Apex Legends Ranked Premades Are Now Limited to 1 Tier in New Test

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Apex Legends Ranked is getting another matchmaking experiment, and this one directly targets premade squads with wider skill gaps.

Respawn has confirmed that starting May 19 at 10 AM PT, Apex Legends will begin testing a new Ranked restriction where players can only join premade squads if their teammates are within one Ranked tier of each other. The previous system allowed a two-tier difference, which means the new ranked premade system just got stricter. The test will run until the end of the current split on June 23.

The main goal of this limited-time test is to get tighter lobbies, fairer matches, and fewer games, where one squad has a much wider internal skill spread than the rest of the lobby.

Apex Legends Ranked Premades Are Getting a Tighter Limit

Under this test, premade squads will have less room to queue with teammates far above or below their own rank. Respawn says players will only be able to join squads where the rank difference between teammates is one tier.

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In practice, this should make it harder for players to stack teams with a much wider skill range, which can create awkward matchmaking situations where one player is clearly carrying while another is far below the lobby’s average level.

Respawn says the idea is to create more consistent matches against similar-skilled opponents. EA’s official Ranked explainer already notes that Apex Ranked is designed to match players with others of similar rank, with premade squads being matched using the highest RP value in the squad. The new test seems to be another step toward making that system feel more accurate in real matches.

Respawn Wants Tighter and Fairer Ranked Lobbies

The main reason behind this test is competitive quality. Ranked has always been one of the most sensitive parts of Apex Legends because players expect it to feel more serious than pubs. When the lobby balance feels off, the whole match can feel frustrating before the first fight even happens.

According to Respawn, limiting wide skill bands in premade squads should help players more consistently match against opponents closer to their own level. If the test works as intended, players should see fewer lopsided games where squads feel unevenly built from the start.

The Test Runs Until June 23

Respawn is calling it a test, and it will run from May 19 until the end of the split on June 23.

A restriction like this can improve match fairness, but it can also make it harder for friends with different ranks to play together. Fairer lobbies sound great, but Apex is also a squad-based game where many players want to grind with friends. If the restriction feels too strict, some players may be pushed into solo queue or casual modes instead.

Impact on Friend Groups

The biggest impact will likely be felt by mixed-rank friend groups. Players who previously relied on the two-tier allowance may now find that their squad can no longer queue together in Ranked.

For example, if one player is significantly ahead of their friends after grinding more matches, the group may need to wait until everyone closes the rank gap before playing Ranked together again. That may feel frustrating for casual friend groups, but it could also reduce situations where one higher-ranked player pulls lower-ranked teammates into tougher lobbies.

Ranked Matchmaking Is Still a Major Apex Legends Issue

Apex Legends players have been debating Ranked matchmaking for years. Some seasons have been criticized for feeling too punishing, while others have been accused of letting players climb too easily. Premade squads, solo queue balance, smurfing, rank distribution, and matchmaking quality are all part of the same ongoing conversation.

EA’s current Ranked rules explain that players earn RP through placement and eliminations, while squad matchmaking takes the highest RP value in the premade squad into account.

The Change Could Make Solo Queue Feel Better Too

Although this test is focused on premade squads, solo queue players may also feel the effects.

One of the biggest frustrations for solo players is being placed into matches where premade squads have a clear coordination advantage, especially if those squads also include players from a wider rank range. By tightening the rank spread inside premades, Respawn may be trying to make those squads less volatile for the overall lobby.

The real question is whether this one-tier limit improves match quality enough to justify the added restriction on premade squads. If the data looks good, Respawn could decide to keep the change beyond June 23. If it creates too much friction for players trying to queue with friends, the studio may adjust it again.

The post Apex Legends Ranked Premades Are Now Limited to 1 Tier in New Test appeared first on GameRiv.

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