Everything we know about Warzone Ranked Play update in Season 3 Reloaded

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / May 2, 2025, 16:09 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

Call of Duty: Warzone's Ranked Play has been revolutionized with Season 3 Reloaded, demanding players to qualify through Resurgence or Battle Royale matches. The updated Skill Rating system rewards strategic gameplay, while deployment fees challenge higher-ranked players. Weapon and perk restrictions ensure competitive integrity.

Everything we know about Warzone Ranked Play update in Season 3 Reloaded

Image via: Activision

The competitive scene of Ranked Play has been shaken to its very foundation with Call of Duty: Warzone Season 3 Reloaded. From an overhaul of Skill Rating (SR) to tighter constraints on weapons and perks, the mid-season update has left an indelible mark on the players' path to the ranks in Verdansk. Here is a brief rundown about all the major changes that have come forth in the recent update.

Entry requirements and qualification challenges

Ranked Play is no longer an immediate entry. To qualify for it, players must now prove themselves in either Resurgence or Battle Royale matches. Specifically, in Resurgence, players must finish among the top six squads, whereas, in Battle Royale, they must finish among the top 15. This whole process must be accomplished a total of twenty times. Only these core modes will contribute to gaining access to Ranked Play; the matches played in Battle Royale Casual or Bootcamp won't count.

When Ranked Play is unlocked, Trios will allow for 150 players again. The goal here remains the same, to climb the ranks by gaining SR from eliminations, placements, and outplaying opponents of higher ranks.

SR system and rank breakdown

The new SR system is quite advanced and has been instituted to reward skillful and intelligent play. The new ranking system starts players from Bronze and allows them to transition through Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Crimson, and Iridescent. The Top 250 are for the best of the best. The set ranks from 1 to 3 under Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond do allow for some granulation of progression, while the only exceptions would be on Iridescent and Top 250 ranks.
This new SR update rewards scale even based on what ranks your opponents are. To give an example, an SR increase beyond one's own rank is awarded in Platinum for killing down a Diamond player. So players are encouraged to take calculated risks for aggressive and tactical play.

Deployment fees return

This costs rank advancement. Every Ranked match requires a Deployment Fee based on the current rank of the player. This way, it is ensured that higher-ranked players are challenged and cannot simply passive their way to maintaining their rank.
Weapon, Perk, and Item Restriction: For the sake of competitive integrity, Warzone will have all-encompassing restrictions. While the list allows all Modern Warfare weapons, the only crossover weapon allowed is the Black Ops 6's Blade Launcher.
Prohibited attachments include:

Thermal optics of every kind.
Under-barrel launchers like Drill Charge and HE Launchers.
CHF Barrel.
Fire Mods like Dragon's Breath and Goblin Mk2 mini-rockets.

Other notable restrictions:

Birds-eye and Specialist
Wildcard: Bandolier
Loot: Ammo Satchel
Vehicles: Cargo Truck
Contracts: Big Game Bounty
Miscellaneous: One-shot shot to the head, proximity chat, and Live Pings.

The above changes impose fairness, focus, and competition among all players.

WARZONE: Major SEASON 3 RELOADED UPDATE Fully Revealed! Verdansk Updates, New Weapons, & More!

Rewards and others

Progression through Ranked is much more than simply for bragging rights; players can earn exclusive cosmetics such as weapon skins, blueprints, and much more. The mid-season update will essentially reset your grind, giving both veterans and new players alike a brand-new start on May 1, 2025.
Thus far, Season 3 Reloaded has made Warzone Ranked Play more structured and loaded with rewards and definitely more intense. With skill-based SR gains, tougher restrictions, and a pathway for entry, Verdansk has now become a true battleground for elite players.

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

End of Article