Understanding ELO and Ratings

HubMatch uses an ELO rating system to track player skill. Your rating is a number that goes up when you win and down when you lose, adjusted by the strength of your opponents. There are two separate ratings that measure different aspects of your competitive performance.

Two ELO Types

Ranked ELO is your solo competitive rating. It comes from playing in the 10-Mans queue, where 10 individual players are matched and drafted into two teams. This rating reflects your ability to perform as an individual, regardless of which team you are on.

Tournament ELO is your team competitive rating. It updates after tournament matches, league matches, and scrims. This rating follows you personally - it is not tied to your team. When you change teams, your Tournament ELO comes with you. A team's effective rating is the average of its players' individual Tournament ELO values.

Both ratings start at 1200 when you create your account.

How Ratings Change

HubMatch uses a chess-style ELO formula. After each match, your new rating is calculated based on the result (win or loss) and the difference between your rating and your opponent's rating.

Beat a stronger opponent and you gain more points. Lose to a weaker opponent and you lose more points. The system naturally pushes players toward their true skill level over time.

Scrims update your Tournament ELO at a reduced rate (60% of normal) since they are practice matches, not formal competition.

The K-Factor System

New players experience faster rating changes through a graduated K-factor system. During your first 10 matches (placement phase), your rating moves significantly with each game so the system can quickly find your skill level. From matches 10-29 (provisional phase), changes are still elevated but more moderate. After 30 matches (established phase), your rating stabilizes with smaller adjustments per game.

This means your early matches matter more for calibration, while your long-term rating becomes increasingly stable and reflective of consistent performance.

Why Playing Regularly Matters

ELO is most accurate when you have a meaningful number of games played. A player with 5 matches and a 1300 rating is far less proven than a player with 100 matches at the same number. Teams and recruiters look at both your rating and your match count when evaluating you. Your peak Ranked ELO — the highest you have ever reached — is also tracked on your profile.

Stay active, and your rating will tell your story.