Fortnite Ranked: How to play ranked matches

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Fortnite Ranked play provides ranks from Bronze to Unreal, as well as Ranked Urgent Quests to complete

Fortnite Ranked
(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite Ranked play is currently disabled as of June 20, due to a crashing issue identified by Epic that was causing problems with ranked matches. Therefore at the time of writing you can't select any of the ranked modes, as the option has been removed from the menu until the issue can be resolved. You should also be aware that as part of Ranked Season Zero, all players' ranks have been reset following the v25.10 update released today, so once this mode is available again you may find you're at a different level to the one you were before. If you want to know how this all works when it's up and running, then here's a full explanation of Ranked play in Fortnite.

How to play ranked matches in Fortnite

Fortnite Ranked

(Image credit: Epic Games)

To play ranked matches in Fortnite, you need to follow the prompt on the lobby screen that we've highlighted above to turn on the Ranked option. Fortnite Ranked is open to all players, however if you're joining the battle royale with an Epic account that hasn't accessed Fortnite before then a special Outlast 500 opponents quests will appear, which needs to be completed before you can enable ranked matches.

Ranked play is currently available in Solo, Duos, Trios, and Squads, in both Battle Royale and Zero Build. In Solo you'll matchmake against opponents of similar rank, while in Duos, Trios, or Squads your team has a party rank equal to the highest-ranked member of the team, and you'll matchmake against teams of similar party rank. Balancing changes will be made as Ranked Season Zero progresses, but the following changes are currently in place:

  • Material harvesting rates are increased slightly
  • Material inventories are capped at 500 instead of 999
  • Players drop 50 of each material when eliminated

What are the different Fortnite Ranks?

Fortnite Ranked

(Image credit: Epic Games)

There are a total of 18 Fortnite Ranks available, and when you first join Fortnite Ranked you'll need to complete a match to reveal your initial ranking, based on your past performance as well as the outcome of that first match. That initial ranking will apply across both Battle Royale and Zero Build, though from then onwards the two will be ranked individually. You'll progress through the ranks as follows, with a percentage displayed against your current rank to show how close you are to moving up to the next level:

  • Bronze (I, II, III)
  • Silver (I, II, III)
  • Gold (I, II, III)
  • Platinum (I, II, III)
  • Diamond (I, II, III)
  • Elite
  • Champion
  • Unreal

The amount your Fortnite Rank increases (or decreases) in each match is determined by your final placement and the eliminations you get, with later match eliminations carrying more weight than earlier ones, and are also weighted by the ranks of the opponents you eliminate. For teams, all members will gain or lose the same amount of ranking progress no matter what individual actions are made.

Once you get to Elite rank, you'll be matched against other high-ranking players to fight for the right to advance to Champion level, then ascend to Unreal. If you reach Unreal rank, then you'll remain there for the rest of the ranked season no matter what happens – however, you'll then get a number to show your global rank among Unreal players, and you can track who are the best players in the world by visiting the official Ranked Leaderboard.

What rewards are available for completing Fortnite Ranked Urgent Quests?

Fortnite Ranked

(Image credit: Epic Games)

At the start of each Fortnite Ranked match, you'll get a Ranked Urgent Quest pop up on your screen, which will then continue to be displayed in the top left corner. This quest is only valid for the current match in progress, so if you don't manage to complete it then it'll disappear and you'll be assigned a new Ranked Urgent Quest at the beginning of your next match.

Fortnite Ranked

(Image credit: Epic Games)

There are a total of 11 Fortnite Ranked rewards available during Ranked Season Zero, which are as follows:

  • Complete 5 Ranked Urgent Quests: Get In The Ring loading screen
  • Complete 10 Ranked Urgent Quests: Trophy banner icon
  • Complete 15 Ranked Urgent Quests: GG Gnarly emoticon
  • Complete 20 Ranked Urgent Quests: Purrpendicular spray
  • Complete 25 Ranked Urgent Quests: Skull Heart banner icon
  • Complete 30 Ranked Urgent Quests: GG Gleam emoticon
  • Complete 35 Ranked Urgent Quests: Shark Surfers spray
  • Complete 40 Ranked Urgent Quests: Rocket banner icon
  • Complete 45 Ranked Urgent Quests: Knuckles Up emoticon
  • Complete 50 Ranked Urgent Quests: Quad Squad spray
  • Unlock all Ranked Rewards: Burn Bright emote

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Iain Wilson
Iain Wilson
Guides Editor

Iain originally joined Future in 2012 to write guides for CVG, PSM3, and Xbox World, before moving on to join GamesRadar in 2013 as Guides Editor. His words have also appeared in OPM, OXM, PC Gamer, GamesMaster, and SFX. He is better known to many as ‘Mr Trophy’, due to his slightly unhealthy obsession with amassing intangible PlayStation silverware, and he now has over 1,000 Platinum pots weighing down the shelves of his virtual award cabinet. He does not care for Xbox Achievements.