Competitive Matchmaking Is Broken—Here’s How to Fix It

[Maker]

Matchmaking in this game is terrible.

If I see a level 66 player in Platinum, I already know it’s a guaranteed loss. How can someone be that high level and still stuck in Plat/Gold? In-game, these players just feed—going 3/16.

If I see players between level 10-14, I know it’s going to be a stomp. These are just smurfs. Their history shows AI matches untill level 10, and then they ruin the experience for everyone else in competitive.

Marvel Rivals, PLEASE, for the love of God, add restrictions for entering competitive matches.

Requirement to play competitive: Players should have to reach at least level for example 20 and win 100 Quick Play matches before being allowed into competitive. It needs to be harder to enter.

Matchmaking based on level range: Competitive games should match players within a level range of ±10. If I’m level 35, match me with players between level 25-45. I don’t want to play with level 10 smurfs or level 70 no-lifers who are still bad at the game. These players have no clue what they’re doing.

I don’t care if I have to wait five minutes for a match—just make competitive actually competitive! Right now, the system is completely broken. Zero fun.

[Shiro]

solo ......

[Maker]

I really love the game, but the matchmaking system makes me hate playing it. If you fix the problems, I’ll update my review.

[Steve]

The level range doesn't matter for anything. It doesn't at all tell you how good a person is at the game, only how much time they've spent on it. It's a very poor metric to consider for matchmaking as a result. (Neither does winning QM games.)

I wouldn't worry about actual competition until hitting Celestial rank.

[gremi]

the only solution they found is to give you more points than you lose , but that just make ppl climb even if they're bad at the game.

[PropanePls]

Their system is working as intended. Broken to us, $$$ for them. Although I will defend the higher level players in lower ranks considering they could play a lot of quick play or other modes since they all give experience. I agree about the low levels in ranks being smurfs. But this is how their system works. They want the game to be predictable so they can have research about their matchmaking systems. In order to have a high probability of an outcome you have to use as many variables as you can. This is why games are typically stomps. At lower ranks, your outcome is decided before it starts probably close to 90% of the time.

[Teddy Roosevelt]

Originally posted by Steve:

The level range doesn't matter for anything. It doesn't at all tell you how good a person is at the game, only how much time they've spent on it. It's a very poor metric to consider for matchmaking as a result. (Neither does winning QM games.)

I wouldn't worry about actual competition until hitting Celestial rank.

thank you for being one of the only other intelligent people here.

[RawwkinGrimmie64]

Yesterday I reached level 50 doing the Bungle News challenges in Practice vs AI. You get XP for simply playing the game, not just winning ranked matches.

[Lucifer]

I'm level 52, my competitive highest was platinum II. I'm currently in Gold 3 and have 2 lords in each class
I Solo only. I stop competitive because of all the arguing everyone does and most the time its not at me but still i play the game to not stress out.
Not listen to ppl ♥♥♥♥♥ and complain because someone thinks they know what should of been done.
I mainly just play to Gold rank for the Skin.

I'm not saying anyone is wrong to worry about a high level in comp at a low Rank, But its not always the case. Some ppl just rather play some QP, Doom Arena, Or Conquest. Don't get me wrong, ppl find a way to ♥♥♥♥♥ in those too but its very rare and its new players not understanding the game mode or the game.

The game is fun. i just want to play and not hear two ppl argue about a game.

[﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽]

Originally posted by Maker:

Matchmaking in this game is terrible.

If I see a level 66 player in Platinum, I already know it’s a guaranteed loss. How can someone be that high level and still stuck in Plat/Gold? In-game, these players just ♥♥♥♥—going 3/16.

If I see players between level 10-14, I know it’s going to be a stomp. These are just smurfs. Their history shows AI matches untill level 10, and then they ruin the experience for everyone else in competitive.

Marvel Rivals, PLEASE, for the love of God, add restrictions for entering competitive matches.

Requirement to play competitive: Players should have to reach at least level for example 20 and win 100 Quick Play matches before being allowed into competitive. It needs to be harder to enter.

Matchmaking ♥♥♥♥♥ on level range: Competitive games should match players within a level range of ±10. If I’m level 35, match me with players between level 25-45. I don’t want to play with level 10 smurfs or level 70 no-lifers who are still bad at the game. These players have no clue what they’re doing.

I don’t care if I have to wait five minutes for a match—just make competitive actually competitive! Right now, the system is completely broken. Zero fun.

Another classic consequence of EOMM

Real Lv 66 Plat > boosted players any time

Rank requirement to Lv 20 punishes account sellers and smurfing reduces their damage nothing going to stop them beside times but the gain from this
Players have more experience to get used to the game and skill for their ranked games too many players in bronze lobbies with Lv10 straight out of first rank opening or smurfs

I agree on level range because this also reduces the matchmaking party rank abusers and party abuse in general sometimes boosters and smurfs also use their alt or party accounts to increase in ranks

[Maker]

Originally posted by Steve:

The level range doesn't matter for anything. It doesn't at all tell you how good a person is at the game, only how much time they've spent on it. It's a very poor metric to consider for matchmaking as a result. (Neither does winning QM games.)

I wouldn't worry about actual competition until hitting Celestial rank.

I gave you examples. Level restrictions ensure that I will have less chance to play with smurfs and also I have less chance to play with those high levels who just play 24h and still do not know what to do. MMR is different story when it comes to matchmaking.

Level-based restrictions help.

Of course there are some cases like:

A low-level player could be naturally talented or experienced from other games.

A high-level player might be bad at the game despite many hours played.

MMR/Elo aims to match people based on performance rather than just playtime.

It's much more likely that a low-level 'talented' player is either a smurf or a boosted account (not to mention potential cheaters). The system should prioritize finding players with similar experience levels first. Then, after a certain amount of time, it can expand the search beyond these restrictions to ensure smooth queue times.

Right now the game is not respecting players' time.

I’m a casual player at level 32 in Platinum 1. You’re right—higher-level players often play a lot of quick matches. That’s exactly why I’m suggesting an additional matchmaking requirement to group players with similar levels. Competitive play is very different from quick matches; for example, in Escort, you’re either always attacking or defending. It’s not about assuming people stick to ranked, but rather about ensuring a more balanced experience for players at different commitment levels.

It’s not about avoiding high or low-level players—it’s about ensuring fair matchmaking. Right now, there’s a huge skill and experience gap in competitive due to how easily smurfs and new players enter ranked. I’d rather wait 5 minutes for a balanced match than constantly deal with smurfs stomping or players who are still learning the game.

And yeah, smurfs will always exist in free games, but that doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be better systems in place. A higher entry requirement for ranked (like 100 quick play wins) would at least reduce the number of fresh accounts jumping straight into competitive and ruining the experience for others. Even in games I win, when smurfs are involved, it just feels pointless—you can often tell the outcome from the loading screen. That’s the issue.

If smurfs aren’t an issue for you, you might not be paying enough attention to their impact on ranked games. It’s not just about getting stomped—it’s about how they disrupt fair competition on both sides.

[Teddy Roosevelt]

Originally posted by Maker:

Originally posted by Steve:

The level range doesn't matter for anything. It doesn't at all tell you how good a person is at the game, only how much time they've spent on it. It's a very poor metric to consider for matchmaking as a result. (Neither does winning QM games.)

I wouldn't worry about actual competition until hitting Celestial rank.

I gave you examples. Level restrictions ensure that I will have less chance to play with smurfs and also I have less chance to play with those high levels who just play 24h and still do not know what to do. MMR is different story when it comes to matchmaking.

Level-based restrictions help.

Of course there are some cases like:

A low-level player could be naturally talented or experienced from other games.

A high-level player might be bad at the game despite many hours played.

MMR/Elo aims to match people based on performance rather than just playtime.

It's much more likely that a low-level 'talented' player is either a smurf or a boosted account (not to mention potential cheaters). The system should prioritize finding players with similar experience levels first. Then, after a certain amount of time, it can expand the search beyond these restrictions to ensure smooth queue times.

Right now the game is not respecting players' time.

I’m a casual player at level 32 in Platinum 1. You’re right—higher-level players often play a lot of quick matches. That’s exactly why I’m suggesting an additional matchmaking requirement to group players with similar levels. Competitive play is very different from quick matches; for example, in Escort, you’re either always attacking or defending. It’s not about assuming people stick to ranked, but rather about ensuring a more balanced experience for players at different commitment levels.

It’s not about avoiding high or low-level players—it’s about ensuring fair matchmaking. Right now, there’s a huge skill and experience gap in competitive due to how easily smurfs and new players enter ranked. I’d rather wait 5 minutes for a balanced match than constantly deal with smurfs stomping or players who are still learning the game.

And yeah, smurfs will always exist in free games, but that doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be better systems in place. A higher entry requirement for ranked (like 100 quick play wins) would at least reduce the number of fresh accounts jumping straight into competitive and ruining the experience for others. Even in games I win, when smurfs are involved, it just feels pointless—you can often tell the outcome from the loading screen. That’s the issue.

If smurfs aren’t an issue for you, you might not be paying enough attention to their impact on ranked games. It’s not just about getting stomped—it’s about how they disrupt fair competition on both sides.

fair matchmaking is much easier to base on player performance than level. Always has been.

[Steve]

Originally posted by Maker:

Right now, there’s a huge skill and experience gap in competitive due to how easily smurfs and new players enter ranked. I’d rather wait 5 minutes for a balanced match than constantly deal with smurfs stomping or players who are still learning the game.

And yeah, smurfs will always exist in free games, but that doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be better systems in place. A higher entry requirement for ranked (like 100 quick play wins) would at least reduce the number of fresh accounts jumping straight into competitive and ruining the experience for others. Even in games I win, when smurfs are involved, it just feels pointless—you can often tell the outcome from the loading screen. That’s the issue.

If smurfs aren’t an issue for you, you might not be paying enough attention to their impact on ranked games. It’s not just about getting stomped—it’s about how they disrupt fair competition on both sides.

That's why I said "I wouldn't worry about actual competition until hitting Celestial rank". People will grind whatever level they need for it the easiest, fastest way possible and then hit ranked.

The fastest, easiest way possible is Practice vs. AI, easy mode. No one would learn anything; in fact, they'd learn less.

Smurfs would still be smurfs, and worse, more people would be selling smurf accounts than they do already.

It's a great idea on paper that ♥♥♥♥♥ the bed in practice.

[Mitrovarr]

Originally posted by Steve:

The level range doesn't matter for anything. It doesn't at all tell you how good a person is at the game, only how much time they've spent on it. It's a very poor metric to consider for matchmaking as a result. (Neither does winning QM games.)

I wouldn't worry about actual competition until hitting Celestial rank.

Level tells you how new the account is. Most real new accounts don't enter comp at low levels, they need more experience. And most real new accounts who enter comp early suck and get stuck at low rank. So if you see a low level in a decent rank, they're probably a smurf.

Also the quote about Celestial really shows a bad, elitist attitude. Look, Celestials like 2% of the playerbase. Most people will never get there and can never get there; you need a lot of advantages to play that well most people can't get. So if the game is only good for Celestials and above, the game is doomed; it has to provide a good experience to lower ranks to survive.

[Maker]

Originally posted by ﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽:

Originally posted by Maker:

Matchmaking in this game is terrible.

If I see a level 66 player in Platinum, I already know it’s a guaranteed loss. How can someone be that high level and still stuck in Plat/Gold? In-game, these players just ♥♥♥♥—going 3/16.

If I see players between level 10-14, I know it’s going to be a stomp. These are just smurfs. Their history shows AI matches untill level 10, and then they ruin the experience for everyone else in competitive.

Marvel Rivals, PLEASE, for the love of God, add restrictions for entering competitive matches.

Requirement to play competitive: Players should have to reach at least level for example 20 and win 100 Quick Play matches before being allowed into competitive. It needs to be harder to enter.

Matchmaking ♥♥♥♥♥ on level range: Competitive games should match players within a level range of ±10. If I’m level 35, match me with players between level 25-45. I don’t want to play with level 10 smurfs or level 70 no-lifers who are still bad at the game. These players have no clue what they’re doing.

I don’t care if I have to wait five minutes for a match—just make competitive actually competitive! Right now, the system is completely broken. Zero fun.

Another classic consequence of EOMM

Real Lv 66 Plat > boosted players any time

Rank requirement to Lv 20 punishes account sellers and smurfing reduces their damage nothing going to stop them beside times but the gain from this
Players have more experience to get used to the game and skill for their ranked games too many players in bronze lobbies with Lv10 straight out of first rank opening or smurfs

I agree on level range because this also reduces the matchmaking party rank abusers and party abuse in general sometimes boosters and smurfs also use their alt or party accounts to increase in ranks

Thank you for you message.

[Maker]

Originally posted by Mitrovarr:

Originally posted by Steve:

The level range doesn't matter for anything. It doesn't at all tell you how good a person is at the game, only how much time they've spent on it. It's a very poor metric to consider for matchmaking as a result. (Neither does winning QM games.)

I wouldn't worry about actual competition until hitting Celestial rank.

Level tells you how new the account is. Most real new accounts don't enter comp at low levels, they need more experience. And most real new accounts who enter comp early suck and get stuck at low rank. So if you see a low level in a decent rank, they're probably a smurf.

Also the quote about Celestial really shows a bad, elitist attitude. Look, Celestials like 2% of the playerbase. Most people will never get there and can never get there; you need a lot of advantages to play that well most people can't get. So if the game is only good for Celestials and above, the game is doomed; it has to provide a good experience to lower ranks to survive.

^ This. Thank you for your messege. I hope devs read all of these and draw conclusions.