How does the Dead By Daylight Ranking System work? New Ranking System Explained

Since the game's release, Dead By Daylight has had a ranking system to match players that has more or less remained the same. Players were challenged to climb from Rank 20 to Rank 1 by accumulating Pips, which are awarded based on how well you play during a match. Pips were awarded at the end of a match if you received enough points based on four separate categories.

As of the 5.2.0 update, players are no longer matched with each other based on their rank, but their skill-level with each Survivor or Killer. We have provided a quick rundown of this new ranking system (titled Skill-Based Matchmaking or SBMM) below.

Skill-Based Matchmaking uses ratings to determine a player's skill-level with a character rather than ranks. Ranks are being replaced by Grades, which are earned in a similar fashion: by accumulating Pips. Also similar to the current Ranking system, Pip are awarded to players at the end of a match based on how well they play in four categories: Boldness (interactions with the Killer), Survival, Altruism (interactions with other Survivors), and Objectives (interactions with objects to progress the match).

Related: Pinhead (Cenobite) Update 5.2.0 Patch Notes in Dead by Daylight

When you receive Pips at the end of a match, they count towards improving your Grade for the character you're playing. As you raise your grade from Ash IV to Iridescent I, you cross thresholds between each one. When you cross a threshold, you remain in that grade until you reach the next grade, or the Grades are reset (on the 13th of every month). You are then awarded Bloodpoints based on the grade you reached.

While this seems very similar to the current Ranking system (it seems like its Ash to Iridescent rather than Rank 20 to Rank 1), the difference lies in how you're matched with other players. Since someone who is normally a Rank 1 Killer might try different a different Killer, it wouldn't be fair for them to be matched with Survivors who play well against them.

Each Killer is rated separately for each player. This means that if you are a high-skill Nurse, you will still match with low-skill Survivors if you're playing as a low-grade Wraith. This makes it so you won't struggle to improve your skills against higher-skilled Survivors if you don't know how to play the Wraith.

All things considered, it looks like each game will be more evenly matched in the future!

Want some advanced tips on how to play the Cenobite in Dead by Daylight? Check out our guide to the Best Pinhead (Cenobite) Builds!