The Harsh Realities of Rage Quitting: What’s the Penalty for Leaving Ranked Rainbow Six Siege?

Leaving a ranked match in Rainbow Six Siege is a surefire way to earn the ire of your teammates and the swift hammer of the game’s penalty system. The penalties are multifaceted and designed to discourage this behavior, ranging from temporary matchmaking bans to potential season-long suspensions and a hit to your hard-earned Renown. Essentially, ditching your team mid-match isn’t just bad sportsmanship; it’s a punishable offense with consequences that can significantly impact your ranked experience.

The Immediate Penalties for Abandoning Ship

When you bail on a ranked game, here’s what you can expect right off the bat:

• Matchmaking Suspension: You’ll be temporarily banned from queuing for both Ranked and Unranked matches. The duration of this ban increases with each subsequent offense.
• Renown Penalty: During your suspension, you’ll suffer a -50% penalty to all Renown earned. This means you’ll be grinding twice as hard to unlock operators, attachments, and cosmetics.
• Rank and MMR Loss: You’ll take a hit to your Rank and Matchmaking Rating (MMR) as if you had lost the match. This can set you back significantly in your climb to higher ranks.

Escalating Consequences: The More You Leave, the Worse It Gets

The severity of the penalty system ramps up the more frequently you abandon ranked matches. Think of it as a point system accumulating against your account:

• First Offense: A short matchmaking suspension, typically around 30 minutes.
• Repeated Offenses: The suspension duration increases to 1 hour, 2 hours, 24 hours, and eventually 72 hours. Furthermore, continuous offenses can earn you a Ranked Restriction. This restriction will prevent you from joining the Ranked solo/duo or flex queues until you’ve completed enough games in eligible modes.
• Season-Long Ban: Accumulating a certain number of points (usually around 5) through repeated leaving can result in a ban from ranked play for the remainder of the season or two months, whichever is longer.
• Permanent Ban: In extreme cases of habitual or egregious leaving, your account could face a permanent ban.

Why These Penalties Exist

These penalties aren’t just arbitrary punishments; they’re in place to protect the integrity of the Rainbow Six Siege ranked experience. Leaving a ranked match negatively impacts everyone involved:

• Ruined Matches: A missing player puts the remaining teammates at a significant disadvantage, often leading to a guaranteed loss.
• Ranked Integrity: Frequent leaving skews the matchmaking system and makes it difficult for players to accurately climb the ranks.
• Negative Experience: Leaving creates a frustrating and demoralizing experience for the players who are committed to playing the match to the end.

Understanding Ranked Restrictions

Ranked Restrictions are another layer of punishment designed to curb habitual leaving and AFK behavior. They prevent you from joining the ranked queue until you’ve demonstrated a commitment to playing matches through to completion in other game modes. Details on the number of matches required and eligible modes can be found in the game’s Ranked Restrictions FAQ.

The Importance of Staying Connected

Connectivity issues can happen to anyone, and the game does try to differentiate between intentional leaving and unintentional disconnections. However, frequent disconnections can still trigger the penalty system. If you’re experiencing persistent connectivity problems, it’s crucial to troubleshoot your internet connection and game settings to minimize the chances of being penalized.

Can You Escape the Penalty?

Generally, there’s no way to instantly remove a matchmaking ban. The penalty is automatically lifted after the designated time period has elapsed. However, if you believe you were unfairly penalized due to a server issue or other technical problem, you can contact Ubisoft Support to appeal the ban. Be prepared to provide evidence to support your claim.

The Elo System and Abandoning

Abandoning a game doesn’t just impact your immediate Rank; it also affects your Elo, the underlying matchmaking rating system. Leaving will give you the same Elo loss as a lost game. While some players might attempt to leave to protect their Win/Loss stats, abandoning the game will still count as a loss on the permanent profile rank W/L stats.

Team Killing and Leaving

Team killing can also result in bans that prevent you from playing ranked. The system has been improved to detect intentional team killing, and penalties escalate with repeated offenses, mirroring the leaving penalties. Under the new system, teamkilling gives the offender a 30-minute ban that locks them out of all matchmaking, including Casual, Ranked, and Terrorist Hunt. Subsequent offenses will lock out the teamkiller for one hour, two hours, 24 hours, and then a full week.

Finding Fair Play

In conclusion, the penalties for leaving ranked matches in Rainbow Six Siege are substantial and intended to foster a more competitive and enjoyable experience for everyone. Playing as part of a team, working together, and respecting your fellow players will always be the best way to fully enjoy the game. If you’re interested in learning more about gaming and social responsibility, consider visiting the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Will I lose RP even if my internet cuts out unexpectedly?

Yes, unfortunately. The game often cannot distinguish between an intentional leave and a disconnection. Therefore, if you disconnect from a ranked game, you will likely receive the same RP loss as if you had intentionally left. That’s why it’s important to have a stable internet connection.

2. How long does the ban from ranked last for a first-time offense?

The initial ban is usually around 30 minutes. This is a relatively short period meant to deter players from leaving without severely impacting their playtime if it was a genuine accident.

3. What happens if all 5 players on a team leave simultaneously?

In the rare event that an entire team leaves a ranked match, the opposing team will be awarded the victory. Each player who left will receive the standard leaving penalties.

4. Can I still play other game modes while banned from ranked?

Yes, while serving a ranked suspension, you can still play Quick Match, Unranked, Custom Games, and Terrorist Hunt. The ban specifically restricts access to the ranked matchmaking queue.

5. Does leaving an Unranked game incur a penalty?

Yes, leaving an Unranked game also incurs a penalty, although typically less severe than leaving a Ranked game. You’ll still likely face a matchmaking suspension and potentially a Renown penalty.

6. Is there a way to appeal a ranked ban?

Yes, if you believe you were unfairly banned (e.g., due to server issues), you can contact Ubisoft Support and submit an appeal. Provide as much evidence as possible to support your claim.

7. How does the Renown penalty work?

The -50% Renown penalty means that you will only earn half the Renown you normally would for completing matches or challenges. This penalty is active for the duration of your matchmaking suspension.

8. What is the difference between a Ranked Restriction and a Ranked Ban?

A Ranked Restriction prevents you from queuing for specific ranked playlists (e.g., solo/duo queue). A Ranked Ban prevents you from queuing for any ranked playlist entirely.

9. Do I lose my rank even if we are losing?

Yes, you still lose your rank, though in this case the elo loss might be slightly less than when leaving in the middle of a winning match.

10. How long do I have to wait until the Elo penalty is over?

The Elo penalty is instantly administered as soon as you leave the match. You do not have to wait.

11. Does getting kicked from the game due to inactivity count as leaving?

Yes, if you are kicked from a ranked game due to inactivity (going AFK), it will be treated the same as intentionally leaving, and you will receive the corresponding penalties.

12. Can I get permanently banned for leaving if it’s always because of technical issues?

While Ubisoft Support might consider technical issues in an appeal, frequent disconnections will still likely lead to escalating penalties. It is ultimately your responsibility to ensure a stable connection.

13. What if a teammate disconnects, can we leave without penalty then?

No, regardless of whether a teammate has disconnected, leaving the match yourself will still incur a penalty. The game does not make exceptions based on other players’ actions.

14. Does the ranked split reset affect leaver penalties?

No, the mid-season rank split does not reset your leaver penalty counter. The system tracks your leaving behavior across the entire season.

15. Where can I find more information about the Ranked Restrictions FAQ?

This can be found within the game’s help section or on Ubisoft’s official support website. Search for “Rainbow Six Siege Ranked Restrictions FAQ” to access the most up-to-date information.