Our second ranked season of 2018 is about to begin, and we’ve got a new set of rewards that you can earn by playing ranked games in the coming months. Read on for details!

Season Roll Dates

2018 Season 2 will begin as soon as our next patch is available for download in each region throughout next week. Check the start and end dates below and make sure you’re able to dive into the rankings as soon as the season rolls.

*Exact date may vary slightly by region.

Ranked Play Updates

In past ranked seasons, we’ve received a lot of feedback about the importance of placement games. We’ve made some changes this season to address that.

First, we will no longer boost the system’s uncertainty level in players’ matchmaking ratings (MMRs) at the start of a new ranked season. Previously, this uncertainty boost made movement more fluid during players’ initial matches each season. Removing it will smooth out cases where players could make considerable swings in rank over a relatively small number of games.

We’ve also received feedback that rising or falling more than one league (5 divisions) during placements can feel like too much movement over too short a timeframe. Removing the uncertainty boost will address this in most cases. To catch any outliers, we’ve also implemented a one-league cap on how much your rank can move as a result of placement matches.

• Example: A player who ended the previous season at Gold 1 cannot fall lower than Silver 1, or rise higher than Platinum 1, during their 10 placement games this season, regardless of how uncertain the system is about their MMR.

Finally, first time ranked players cannot be seeded higher than Platinum 3 when they start placement matches. This is an older rule, but when combined with the changes mentioned above, the highest those players can exit placements will now be Diamond 3.

• Example: A player with a Master level MMR in Quick Match, who decides to step into Hero League for the first time, will be initially seeded into placements at Platinum 3. If that player proceeds to win all of their placement games, they can be placed at a maximum of Diamond 3.

2018 Season 2 Rewards

Players who brawl their way through the leagues during the upcoming season can claim new portraits, mounts, and gold rewards for their achievements in Hero and Team League. Take a look at everything that’s up for grabs this season.

Hero League Portraits

Team League Portraits

Mount Rewards

In addition to everything we’ve mentioned so far, there will be 10 placement matches waiting for you on the other side of the ranked season roll. Once you complete them in Hero or Team League, you’ll receive an initial ranking that is based on your performance during placements and your rank from the previous season.

If you’re ready to begin your Ranked Play journey in Heroes of the Storm but are unsure how, head over to our Ranked Play Guide to get started on the right foot. 

Good luck, and have fun during the new ranked season!