Respawn is testing new Apex Legends matchmaking rules that limit Masters and Predator players to Diamond 1+ lobbies. Here’s why it matters before Season 26 drops.
Respawn Just Shook Up Ranked—Masters and Predators, You’re Stuck at the Top
If you’ve been grinding through Ranked in Apex Legends and getting absolutely deleted by squads of Predators while still rocking Platinum gear—good news. Respawn is testing a new Ranked matchmaking change that could finally rebalance the playing field, and the top dogs are feeling the squeeze.
- Masters and Predators can now only match with Diamond 1+ players
- The test is live across all platforms and regions
- It’s designed to improve skill distribution in Ranked matches
- No end date announced yet (it could be cut short if queues break)
Why the Change Now?
Simple answer: Season 26 is just around the corner, and Respawn wants to test Ranked tweaks before the next big reset.
For a while now, Apex’s Ranked mode has been the Wild West—you could be solo queuing in Platinum and suddenly find yourself third-partied by three full Predators running coordinated scans and one-clipping everyone in sight.
So, Respawn listened. Players have been asking for tighter skill-based matchmaking, and this test is their way of checking if it can work without nuking queue times or splitting the playerbase too much.
How Does the New Matchmaking Work?
Here’s the breakdown:
- Masters and Predator players can only join lobbies with other players Diamond 1 or higher.
- If you’re below Diamond 1, you shouldn’t see them…
- Unless you queue with a Diamond 1 teammate. In that case, your whole squad gets yeeted into the high-rank lobby.
That last part is important: the highest-ranked player in your squad determines the matchmaking pool. So don’t go dragging your Bronze buddy into a Pred stack unless you’re ready to sweat buckets.
Will It Stick Around for Season 26?
Hard to say. Respawn hasn’t set an end date for the test, but they’re watching one stat closely: queue times. If Masters and Predator players suddenly find themselves waiting 10 minutes just to drop into Storm Point, this matchmaking experiment might end faster than a 1v3 with no shield cells.
That said, if this works—and doesn’t ruin queue flow—it could absolutely become part of Ranked 2.0 in Season 26. Respawn already hinted that Ranked is getting more updates soon, so this may just be step one.
What Does This Mean for You?
If you’re Diamond 1 or higher:
Congrats, you’re in the sweat pool. Expect higher skill games, longer queues, and more satisfying wins.
If you’re below Diamond 1:
Your lobbies just got a little less terrifying. Breathe easy. That three-stack of Predators probably isn’t lurking in your next zone rotation (unless your buddy is cracked and dragging you up the ranks).
Apex Ranked Matchmaking Test Quick Recap
- New test isolates Masters & Predator players to Diamond 1+ lobbies
- Goal: fix skill imbalances in Ranked before Season 26
- Players still get matched based on highest-ranked squadmate
- No end date for the test yet—could end early if queue times spike
- Possible permanent change depending on results
Our Take: This is the Ranked adjustment Apex needed years ago. If Respawn pulls this off without tanking queue times, Ranked could finally be less “who third-partied me this time?” and more “actual competitive climbing.”
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