Deadlock splits Ranked and Standard queues on July 30, Season 1 runs to October 7

Deadlock’s July 30 matchmaking update separates Standard Mode from Ranked Mode and starts the first Ranked season immediately. SteamDB’s copy of the patch notes lists Season 1 as running through October 7, with every player entering an eight-game calibration phase before landing in a visible rank.

The entry requirements are specific. Players need at least 60 wins in Standard Mode before they can queue for Ranked. A hero also needs 15 Standard wins before that hero can be picked in Ranked, and each player must have at least three Ranked-eligible heroes available. Ranked currently supports solo and duo parties only, with duo rank spread capped at one Rank for most tiers and a tighter three-Subrank rule for Eternus players.

The updated rank ladder runs from Obscurus for uncalibrated players through Initiate, Seeker, Acolyte, Sentinel, Mystic, Ritualist, Emissary, Oracle, Phantom, Ascendant, and Eternus. Each Rank has six Subranks. Wins and losses move players by roughly 250 Rank Points on average, with 1,000 points needed for a normal Subrank promotion and 2,000 points at the boundary before a new Rank.

The r/pcgaming thread’s reaction centered on whether the requirements help match quality or make a closed-beta game harder for new players to enter. Some commenters welcomed a true split between lower-stakes Standard play and competitive matches. Others pointed to the 60-win gate as a barrier for players waiting for a broader release. Valve’s own note says the first week may be rough because the Ranked pool will start thin.