systemic matchmaking flaws and smurfing epidemic in Episode 2 ranking changes