Tiers, Copper to Champion
Six tiers, and the thresholds are published rather than guessed at. If you are two hundred rating off the next tier, you should be able to see that.
The tier table
| Tier | Rating | Divisions |
|---|---|---|
| Copper | 0 to 799 | IV, III, II, I |
| Silver | 800 to 1599 | IV, III, II, I |
| Platinum | 1600 to 2399 | IV, III, II, I |
| Emerald | 2400 to 3199 | IV, III, II, I |
| Diamond | 3200 to 4199 | IV, III, II, I |
| Champion | 4200+ | Single band |
How divisions work
Each tier below Champion is split into four divisions. Division IV is the entry point of the tier and division I is the top of it, so Silver I sits directly below Platinum IV. Champion has no divisions because there is nothing above it.
How rating moves
Rating is comparative, not cumulative. Beating an opponent rated well above you moves it a lot, beating one rated well below you moves it very little, and losing to someone far below you costs more than losing to someone above. Playing more matches does not raise your rank on its own.
That is why grinding easy opponents does not work here, and why a short record against strong opponents can outrank a long record against weak ones.
Placement, and why you cannot start at the top
Until you have completed your placement matches you are unranked and do not appear on the ladder. Placement also caps your entry point, so even a perfect placement run puts you partway up rather than straight into the top tier. The upper tiers are meant to be climbed into.
What happens at a season reset
Ratings reset every two months and you place again. The previous season is archived with its final standings intact, so a rank you earned stays on the record rather than disappearing.