Halo Infinite Ranked System: Everything you need to know

Halo Infinite’s multiplayer beta is officially out on Xbox and Windows. And with the new Halo installment’s release came a new ranked system for players to test their skill and find out how they stack up to the competition.

So, if you are new to Halo here is what you need to know about the Halo Infinite ranked system before heading into battle.

Halo Infinite’s competitive settings

Unlike quick play, Infinite’s ranked mode features a separate ruleset to try and increase the skill gap.

For starters, all players spawn into the game with a battle rifle: a burst-fire weapon specializing in close to medium ranges that also has a scope for players to use for increased accuracy.

As well the radar and grenade hit markers are turned off in the ranked mode, static item spawns are featured, and perhaps most importantly friendly fire is enabled.

Halo Infinite’s ranked playlists

There are several options for players to choose from when looking for a match in Halo Infinite. Infinite allows players to choose whether they wish to play with controller players, mouse and keyboard players, or both.

Also, Halo allows players to choose whether to queue in a solo/duo queue or open queues that can be filled with three or four stacks.

These two options allow for a host of customization options that keeps the ranked servers fair and fresh.

Halo Infinite Ranked modes

There are four game modes currently featured in Halo’s ranked playlist:

• Slayer: a team deathmatch game mode where the first team to reach 50 kills wins.
• Capture the Flag: a timeless classic where teams attempt to capture flags from the enemy’s base and bring it to their own. First team to five captures wins.

• Oddball: Teams fight for control of the oddball. Games are best two out of three rounds with a round concluding once a team has held onto the oddball for 100 ticks.
• Stronghold: Teams earn points by capturing “strongholds”. The first team to reach 250 points wins.

READ MORE: Halo Infinite: PC minimum and recommended system Requirements

Halo Infinite’s rank progression

Halo Infinite has six ranks:

• Bronze
• Silver
• Gold
• Platinum
• Diamond
• Onyx

The Bronze to Diamond ranks has individual tiers numbered I to VI which players must climb through before reaching the next rank. Onyx on the other hand does not include individual tiers.

Ranking up in Halo Infinite

This section is not a “how to get better at Halo Infinite” section but rather a “what do I need to do to rank up in Halo Infinite” section.

Your ranked journey begins with ten placement matches where the matchmaking system will try to figure out where it should put you in the ranked system.

Once you have a rank, your journey to Onyx begins. Infinite’s ranked progression is shrouded in a bit of mystery with no visible elo. Instead Infinite uses a bar that will grow or shrink based on a player’s performance during a match.

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Now how the bar grows and shrinks is another question. According to Halo Infinite’s rank help tab, “CSR (Competitive Skill Rank) measures your skill ability against opponents of each skill level… …your rank improves when you perform better than expected”.

That statement is incredibly ambiguous and generally unhelpful for players. However, from what I can gather the CSR is determined more on your own play rather than the play of your team as a whole. I have had games where my CSR bar has appeared to grow despite my team losing.

Halo Infinite’s ranked system is messy but enjoyable. When compared to the likes of competitors such as Call of Duty, Halo easily surpasses CoD’s recent ranked playlists.

However, that doesn’t mean 343 Industries should stop working to better the ranked system. But for the moment, Halo Infinite’s ranked system is a good start for a game looking to remain viable as a casual and esports title for years to come.