With Apex Legends Season 31 (Cipher), which starts November 3, 2026, Ranked follows new rules. A match's entry cost can go up or down depending on the gap between your squad and the lobby, and some Legends can be banned in Diamond+ matches. If you lose more RP than expected, your usual Legend is unavailable, or the Road to Ranked challenges have disappeared, it isn't a bug: these changes are described in EA's patch notes. This guide explains how to recognize each situation and what you can do about it.
Problem
- The entry cost shown for a Ranked match is higher than usual, or lower.
- A "Goliath" or "Challenger" message appears before the match.
- Your Legend can't be selected in a Diamond+ match.
- The Road to Ranked challenges no longer appear.
What to know before you act
- Squad Tier: according to EA, it's calculated from the average RP of the squad members. In a premade squad (you queued together), all members are counted with the RP of the member who has the most.
- Lobby Tier: it's the median of all Squad Tiers in the match.
- Challenger match: the entry cost is reduced by 30% when your squad is 2 or more tiers below the Lobby Tier.
- Goliath match: the entry cost is increased by 50% when your squad is 2 or more tiers above the Lobby Tier.
- Missing teammate: if a teammate never connects, your Squad Tier is decreased by one full tier.
- EA says these gaps should be rare and mostly happen outside peak hours, when matchmaking widens its criteria.
Step 1: identify the match type before playing
When to use it: the entry cost looks abnormal.
Suggested solution
- Look at the Ranked Waiting for Players screen. According to EA, it now shows the Squad Tier, the Lobby Tier, the current entry cost and the match type.
- Check whether a Goliath or Challenger message appears. EA says it's shown on the Waiting for Players screen and again when you exit the dropship.
- During the match, open the inventory menu, then the new "Ranked" tab. It shows the entry cost, the RP goals (covering your entry cost, promoting to the next division), the scoring rules and, when relevant, your demotion protection status.
Expected result: you know whether the match is a normal, Goliath or Challenger match, and how much RP you need to break even.
Step 2: limit Goliath matches
When to use it: you often land in Goliath matches and lose RP.
Suggested solution
- Queue as a premade squad with this in mind: if you invite a much lower-ranked friend, they're counted with your RP. Your squad therefore stays at the level of its highest-ranked member.
- Avoid off-peak hours if you can. EA explains that very unbalanced lobbies mostly appear when player counts are low.
- Adapt your game plan: in a Goliath match, the entry cost is higher from the start. Check the "Ranked" tab to see how much RP you need for a positive balance.
Expected result: fewer Goliath matches, or Goliath matches played knowing what you need to reach.
When to stop: EA's notes don't describe any option to decline a Goliath match once it's found. Your levers are your squad composition and when you play.
Step 3: understand demotion protection
When to use it: you're worried about dropping a rank after a Goliath match.
Suggested solution
- According to EA's roadmap, protection kicks in if you're at risk of being demoted after a single match, for example after a Goliath match.
- Once active, it gives you three Demotion Shields. Each time you lose enough RP to be demoted, a shield is used. You're only demoted once all three shields are gone.
- Protection ends when you earn enough RP that you can no longer be demoted in a single match, or when you're demoted after using all your shields.
- Its status is shown in the "Ranked" tab of the inventory menu.
Expected result: you know how many tough matches you can absorb before a demotion.
Step 4: prepare for Legend bans (Diamond+)
When to use it: your Legend is greyed out during selection, in a match with Diamond or higher players.
Suggested solution
- Before Legend selection, each player can request a ban on one Legend.
- A Legend's chance of being banned equals its share of the requests. For example, a Legend that gets 80% of requests has an 80% chance of being banned in the first random pick. The system currently bans 2 Legends.
- If fewer than 4 unique Legends are requested, the system adds Legends from the most played of the previous week, so that at least 4 Legends can be drawn.
- Banned Legends can't be picked for that match. Keep at least two backup Legends you're comfortable with, especially if you main a very popular Legend.
Expected result: a banned Legend no longer catches you off guard, and you can vote strategically.
Step 5: access Ranked without the Road to Ranked challenges
When to use it: you're looking for the Road to Ranked challenges and can't find them.
Suggested solution
- According to EA's roadmap for Season 31, the Road to Ranked challenges are removed. Access to Ranked once again only requires Account Level 20.
- If Ranked stays locked, check your account level in game.
- EA says this threshold may still be adjusted. If in doubt, check the latest patch notes.
Expected result: Ranked is available from Account Level 20.
Special cases
| Situation | What to know |
|---|---|
| A random teammate never connected | Your Squad Tier drops by one full tier, which can change the match type. |
| You queue as a premade duo with a Bronze friend while you're Platinum | Your friend is counted with your RP: the squad is judged at Platinum level. |
| The game mode switched from Wildcard to Ranked on its own | EA says it fixed this bug in the Cipher update. |
| You're waiting for the weekly ladders | According to EA's notes, Ladder 1 runs November 10–15, 2026, then a new ladder starts each week, up to Ladder 5 (December 8–13, 2026). |
Final check
- ☐ The match type (normal, Goliath, Challenger) was read on the Waiting for Players screen.
- ☐ The "Ranked" tab of the inventory menu was checked during the match.
- ☐ The premade squad accounts for the RP gap between its members.
- ☐ At least two backup Legends are ready for Diamond+ matches.
- ☐ The account has reached level 20 if Ranked stays locked.
Sources
- EA: Apex Legends: Cipher Patch Notes (November 2, 2026)
- EA: Apex Legends: Ranked Roadmap (October 20, 2026)
Still having the problem?
Reply in this topic with your platform, your current rank, whether you play solo or in a premade squad (and the rank gap with your friends), the match type shown (Goliath, Challenger or none), and the entry cost and RP change you saw. Never post your EA ID, email address or password.