Ranked Matchmaking Is Still Wildly Inconsistent — Is Anyone Else Noticing This?
I'm going to lay out why the current matchmaking system in Apex Legends feels completely broken—especially in ranked play.
Unfair Matchmaking Across Ranks
As a Platinum or Diamond player, I constantly get matched against Masters and Predators.
In Plat: ~2 out of 10 games have Masters.
In Diamond: every game includes Masters and Preds.
If ranked matchmaking is supposed to be skill-based, why are the highest-ranked players consistently dropped into lower-ranked lobbies? That’s not competition—it’s a stomp waiting to happen.
Three-Stack Masters/Preds in Lower Lobbies
Running into full three-stacks of Masters or Preds in Plat or Diamond completely ruins competitive integrity. These are coordinated, high-skill teams versus mostly solo/duo squads from lower tiers.
And it’s not just me—countless streamers have shown this happening over and over again. Why is this still allowed?
“Server Population” Is a Weak Excuse
Devs or players often say low server population justifies mixed-rank lobbies. But how does that make it okay to pit subpar players against top-tier opponents?
That’s like matching semi-pro athletes against high schoolers because there weren’t enough teams.
If ranked is supposed to reflect skill, preserve that system, even if it means waiting a bit longer in queue.
Cross-Region Matchmaking Already Exists
Some say, “You can’t match players from different regions.” But the game already does this.
When I queue in MENA and there’s no one, it sends me to EU, SG, or HK servers—randomly.
So here’s a basic idea already used in tons of games, (its probably being implemented but the wrong way):
Keep server selection, but if no same-rank lobby is found after a certain time, widen the search to nearby regions.
Just show a prompt:
“We’re expanding your search to find fair matches.”
This would improve matchmaking integrity without removing control from the player.
Pure Ranked Lobbies Don’t Exist
I’ve never seen a lobby where most of the players are Preds or Masters. That alone says everything.
If matchmaking really worked, we should occasionally get matches where everyone’s around the same level. Instead, ranked feels like a chaotic mix every game.
Conclusion
Apex’s ranked matchmaking system is deeply flawed. It punishes mid-tier players and rewards top-tier players with easy lobbies.
The game already supports cross-region play, so blaming server limitations just doesn’t hold up. If ranked is meant to reflect skill, the matchmaking system needs to start treating it that way.
PS:
I’ve read that the devs are aware the majority of the player base currently sits around Diamond, and they plan to make changes to shift the average back down to Gold. While I’m not entirely sure how this fixes the real matchmaking issues, I do appreciate that they’re at least acknowledging the imbalance.
I’ve researched and followed this topic for years, and now that devs seem to be in a more responsive mode (or at least aiming to freshen up the experience), this part of the game needs an overhaul too. I’d love to hear other people’s thoughts on this.
