As with almost all competitive games, Overwatch 2 players are hungry for all the statistics they can get their hands on, from hero pick rates to rank distribution. Knowing how Overwatch 2 rank distribution works is the key to knowing where you stand in the player base.
Here’s everything we know about Overwatch 2‘s competitive rank distribution.
What is the rank distribution in Overwatch 2 (November 2024)?
The latest rank distribution data for Overwatch 2 came from Morgan Maddren, a Blizzard server engineer, at the end of Season 12 on Oct. 15.
Here are a few things to keep in mind while looking at the stats:
- The chart captures every player who had played at least one competitive match with a non-placement rank (on each role) in the month before the data gathering and looks at their rank as of their most recently played match.
- Season 12 had a rank reset at the beginning of it. And as players play more, they will gravitate more towards their “real” rank. “In particular we are hoping that a few more players will reach the top ranks (GM and Champion) as time goes on,” Maddren mentioned in the tweet.
- The chart includes data from all platforms and server regions.
That said, here are the official statistics for Overwatch 2’s rank distribution after Season 12.
| Rank | Percentage of players | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 4.5 | 100 |
| Silver | 20.2 | 95.5 |
| Gold | 36.7 | 75.3 |
| Platinum | 26.9 | 38.6 |
| Diamond | 9.4 | 11.7 |
| Master | 1.9 | 2.3 |
| Grandmaster | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Champion | 0.1 | 0.1 |
While Maddren’s post only contained a blank bar graph, we now have these numbers courtesy of user bullxbull on Reddit. Since the numbers are deducted from the pixels of the image, they might not be perfect, but they should be accurate within one percent, give or take.
Rank distribution history in Overwatch 2
January 2024
These were the official statistics given for Overwatch 2’s rank distribution for season eight.
- Bronze 10.2 percent
- Silver 19.2 percent (Above 10.2 percent of players)
- Gold 26.7 percent (Above 29.4 percent of players)
- Plat 26.2 percent (Above 56.1 percent of players)
- Diamond 12.2 percent (Above 82.3 percent of players)
- Master 3.9 percent (Above 94.5 percent of players)
- Grandmaster 1.6 percent (Above 98.4 percent of players)
Like above, the numbers were a rough estimate of the percentage of players in each rank based on the sizes of bars in the chart. Blizzard failed to provide players with exact values, so these weren’t perfect, but should be accurate within one percent, give or take.
2018
Blizzard revealed the competitive rank distribution for PC players in Overwatch 2 as a part of a competitive play update posted to the game’s official website. The chart doesn’t include precise figures, but based on the graphic, it is likely that the 50th percentile was somewhere around the upper Gold ranks (i.e., Gold 3 or Gold 2).
Here are the rank distribution percentages that Kaplan shared with players from 2018:
- Bronze: Eight percent
- Silver: 21 percent
- Gold: 32 percent
- Platinum: 25 percent
- Diamond: 10 percent
- Master: Three percent
- Grandmaster: One percent
In a post to Blizzard’s forums, Kaplan disclosed what percentage of the game’s players were in each tier. That was the last time players received any definitive distribution statistics. Though we don’t know the exact percentage figures for the current distribution of active players in the game, the chart shared for season eight seems close to what Kaplan shared five years ago.
Blizzard made notable adjustments to competitive progress in season nine, including new estimations for bonus EXP from ranked matchups and win streaks.
What is considered a good rank in Overwatch 2?
Given the chart and its numbers, players seem, on average, to hover around Gold 3 within ranked play. Going off this, a rank of Gold 3 is good or average. Anything above that, like Diamond and Platinum, is generally considered above average.
We’ll continue to update this article when we learn more about Overwatch 2‘s rank distribution and if Blizzard releases more definitive information.
What is the average rank for an Overwatch player?
The average Overwatch player is around Gold 3, according to the figures we have our hands on. This means those in Diamond or higher are in the top fifth percentile in Overwatch 2‘s ranking system, while those in Platinum are considered above average.
How often do seasons update in Overwatch 2?
Seasons in Overwatch 2 last for roughly two months. For instance, the current season, season 13, started on Oct. 15 and will end on Dec. 9.
Rank resets, however, are not tied to every new season. Rather, the game has them every three seasons. Since Blizzard pushed the last one at the start of Season 12, you can expect the next rank reset to come through in season 15.
How to improve your rank in Overwatch 2
Now that you know where you stand among the Overwatch 2 player base, you might want to climb the ranked ladder. Here are a few pointers that’ll help you in the journey.
Group up
Grouping up with like-minded folks is a surefire way to have a good time in Overwatch 2, especially when compared to solo queueing. Naturally, with the positive mindset of your squad, you’ll have more wins than losses.
Communicate
Due to Overwatch’s dynamic and complex nature, it’s important to communicate between teammates. Whether that could be about an incoming flank you spotted or your ultimate that’s soon to be ready, coordinating those moves is crucial to succeed in your matches.
Practice
This is especially true for DPS players, but has some relevance for other roles as well. Warming up your aim against bots or in a few quickplay matches before queueing ranked ensures you are not rusty when it actually matters.
Adapt
You’ll have to accept that your team (whether friends or randoms) won’t be able to execute those strategies you saw in pro games. You’ll have to make do with what you have and sometimes will have to improvise on the spot—even if that means bypassing the enemies as a tank and rushing straight to the objective.
Don’t let losses bring you down
No Overwatch player has a 100 percent win rate. So, you’ll lose some games too, but don’t let that demotivate you and make you negative. If you lose a few matches in a row, make sure to take a break and come back to the game with a fresh mind.
