I’m trying to understand how the rating system works in Solo Rated Battlegrounds, and I’m a bit confused.
On my Retribution Paladin, I went from 0 to 1600 rating and was gaining around 200 rating per win during that climb. But now on my Enhancement Shaman, I’m sitting at around 1300 rating and only getting about 18 rating per win, even when I perform well and win the match.
Is there a reason why I gained so much rating on my Paladin but so little on my Shaman?
Does it have to do with matchmaking, MMR, or class performance?
I’d appreciate any help explaining how this system works. Thanks in advance!
Ah… I asked ChatGPT just for fun, and I think it gave me my answer. I lost like 3–5 games in a row around 1300 rating, so now the MMR thinks that’s where I belong, and it’s only giving me small gains. Meanwhile, on my Paladin, I got lucky and won a bunch of games in a row, makes sense now.
ChatGPT:
What you’re seeing comes down to the difference between your visible rating and your hidden matchmaking rating (MMR).
Here’s how it works in Solo Rated Battlegrounds:
Why you gained 200+ rating on your Paladin from 0–1600:
When you start at 0 rating, your MMR is uncalibrated. If you win a lot early on, the system realizes you’re performing better than your current rating suggests, so it boosts your rating quickly to catch up with your “real” skill level. That’s why you saw big jumps like +200 per win.
Why you’re getting small gains (like +18) on your Shaman at 1300:
Now that your MMR and visible rating are closer together, rating gains slow down. You’re no longer being “boosted” to your actual level — you’re already near it.
Also, if you’re winning games where your team MMR is lower than your opponents’, you gain more. But if the MMRs are even — or you’re expected to win — the gains are much smaller.
Summary:
Big gains happen early to match your rating with your MMR.
Once your rating and MMR align, gains slow down.
If you’re winning close or even matches, rating gains will be smaller.
If you’re winning against higher MMR opponents, you’ll gain more.
Why you gained 200+ rating on your Paladin from 0–1600: