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{{Era|H2}}
{{Status|Gameplay}}
[[Image:Ranking2.jpg|right|The 50 rank symbols]]
{{Title|''Halo 2'' multiplayer ranks}}
{{Center|''This article is about the rank system in ''[[Halo 2]]''. For more articles of the same name, see [[Rank]].''}}
[[File:H2 MP Rank Icons.jpg|thumb|300px|Halo 2 rank images]]


In [[Halo 2]], '''rank''' is the numeric representation of a player's multiplayer experience. Rank can be gained or lost depending on not only the final score of a game, but also on the individual's statistics, and the opposing team's individual ranks. The system responsible for assigning how many experience points a player is awarded is a very complex algorithm. A rank is recorded for every playlist an individual plays in, with the exception of nonranked gametypes and custom gametypes. There are leader boards for the majority of the playlists, however [[Bungie]] has indicated that the leader boards may be removed in the near future. Although players will still be ranked so people with appropriate skill levels will be matched in [[matchmaking]]. The leaderboards were reset in the autoupdate and have a new ranking system and will not be removed.
The '''ranking system''' in ''[[Halo 2]]'' is the numeric representation of a player's [[multiplayer]] experience.{{Ref/Site|Id=Bnet|URL=https://halo.bungie.net/stats/content.aspx?link=h2statoverview|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Halo 2 Stats Overview|D=02|M=12|Y=2014}} An [[Rank (Halo: The Master Chief Collection)|identical system]] based on the ''Halo 2'' rank system is also employed in the competitive playlists for ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]''.


[[Category:Multiplayer]]
==Overview==
''Halo 2'' uses a skill-based [[matchmaking]] system, informed by a numeric value of 1-50 to represent a given player's skill level in any given playlist. When matching players for online games, the algorithms in question try and pair up similarly-skilled players to ensure roughly evenly-matched games. The displayed 1-50 rank is an abstraction of an [[XP]] value, hidden to the player and calculated behind-the-scenes. Each game completed awards or removes XP, depending on the result of the match - this means that poor performance in a game can result in losing rank, while winning results in players ranking up. Ranks are calculated purely on wins and losses, meaning actual in-game performance such as [[KDR]], [[Flag]] captures, bomb plants, hills captured etc do not affect the final result; merely being on the team does.{{Ref/Reuse|Bnet}}
 
Rank is calculated per-playlist, meaning that a player's performance in one playlist does not affect their rank in another.{{Ref/Reuse|Bnet}}
 
===XP calculations===
Once a game is completed, the game awards or removes XP from each player depending on the final result. This is achieved by consulting a table (shown below), dependant on the difference in level. In broad terms, winning or losing matches against similarly-ranked players nets a lower XP gain/loss, whereas winning matches against players with higher skill gaps will gain greater rewards or greater loss. For a given player in the game, the table is consulted to perform a matchup against every single player of an enemy team in the game - if the player has completed a match of 8v8 slayer, the table would be consulted to determine the XP gain/loss for all eight opposing players. Once these values are tallied, the total is divided by the amount of enemy players, to gain a final XP value for the game as a whole.{{Ref/Reuse|Bnet}}
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Level difference !! Higher win{{Ref/Note|Id=Higher|These values apply to the player of the higher level per-matchup.}} !! Higher loss{{Ref/NoteReuse|Higher}} !! Lower win{{Ref/Note|Id=Lower|These values apply to the player of the lower level per-matchup.}} !! Lower loss{{Ref/NoteReuse|Lower}}
|-
| 0 || 100 || 100 || 100|| 100
|-
| 1 || 92 || 108 || 108 || 92
|-
| 2 || 85 || 115 || 115 || 85
|-
| 3 || 79 || 121 || 121 || 79
|-
| 4 || 74 || 126 || 126 || 74
|-
| 5 || 70 || 130 || 130 || 70
|-
| 6 || 66 || 134 || 134 || 66
|-
| 7 || 63 || 137 || 137 || 63
|-
| 8 || 60 || 140 || 140 || 60
|-
| 9 || 58 || 142 || 142 || 58
|-
| 10 || 56 || 144 || 144 || 56
|-
| 11 || 54 || 146 || 146 || 54
|-
| 12 || 53 || 147 || 147 || 53
|-
| 13 || 52 || 148 || 148 || 52
|-
| 14 || 51 || 149 || 149 || 51
|-
| 15+ || 50 || 150 || 150 || 50
|}
 
====Worked example====
To give an example of this system in use, consider a free-for-all match in which there are four players;
 
*First place: '''Player A''' (Level 10)
*Second place: '''Player B''' (Level 7)
*Third place: '''Player C''' (Level 8)
*Fourth place: '''Player D''' (Level 5)
 
To calculate Player A's total XP gain, the table must be consulted three times - once for each player they matched up again. In this case, they won against a player with a three level difference, a two level difference and a five level difference. Thus, it can be determined that Player A earned 79, 85 and 70 XP - respectively. This value is then summed to get a total of 234, before divided by three to get an average value of +78XP. This calculation is done for every player to determine each player's XP gain/loss.{{Ref/Reuse|Bnet}}
 
===1-50 ranks===
With the player's total XP values known, the game can display a single rank number as a representative of their overall skill. Ranks are indicated by a 1-50 value, with a new player holding rank 1 and the highest-ranked players holding rank 50, with most players averaging around rank 10. Each rank has a simple icon alongside its number, with the final [[seven]] ranks holding a unique symbol - a nod to [[Bungie]]'s love for the number. Each rank has an XP bracket assigned (shown below). However, in order to prevent frustration at constantly flipping between two ranks if games are repeatedly won and lost, players will keep their 1-50 rank value even if they drop below the original requirements to achieve it, and won't de-rank until they hit the mid-point of the previous rank's requirement. For example, if a player needs 10,000XP to hit a new rank, achieves 10,000XP but then loses a game and drops below the 10,000XP total, they won't revert back to the previous level until their XP total hits 5,000XP.{{Ref/Reuse|Bnet}}
 
====Rank XP requirements====
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Rank level !! Minimum XP !! Maximum XP
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 1.png|25px|center]] || 1 || 99
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 2.png|25px|center]] || 100 || 199
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 3.png|25px|center]] || 200 || 299
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 4.png|25px|center]] || 300 || 399
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 5.png|25px|center]] || 400 || 499
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 6.png|25px|center]] || 500 || 599
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 7.png|25px|center]] || 600 || 699
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 8.png|25px|center]] || 700 || 799
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 9.png|25px|center]] || 800 || 899
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 10.png|25px|center]] || 900 || 999
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 11.png|25px|center]] || 1000 || 1099
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 12.png|25px|center]] || 1100 || 1199
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 13.png|25px|center]] || 1200 || 1399
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 14.png|25px|center]] || 1400 || 1599
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 15.png|25px|center]] || 1600 || 1799
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 16.png|25px|center]] || 1800 || 1999
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 17.png|25px|center]] || 2000 || 2249
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 18.png|25px|center]] || 2250 || 2499
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 19.png|25px|center]] || 2500 || 2749
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 20.png|25px|center]] || 2750 || 2999
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 21.png|25px|center]] || 3000 || 3249
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 22.png|25px|center]] || 3250 || 3499
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 23.png|25px|center]] || 3500 || 3749
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 24.png|25px|center]] || 3750 || 3999
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 25.png|25px|center]] || 4000 || 4249
|}
{{Col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Rank level !! Minimum XP !! Maximum XP
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 26.png|25px|center]] || 4250 || 4499
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 27.png|25px|center]] || 4500 || 4749
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 28.png|25px|center]] || 4750 || 4999
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 29.png|25px|center]] || 5000 || 5249
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 30.png|25px|center]] || 5250 || 5499
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 31.png|25px|center]] || 5500 || 5749
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 32.png|25px|center]] || 5750 || 5999
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 33.png|25px|center]] || 6000 || 6249
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 34.png|25px|center]] || 6250 || 6499
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 35.png|25px|center]] || 6500 || 6749
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 36.png|25px|center]] || 6750 || 6999
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 37.png|25px|center]] || 7000 || 7249
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 38.png|25px|center]] || 7250 || 7499
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 39.png|25px|center]] || 7500 || 7749
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 40.png|25px|center]] || 7750 || 7999
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 41.png|25px|center]] || 8000 || 8249
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 42.png|25px|center]] || 8250 || 8499
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 43.png|25px|center]] || 8500 || 8749
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 44.png|25px|center]] || 8750 || 8999
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 45.png|25px|center]] || 9000 || 9249
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 46.png|25px|center]] || 9250 || 9499
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 47.png|25px|center]] || 9500 || 9749
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 48.png|25px|center]] || 9750 || 9999
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 49.png|25px|center]] || 10000 || 10,249
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 50.png|25px|center]] || 10,250 || 1 billion
|}
{{Col-end}}
The 1-50 rank held by a given player determines which players they will match up with in multiplayer matchmaking, by aiming to match players up with similarly-ranked players. The matchup requirements are listed below.{{Ref/Reuse|Bnet}}
 
===Rank XP gain modifiers===
With the systems listed above, one last consideration is the XP modifiers given by rank. In order to help new players in being able to level up, lower-ranked players are not penalised as hard when losing matches while they are low-leveled. This % value peters off as they level up and by rank 29, is no longer in effect. However, ''Halo 2''{{'}}s online XP is a zero-sum system, meaning that there is a set amount of XP points available to the entire player population as a whole, and the raw XP gain/loss systems ensure when a player loses against another player, the winning player gains the same amount of XP as lost by the loser. In order to maintain this system, the higher-ranked players begin seeing the opposite affect applied to their wins. Upon reaching rank 42, players will begin earning a lower percentage of the XP they would otherwise earn, with this penalty increasing per-rank, capping out at max-rank players at level 50 only receiving 50% of the XP they earn for a win.{{Ref/Reuse|Bnet}}
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan=2| Lower-rank loss-mitigation values
!colspan=2| Higher-rank win XP loss
|-
! Level !! Loss factor{{Ref/Note|% of XP lost for a loss.}} !! Level !! Win factor{{Ref/Note|% of XP gained for a victory.}}
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 1.png|25px|center]] || 0% ||style="background:#444"| <center>[[File:MCC - Rank 1.png|25px]] - [[File:MCC - Rank 41.png|25px]]</center> || 100%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 2.png|25px|center]] || 2.50% ||style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 42.png|25px|center]] || 95%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 3.png|25px|center]] || 5.00% ||style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 43.png|25px|center]] || 90%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 4.png|25px|center]] || 7.50% ||style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 44.png|25px|center]] || 85%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 5.png|25px|center]] || 10.00% ||style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 45.png|25px|center]] || 80%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 6.png|25px|center]] || 15.00% ||style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 46.png|25px|center]] || 70%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 7.png|25px|center]] || 20.00% ||style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 47.png|25px|center]] || 65%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 8.png|25px|center]] || 27.50% ||style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 48.png|25px|center]] || 60%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 9.png|25px|center]] || 35.00% ||style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 49.png|25px|center]] || 55%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 10.png|25px|center]]{{Ref/Note|Id=Loss|Text=The original Bungie-provided stat table listed [https://halo.bungie.net/stats/content.aspx?link=h2statoverview here] lists two values for ranks 10 and 11. It is unknown which value is correct, so both have been listed for clarity.}} || 40.00%<br/>50.00%  ||style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 50.png|25px|center]] || 50%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 11.png|25px|center]]{{Ref/NoteReuse|Loss}} || 45.00%<br/>55.00%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 12.png|25px|center]] || 57.50%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 13.png|25px|center]] || 60.00%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 14.png|25px|center]] || 62.50%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 15.png|25px|center]] || 65.00%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 16.png|25px|center]] || 67.50%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 17.png|25px|center]] || 70.00%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 18.png|25px|center]] || 72.50%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 19.png|25px|center]] || 75.00%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 20.png|25px|center]] || 77.50%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 21.png|25px|center]] || 80.00%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 22.png|25px|center]] || 82.50%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 23.png|25px|center]] || 85.00%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 24.png|25px|center]] || 87.50%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 25.png|25px|center]] || 90.00%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 26.png|25px|center]] || 92.50%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 27.png|25px|center]] || 95.00%
|-
|style="background:#444"| [[File:MCC - Rank 28.png|25px|center]] || 97.50%
|-
|style="background:#444"| <center>[[File:MCC - Rank 29.png|25px]]+</center> || 100.00%
|}
 
===Additional considerations===
A rank is recorded for every [[Matchmaking#Halo 2|playlist]] an individual plays in, with the exception of non-ranked gametypes and custom gametypes. There were leader boards for the majority of the playlists, however [[Bungie]] removed them because of cheating and hacking problems.{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/214957|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Farewell to Leaderboards}}
 
==Production notes==
The rank system found in ''Halo 2'' was designed by ''Halo 2'' multiplayer lead [[Max Hoberman]], based on his experiences in the rank systems for Bungie's previous game, ''[[Wikipedia:Myth (video game series)|Myth]]''. In ''Myth'', players were able to achieve up to twenty-five ranks in multiplayer play, each with a unique name and icon with the highest rank being the "Comet". Due to how fun and addictive he considered the system, Hoberman knew he wanted to implement a similar feature for ''Halo 2''. Hoberman was suggested by designer Michael Evans to look at the [[Wikipedia:Elo rating system|Elo rating system]] used in Chess tournaments, which starts all players in the middle of the ranking scale and moves them up or down depending on their successes and failures. Hoberman liked this system, but wanted to preserve the element of progression from ''Myth'', and decided to try and combine the two. Hoberman's intent was to create a system like Elo, in which players gain or lose ranks by exchanging points in matches, while also having a flat progression scale from 0-25. Hoberman designed a specification for the system largely arbitrarily, and ultimately was able to implement the feature relatively hassle-free.{{Ref/Generic|Id=H2:A|[[Halo 2: Artifacts]]|Episode 2 - The Social Revolution (50:00)}}
 
To test the system, Hoberman wrote an article for distribution internally at [[Bungie]] and [[Microsoft]], detailing in-depth how the system worked in a hope that crafty players would be able to analyse the system and find ways to break it. This testing included an open letter sent to all employees, offering any player who could break the rank system free Bungie merchandise and the chance to have part of one of ''Halo 2''{{'}}s multiplayer maps named after them (among 10 other prize categories) - though no employee was able to claim this prize. Nonetheless, the launch of ''Halo 2'' soon found issues with the system due to the unexpected prevalence of cheaters and hackers using fake [[Xbox LIVE]] accounts. The article written by Hoberman was later published on [[Bungie.net]], and remained online until the site's shutdown in [[2021 (real world)|2021]].{{Ref/Reuse|H2:A}}
 
[[File:H2 UnusedRankIcons.png|thumb|250px|Various iterations for ''Halo 2''{{'}}s multiplayer rank icons, as recovered by the [[Digsite]] project.{{Ref/Twitter|Id=Icons|zeddikins|1768762379897102482|zeddikins|Quote=Over at #Digsite we've uncovered a couple earlier iterations of Halo 2's rank icons, and today I'd like to share them. There could have been more throughout development, but this is just what we've found.|D=16|M=03|Y=2024}} The raw icons for these ranks can be downloaded from the Digsite ''Halo 2'' GitHub repo.]]
The rank icons for the rank system were designed by [[David Candland]]. In the original mockups, there were only 25 ranks (a holdover from the ''Myth'' ranks), each represented by an icon of the various ''Halo'' universe species such as [[Unggoy|Grunts]], [[Kig-Yar|Jackals]], [[Sangheili|Elites]] and the final rank being a [[San'Shyuum|Prophet]].{{Ref/Reuse|H2:A}} The icons as of [[2004 (real world)#July|July 2004]] include the following ranks:{{Ref/Reuse|Icons}}
*[[Unggoy|Grunts]] - 5 ranks (represented by the emblem present on [[Unggoy combat harness|Grunt armour]]){{Ref/Reuse|Icons}}
*[[Yanme'e|Drones]] - 3 ranks (represented by a stylised interpretation of a Drone){{Ref/Reuse|Icons}}
*[[Kig-Yar|Jackals]] - 3 ranks (represented by a [[Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet|Jackal shield]]){{Ref/Reuse|Icons}}
*[[Mgalekgolo|Hunters]] - 2 ranks (represented by a stylised interpretation of a Hunter){{Ref/Reuse|Icons}}
*[[Jiralhanae|Brutes]] - 3 ranks (represented by a stylised interpretation of a [[Jovokada Workshop brute shot|brute shot]]){{Ref/Reuse|Icons}}
*[[Sangheili|Elites]] - [[Seven|7]] ranks (represented by an [[Energy sword (fiction)|energy sword]]){{Ref/Reuse|Icons}}
*[[San'Shyuum|Prophets]] - 2 ranks (represented by a [[Hierarchs|Hierarch]] headdress){{Ref/Reuse|Icons}}
 
By August 2004,{{Ref/Reuse|Icons}} the number of ranks had been doubled to 50, all bearing a shield background with a simple number. This was done due to the Covenant-based ranks being unclear during internal discussions, with questions about the Covenant's ranking system brought up. For example, when the [[Changing of the Guard]] occurs later in ''Halo 2''{{'}}s campaign, the [[Jiralhanae|Brutes]] are promoted to replace the Elites in the Covenant, meaning they would now technically "outrank" Elites - something that the Covenant-based multiplayer ranks would not be able to account for.{{Ref/Twitter|Id=BruteRanks|drcandland|1768765336894284275|David Candland|Quote=Ah yes. Had to move to numbers since ranks weren’t super clear. Do Elites outrank Brutes? Depends where you are in the campaign.|D=16|M=03|Y=2024}} Hoberman also intended to ship the ranks with unique identifying names to help foster more communication and easy recognition of the ranks, though ultimately was unable to do so after increasing the rank count from 25 to 50 - finding it infeasible to come up with so many unique names. However, such a system would later return in the [[Rank (Halo: Reach)|rank system]] created for [[2010]]'s ''[[Halo: Reach]]''. A month later in September 2004, the system seen in the final game was created, with the final [[seven]] ranks retaining unique iconography.{{Ref/Reuse|Icons}} In the final system, rank 49 is represented by comet - a nod to the original ''Myth'' system in which the top-ranked player was "The Comet".{{Ref/Reuse|H2:A}}
 
==Trivia==
*The fact that the last seven ranks are different from the previous ones is an obvious reference to Bungie's favorite number, [[Seven|7]].
*The last seven [[Rank (Halo: Reach)|ranks]] of ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' are loosely based off of the last seven ranks of this system.
 
==External links==
*[https://halo.bungie.net/stats/content.aspx?link=h2statoverview ''Bungie.net'' in-depth detail of the ''Halo 2'' rank scheme'']
*[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13FWD4NP8yxzcLUouW9WDrEpBBZyQv1RtLz_XlpyF-xg/edit#gid=1776043710 ''Halo 2'' rank XP calculator on Google sheets]
 
==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}
 
==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}
 
{{Navbox/Ranks/Gameplay}}
[[Category:Halo 2]]
[[Category:Game rank|2, Halo]]

Latest revision as of 03:27, September 9, 2024

This article is about the rank system in Halo 2. For more articles of the same name, see Rank.
The Ranks in Xbox Live.
Halo 2 rank images

The ranking system in Halo 2 is the numeric representation of a player's multiplayer experience.[1] An identical system based on the Halo 2 rank system is also employed in the competitive playlists for Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

Overview[edit]

Halo 2 uses a skill-based matchmaking system, informed by a numeric value of 1-50 to represent a given player's skill level in any given playlist. When matching players for online games, the algorithms in question try and pair up similarly-skilled players to ensure roughly evenly-matched games. The displayed 1-50 rank is an abstraction of an XP value, hidden to the player and calculated behind-the-scenes. Each game completed awards or removes XP, depending on the result of the match - this means that poor performance in a game can result in losing rank, while winning results in players ranking up. Ranks are calculated purely on wins and losses, meaning actual in-game performance such as KDR, Flag captures, bomb plants, hills captured etc do not affect the final result; merely being on the team does.[1]

Rank is calculated per-playlist, meaning that a player's performance in one playlist does not affect their rank in another.[1]

XP calculations[edit]

Once a game is completed, the game awards or removes XP from each player depending on the final result. This is achieved by consulting a table (shown below), dependant on the difference in level. In broad terms, winning or losing matches against similarly-ranked players nets a lower XP gain/loss, whereas winning matches against players with higher skill gaps will gain greater rewards or greater loss. For a given player in the game, the table is consulted to perform a matchup against every single player of an enemy team in the game - if the player has completed a match of 8v8 slayer, the table would be consulted to determine the XP gain/loss for all eight opposing players. Once these values are tallied, the total is divided by the amount of enemy players, to gain a final XP value for the game as a whole.[1]

Level difference Higher win[Note 1] Higher loss[Note 1] Lower win[Note 2] Lower loss[Note 2]
0 100 100 100 100
1 92 108 108 92
2 85 115 115 85
3 79 121 121 79
4 74 126 126 74
5 70 130 130 70
6 66 134 134 66
7 63 137 137 63
8 60 140 140 60
9 58 142 142 58
10 56 144 144 56
11 54 146 146 54
12 53 147 147 53
13 52 148 148 52
14 51 149 149 51
15+ 50 150 150 50

Worked example[edit]

To give an example of this system in use, consider a free-for-all match in which there are four players;

  • First place: Player A (Level 10)
  • Second place: Player B (Level 7)
  • Third place: Player C (Level 8)
  • Fourth place: Player D (Level 5)

To calculate Player A's total XP gain, the table must be consulted three times - once for each player they matched up again. In this case, they won against a player with a three level difference, a two level difference and a five level difference. Thus, it can be determined that Player A earned 79, 85 and 70 XP - respectively. This value is then summed to get a total of 234, before divided by three to get an average value of +78XP. This calculation is done for every player to determine each player's XP gain/loss.[1]

1-50 ranks[edit]

With the player's total XP values known, the game can display a single rank number as a representative of their overall skill. Ranks are indicated by a 1-50 value, with a new player holding rank 1 and the highest-ranked players holding rank 50, with most players averaging around rank 10. Each rank has a simple icon alongside its number, with the final seven ranks holding a unique symbol - a nod to Bungie's love for the number. Each rank has an XP bracket assigned (shown below). However, in order to prevent frustration at constantly flipping between two ranks if games are repeatedly won and lost, players will keep their 1-50 rank value even if they drop below the original requirements to achieve it, and won't de-rank until they hit the mid-point of the previous rank's requirement. For example, if a player needs 10,000XP to hit a new rank, achieves 10,000XP but then loses a game and drops below the 10,000XP total, they won't revert back to the previous level until their XP total hits 5,000XP.[1]

Rank XP requirements[edit]

Rank level Minimum XP Maximum XP
MCC - Rank 1.png
1 99
MCC - Rank 2.png
100 199
MCC - Rank 3.png
200 299
MCC - Rank 4.png
300 399
MCC - Rank 5.png
400 499
MCC - Rank 6.png
500 599
MCC - Rank 7.png
600 699
MCC - Rank 8.png
700 799
MCC - Rank 9.png
800 899
MCC - Rank 10.png
900 999
MCC - Rank 11.png
1000 1099
MCC - Rank 12.png
1100 1199
MCC - Rank 13.png
1200 1399
MCC - Rank 14.png
1400 1599
MCC - Rank 15.png
1600 1799
MCC - Rank 16.png
1800 1999
MCC - Rank 17.png
2000 2249
MCC - Rank 18.png
2250 2499
MCC - Rank 19.png
2500 2749
MCC - Rank 20.png
2750 2999
MCC - Rank 21.png
3000 3249
MCC - Rank 22.png
3250 3499
MCC - Rank 23.png
3500 3749
MCC - Rank 24.png
3750 3999
MCC - Rank 25.png
4000 4249
Rank level Minimum XP Maximum XP
MCC - Rank 26.png
4250 4499
MCC - Rank 27.png
4500 4749
MCC - Rank 28.png
4750 4999
MCC - Rank 29.png
5000 5249
MCC - Rank 30.png
5250 5499
MCC - Rank 31.png
5500 5749
MCC - Rank 32.png
5750 5999
MCC - Rank 33.png
6000 6249
MCC - Rank 34.png
6250 6499
MCC - Rank 35.png
6500 6749
MCC - Rank 36.png
6750 6999
MCC - Rank 37.png
7000 7249
MCC - Rank 38.png
7250 7499
MCC - Rank 39.png
7500 7749
MCC - Rank 40.png
7750 7999
MCC - Rank 41.png
8000 8249
MCC - Rank 42.png
8250 8499
MCC - Rank 43.png
8500 8749
MCC - Rank 44.png
8750 8999
MCC - Rank 45.png
9000 9249
MCC - Rank 46.png
9250 9499
MCC - Rank 47.png
9500 9749
MCC - Rank 48.png
9750 9999
MCC - Rank 49.png
10000 10,249
MCC - Rank 50.png
10,250 1 billion

The 1-50 rank held by a given player determines which players they will match up with in multiplayer matchmaking, by aiming to match players up with similarly-ranked players. The matchup requirements are listed below.[1]

Rank XP gain modifiers[edit]

With the systems listed above, one last consideration is the XP modifiers given by rank. In order to help new players in being able to level up, lower-ranked players are not penalised as hard when losing matches while they are low-leveled. This % value peters off as they level up and by rank 29, is no longer in effect. However, Halo 2's online XP is a zero-sum system, meaning that there is a set amount of XP points available to the entire player population as a whole, and the raw XP gain/loss systems ensure when a player loses against another player, the winning player gains the same amount of XP as lost by the loser. In order to maintain this system, the higher-ranked players begin seeing the opposite affect applied to their wins. Upon reaching rank 42, players will begin earning a lower percentage of the XP they would otherwise earn, with this penalty increasing per-rank, capping out at max-rank players at level 50 only receiving 50% of the XP they earn for a win.[1]

Lower-rank loss-mitigation values Higher-rank win XP loss
Level Loss factor[Note 3] Level Win factor[Note 4]
MCC - Rank 1.png
0%
MCC - Rank 1.png - MCC - Rank 41.png
100%
MCC - Rank 2.png
2.50%
MCC - Rank 42.png
95%
MCC - Rank 3.png
5.00%
MCC - Rank 43.png
90%
MCC - Rank 4.png
7.50%
MCC - Rank 44.png
85%
MCC - Rank 5.png
10.00%
MCC - Rank 45.png
80%
MCC - Rank 6.png
15.00%
MCC - Rank 46.png
70%
MCC - Rank 7.png
20.00%
MCC - Rank 47.png
65%
MCC - Rank 8.png
27.50%
MCC - Rank 48.png
60%
MCC - Rank 9.png
35.00%
MCC - Rank 49.png
55%
MCC - Rank 10.png
[Note 5]
40.00%
50.00%
MCC - Rank 50.png
50%
MCC - Rank 11.png
[Note 5]
45.00%
55.00%
MCC - Rank 12.png
57.50%
MCC - Rank 13.png
60.00%
MCC - Rank 14.png
62.50%
MCC - Rank 15.png
65.00%
MCC - Rank 16.png
67.50%
MCC - Rank 17.png
70.00%
MCC - Rank 18.png
72.50%
MCC - Rank 19.png
75.00%
MCC - Rank 20.png
77.50%
MCC - Rank 21.png
80.00%
MCC - Rank 22.png
82.50%
MCC - Rank 23.png
85.00%
MCC - Rank 24.png
87.50%
MCC - Rank 25.png
90.00%
MCC - Rank 26.png
92.50%
MCC - Rank 27.png
95.00%
MCC - Rank 28.png
97.50%
MCC - Rank 29.png+
100.00%

Additional considerations[edit]

A rank is recorded for every playlist an individual plays in, with the exception of non-ranked gametypes and custom gametypes. There were leader boards for the majority of the playlists, however Bungie removed them because of cheating and hacking problems.[2]

Production notes[edit]

The rank system found in Halo 2 was designed by Halo 2 multiplayer lead Max Hoberman, based on his experiences in the rank systems for Bungie's previous game, Myth. In Myth, players were able to achieve up to twenty-five ranks in multiplayer play, each with a unique name and icon with the highest rank being the "Comet". Due to how fun and addictive he considered the system, Hoberman knew he wanted to implement a similar feature for Halo 2. Hoberman was suggested by designer Michael Evans to look at the Elo rating system used in Chess tournaments, which starts all players in the middle of the ranking scale and moves them up or down depending on their successes and failures. Hoberman liked this system, but wanted to preserve the element of progression from Myth, and decided to try and combine the two. Hoberman's intent was to create a system like Elo, in which players gain or lose ranks by exchanging points in matches, while also having a flat progression scale from 0-25. Hoberman designed a specification for the system largely arbitrarily, and ultimately was able to implement the feature relatively hassle-free.[3]

To test the system, Hoberman wrote an article for distribution internally at Bungie and Microsoft, detailing in-depth how the system worked in a hope that crafty players would be able to analyse the system and find ways to break it. This testing included an open letter sent to all employees, offering any player who could break the rank system free Bungie merchandise and the chance to have part of one of Halo 2's multiplayer maps named after them (among 10 other prize categories) - though no employee was able to claim this prize. Nonetheless, the launch of Halo 2 soon found issues with the system due to the unexpected prevalence of cheaters and hackers using fake Xbox LIVE accounts. The article written by Hoberman was later published on Bungie.net, and remained online until the site's shutdown in 2021.[3]

A look at various iterations for the multiplayer rank icons in Halo 2.
Various iterations for Halo 2's multiplayer rank icons, as recovered by the Digsite project.[4] The raw icons for these ranks can be downloaded from the Digsite Halo 2 GitHub repo.

The rank icons for the rank system were designed by David Candland. In the original mockups, there were only 25 ranks (a holdover from the Myth ranks), each represented by an icon of the various Halo universe species such as Grunts, Jackals, Elites and the final rank being a Prophet.[3] The icons as of July 2004 include the following ranks:[4]

By August 2004,[4] the number of ranks had been doubled to 50, all bearing a shield background with a simple number. This was done due to the Covenant-based ranks being unclear during internal discussions, with questions about the Covenant's ranking system brought up. For example, when the Changing of the Guard occurs later in Halo 2's campaign, the Brutes are promoted to replace the Elites in the Covenant, meaning they would now technically "outrank" Elites - something that the Covenant-based multiplayer ranks would not be able to account for.[5] Hoberman also intended to ship the ranks with unique identifying names to help foster more communication and easy recognition of the ranks, though ultimately was unable to do so after increasing the rank count from 25 to 50 - finding it infeasible to come up with so many unique names. However, such a system would later return in the rank system created for 2010's Halo: Reach. A month later in September 2004, the system seen in the final game was created, with the final seven ranks retaining unique iconography.[4] In the final system, rank 49 is represented by comet - a nod to the original Myth system in which the top-ranked player was "The Comet".[3]

Trivia[edit]

  • The fact that the last seven ranks are different from the previous ones is an obvious reference to Bungie's favorite number, 7.
  • The last seven ranks of Halo: Reach are loosely based off of the last seven ranks of this system.

External links[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b These values apply to the player of the higher level per-matchup.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b These values apply to the player of the lower level per-matchup.
  3. ^ % of XP lost for a loss.
  4. ^ % of XP gained for a victory.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b The original Bungie-provided stat table listed here lists two values for ranks 10 and 11. It is unknown which value is correct, so both have been listed for clarity.

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h Bungie.net, Halo 2 Stats Overview (Retrieved on Dec 2, 2014) [archive]
  2. ^ Bungie.net, Farewell to Leaderboards (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Halo 2: Artifacts, Episode 2 - The Social Revolution (50:00)
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k Twitter, zeddikins (@zeddikins): "Over at #Digsite we've uncovered a couple earlier iterations of Halo 2's rank icons, and today I'd like to share them. There could have been more throughout development, but this is just what we've found." (Retrieved on Mar 16, 2024) [archive]
  5. ^ Twitter, David Candland (@drcandland): "Ah yes. Had to move to numbers since ranks weren’t super clear. Do Elites outrank Brutes? Depends where you are in the campaign." (Retrieved on Mar 16, 2024) [archive]