Maintaining Your Rank and Not Deranking

Maintaining rank requires consistently winning approximately 50% or more of your matches. If you win more than you lose, you'll rank up over time. If you lose more than you win, you'll rank down. Rank stability occurs at break-even performance where wins equal losses, though individual performance can cause slight rank changes even with 50% win rate.

Deranking occurs from two primary causes: loss streaks (losing many consecutive matches) or extended inactivity (~30 days without playing ranked). Winning streaks prevent inactivity derank. Playing consistently avoids inactivity penalties entirely. Most deranking is caused by loss streaks, not inactivity.

To maintain rank during losing periods, take breaks when frustrated. Playing while tilted increases loss likelihood. Take a 30-minute break after 2-3 losses. This prevents loss streaks from cascading. Playing for fun rather than ranking reduces pressure and often improves performance paradoxically.

Rank is not linear—there's no concept of 'LP' or points displayed. Your rank appears stable for multiple matches, then suddenly jumps up or down. This is normal behavior of the hidden ELO system. Long-term trends (up or down) indicate skill trajectory more than short-term rank fluctuations.