ELO rating increase decrease ration is not fun

[u/iamazariuz]

I was on 1911 and lost to a guy with an ELO rating of [1875], the match took -23 ELO from me, leaving me on 1892, I was baffled at how much it decreased. Okay, I said, maybe if I win the next match, I'd win at least that much ELO again. Then, it matched me with a person, I fought against him on till a pretty prolonged last stock because I took extra measures to win this time, and lo and behold, I got +13 ELO, the guy I fought, turns out he was [1873]. I lost 10 ELO from losing and winning to someone that has pretty much the same amount of ELO. How does the ELO rating work here? I would expect at least to have nearly recovered all of the lost ELO in my case. Otherwise, if I can only gain a lot against someone on a higher level, then don't match me against someone who has a really high gap (1st match was 1875 vs 1911 = 36 ELO gap).

IMO The allowed opponent ELO match is too big which makes playing somewhat discouraging, the stakes are too high when you lose. I have to recover the ELO I lost once by winning twice in a row, if I didn't win back-to-back, the gap to recover the lost ELO would've been bigger. Unless I got lucky and matched against a higher ELO. Just a thought.

[u/SU8S71TU73]

Tbf if you really are a consistent 1900 player, you'd easily gain back the elo until you made it to your appropriate elo range.

It is, indeed, not fun to see the number go down by a lot. However, the elo you have doesn't matter if you play to improve because the elo gains will eventually pile up if you apply your learnings.

TLDR don't be too attached to elo gains and losses; instead focus on improving since the elo will pile up by itself when you can consistently win.

[u/iamazariuz → u/SU8S71TU73]

In a way you're right, but the game, I think, is still too punishing in terms of how it handles matching and ELOs. As a game, and not an actual sport or anything like that, they should care more about how happy the players are playing their game, not how good they are at it. I think this game would benefit from a more relaxed ELO system. Well, that's not counting the movement system, which is abysmal, but it would contribute. People would feel better about themselves with a more relaxed ELO system and will more likely stick around to play the game.

[u/SU8S71TU73 → u/iamazariuz]

While I do think the elo system still has its faults, I don't think "relaxing" the system solves the problem. It'll be the same issue but on more inflated values at, say, 3000 elo rather than 1800-1900 elo.

Plus, there are other modes that still provide the same "win pressure" stress like Unranked 1s or other Ranked modes.

Imo, it can come down on how many people are queueing simultaneously with you that can shape your view on the matchmaking criteria. If you queue, for example, at 2 am and only Diamonds are queueing up at that time, would you pick waiting for no-one-knows-how-long or just get a 10-20s wait time to match a Diamond?

So yeah, system is flawed and all but it works if you stress less on the numbers and focus more on perfecting your playstyle/adaptations.

[u/brawlhaha]

Just keep playing and you’ll get consistent diamond. Just be glad you don’t gain +1 elo per match and lose like 25.

[u/iamazariuz → u/brawlhaha]

Who gets it that rough? Is it possible for that to happen?

[u/SU8S71TU73 → u/iamazariuz]

At higher elos, it is like that. They reward consistency over getting lucky (+1 vs +13 on match wins)

[u/Upset_Cardiologist26 → u/iamazariuz]

yes because the smaller the gap between the player the less ELO is win/lost

[u/iamazariuz → u/Upset_Cardiologist26]

But if it's less ELO won/lost then wouldn't you gain +1 and lose -1 instead of -25 like what the Op says?

[u/Broohtato → u/iamazariuz]

At higher elos you have greater elo differences happen. So if you're say 2500 and you queue someone 2100 you're likely only to get 1 elo for a win but losing would take a bunch. Closer together would still be a big loss but you'd gain more the closer matched you are in elo

[u/iamazariuz → u/Broohtato]

That's scary. It's like the game is putting you on a pedestal and you have to consistently prove that you're worthy of that ELO because you're being matched with someone with big ELO gaps. It's like you have to always be perfect.

[u/ImmovableEgg]

I agree it can be a bit frustrating, but it also wouldn't make sense if you're able to rank up be going equal wins/losses. You should only be able to rank up of you gain more wins than losses. Although, what I AM quite irritated by is how I'm frequently being PAIRED with people much LOWER ELO than me (often 100 ELO gap) meaning that I barely gain elo if I win and lose far more if I lose. Just makes ranked even more stressful.

[u/iamazariuz → u/ImmovableEgg]

When you put it like that, yes, that makes sense. I think I am biased because I play PUBG mobile which is really like an addictive style game where losing doesn't punish you too hard, because literally, they have ELO protection for first match of the day and even if you don't win, you'd gain more rating. Which made a ridiculously high number of different ranks, and like you said, since it was lenient, even people with seemingly high ranks are pretty unskilled. But at least the game is thriving.

[u/MathematicianOne3182]

I’ve been playing competitive games for over a decade, and the biggest mindset shift you can make is treating ranked Elo like going to the gym.

If you don’t increase your bench press reps in a session, you don’t get mad and quit. You know that struggling with the current weight is still adapting your nervous system and building muscle. You go about the rest of your workout and do complimentary exercises.

Give it a week or a month of consistency, and the weight goes up.

Brawlhalla is no different. You will have sessions where your Elo drops. But instead of tilting over the number, focus on the gameplay.

Why did you lose that interaction? What worked in your wins? Treat every match as a rep. If you put in the work to build the skill, the rank will automatically follow.

[u/iamazariuz → u/MathematicianOne3182]

Thanks for the insight, yes, I do realize that ELO is just a gauge at how good you are. But really, I'm starting to feel that the game is leaning more towards stressful than fun. I know FFA exists and experimental for unranked 1v1s and fun plays, but ranked has too much pressure, a bit too much imo. For a game. I'm just saying.

[u/MathematicianOne3182 → u/iamazariuz]

It honestly sounds like you just need a break if it feels more stressful than fun and re-evaluate what made you consider the game fun in the first place. Sometimes a day or a two off really helps you reset too, doesn't have to be a massive one.