Many Overwatch Season 2 players notice that their ranks have dropped significantly compared to their previous season rankings. A number of factors have caused their rank demotion including ladder reset.
What is Ladder Reset?
In Overwatch, a ladder reset means players are demoted to a lower rank from their previous season. They are expected to work their way up to the ranks again by competing and winning their matches in the current season.
Why The Ladder Reset?
Many players expect to have the same ranking they had last season but it seem Blizzard has other ideas. For example players who achieved ranked 60 in season one should have been ranked as Diamond this season. However, a number of season two players found out that their supposed to be Diamond rank has dropped to Platinum or lower.
One YouTube presenter, Force Gaming theorized that the ladder reset is necessary to encourage players to play their best in placement matches to regain or even surpass their old ranks.
Overwatch Season 2 New Tier Skills Rating
Blizzard has introduced a new seven tier skills ranking. The new Overwatch Season 2 ranks are as follows:
Players who achieved below 1499 - Bronze
1500 - 1999 - Silver
2000 - 2499 - Gold
2500 - 2999 - Platinum
3000 - 3499 - Diamond
3500 - 3999 - Master
4000 and above - Grandmaster
Overwatch Grouping Restriction
Blizzard is taking steps to make sure that Overwatch Season 2 players will compete with other players who roughly have the same skills ratings. Players belonging to the Bronze up to Diamond group will not be permitted to team up with players who have more than a thousand differences in their skill rating. For those in Master and Grandmaster group only players with less than 500 differences in skill rating are allowed to group up.
Heavier Leavers Penalty
Blizzard has also imposed heavier penalties for leavers in the Overwatch Season 2 match games. Repeat Leaving offenders could lose up to 75 percent from their XP points and a permanent ban from the Overwatch games season.
