Fortnite has consistently evolved its competitive modes, with Arena and Ranked being the two most well-known. Each mode has had its own strengths and weaknesses, contributing to the ongoing debate about which was better for players seeking a competitive experience. Let's dive into a detailed comparison.
There are few debates in Fortnite as big as the age-old question: Arena or Ranked? We break down the main differences and give our opinion on the matter!
1. Format
1.1 Arena
Arena mode was first introduced in Chapter 1 Season 8 in March 2019, and lasted until Chapter 4 Season 2 last May. The Arena format was quite simple. It featured 10 divisions divided into three leagues. The first four divisions were called the Open League, the next three the Contender League, and the last three the Champion League. It was quite easy to understand how the scoring system worked. To move up to another division, you needed Hype Points, which were earned by killing people and getting good rankings.
While the Open League was accessible and forgiving (no bus fare), the Contender and Champion Leagues were highly competitive (with bus fare).
1.2 Ranked
After Arena was removed last year, it was immediately replaced by the new Ranked mode. It was divided into 8 different ranks: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Elite, Champion, and Unreal. Advancement is based on percentage points, which are gained or lost depending on the game's performance. However, the exact criteria for the points are unclear, making the system less transparent than Arena.
Conclusion: Arena's straightforward point system makes it easier to understand and track progress, while Ranked's opaque percentage system can be confusing. Thus, Arena wins in terms of format simplicity and clarity.
2. Endgames
The reason why endgames are such an important criterion in this debate is because playing endgames is one of the best practice to be better prepared for tournaments.
2.1 Arena
Initially, Arena offered highly competitive and stacked endgames, providing excellent practice for tournaments. However, over time, the focus shifted towards kills, reducing the quality of endgames.
By the end of Arena's run, endgames had deteriorated, resembling the less competitive environment of Ranked.
2.2 Ranked
Unfortunately, the Ranked system struggles to replicate the intense endgame scenarios necessary for FNCS and Cash Cup practice, often featuring fewer players in the final zones. As in the final phase of Arena, most players in Ranked mode are more interested in kills and don't have the patience to wait for a proper and stacked endgame.
Conclusion: Despite its decline, Arena provided better endgame practice, particularly in its early days, making it the better choice for practicing high-stakes scenarios.
3. Practice Fights, Aim, Builds, Mechanics
3.1 Arena
If you wanted to improve your fighting skills, you used to go to Creative and compete with other opponents on 1v1 or Boxfight maps. Arena mode was more of a second choice back then. Unfortunately it suffered from a significant skill disparity due to a smaller player base. Players with vastly different Hype points could end up in the same match, reducing the quality of practice.
3.2 Ranked
Ranked mode offers a varied experience for practice, heavily influenced by the season's meta. For example, the availability of vehicles and other mobility in certain seasons allowed players to disengage from fights, hindering combat practice. However, without such mobility options, players could improve their fighting skills more effectively.
Conclusion: Despite some drawbacks, Ranked mode generally offers better opportunities for practicing fights and mechanics, especially in seasons without excessive mobility options.
4. Siphon
4.1 Arena
Just like in tournaments, the Siphon Mechanic was also available in Arena mode back then. It provided health or shield upon eliminating an opponent, promoting aggressive play and rewarding skillful engagements. This feature encouraged dynamic and fast-paced gameplay.
4.2 Ranked
When the Ranked mode came out, however, this feature was removed from the game and nobody really knows why. Neither the pros nor the normal Ranked players are enthusiastic about it and would like to have Siphon back.
Without this mechanic, players are less incentivized to engage in fights, leading to more conservative gameplay.
Conclusion: Arena's Siphon mechanic significantly enhanced the competitive experience, making it the clear winner in this category.
5. How Hard is it to Level Up?
5.1 Arena
During Arena, kills were heavily rewarded, making it easier for players focused on eliminations to climb ranks. This led to a somewhat skewed competitive landscape where aggressive play was disproportionately favored.
5.2 Ranked
The difficulty in ranking up fluctuates with player base size and system adjustments. For instance, during the OG Fornite Season, reaching Unreal rank was easier due to more lenient placement points. Even the popular figure in the Fortnite Community, Bush Camp Dad, made a whole career by just camping in a bush.
But this year, it was much more difficult to reach a higher rank. On the one hand, this is due to the fact that player numbers have dropped significantly again after OG Fortnite, meaning that more good players are still playing the game than bad ones, and because of Epic Games' recent nerfs to placement points.
Conclusion: Ranked mode's recent adjustments make it a more challenging and rewarding environment for progression, especially with the current emphasis on skillful play over mere aggression.
6. Loot pool
6.1 Arena
To the delight of most players, the Arena loot pool matched the loot pool of tournaments, providing a consistent and balanced experience tailored for competitive play.
6.2 Ranked
Ranked initially used the public Battle Royale loot pool, which many players found less balanced and competitive. However, an update is currently testing the tournament loot pool in Ranked mode, with this test running until July 18th.
Conclusion: Historically, Arena had the advantage with a competitive loot pool that mirrored tournaments, but if the ongoing test for Ranked mode becomes permanent, this could balance the scales.
Verdict
In summary, while Arena mode was better in terms of format simplicity, early endgame quality, and aggressive gameplay incentives through the siphon mechanic, Ranked mode provides better fight practice and a more challenging progression system. The ongoing test to align the loot pool with tournaments could further enhance Ranked mode, potentially making it a popular game mode again, despite the current hype of Fortnite Reload.