If this system fails, the game becomes a frustrating, unplayable mess that bleeds players instantly.
While this conspiracy theory is widespread, the reality is much more mundane and focused entirely on mathematical fairness.
How You Are Ranked
Most modern strategy games utilize a modified version of the Elo rating system, originally designed for professional chess.
This is why winning streaks inevitably end in a ‘wall’ of difficult matches; the system is functioning exactly as intended.
- Understand that a 50% win rate is normal.
- Patience is required.
- Losing streaks are also self-correcting.
The Free-to-Play Dilemma
The standard Elo system works perfectly for chess because all pieces are equal, but tower rush games feature upgradeable cards.
To combat this, developers have implemented secondary checks that look at the player’s King Tower level.
| Algorithm Check | Weight |
|---|---|
| Elo Rating | Absolute Highest Priority |
| Upgrade Status | The system tries to match levels, but will abandon this check if the queue takes longer than 10 seconds |
True Fairness
Because the ladder algorithm must balance queue times against fairness, it will never be perfectly balanced.
Trust the math, ignore the conspiracy theories, and focus on improving your own gameplay.