VALORANT Introduces Global VCT Power Rankings

Global Power Rankings is a data-driven system powered by Amazon Web Services that rates every VCT International League team worldwide.

It measures regional strength in a scene where most matches are played within regions, providing a clear and transparent snapshot of the global landscape that adds depth to debates about which teams are stronger.

For Pick’Ems, GPR predictions serve as the chalk. Strong GPR performance suggests results are aligning with expectations, while poor performance signals upsets.

Rankings update daily, so hot or cold streaks during Champions can shift positions from one day to the next.

About the model

An Elo framework that blends team Elo with league-specific Elo proved most accurate. After testing with VCT experts, an 80 to 20 weighting between Team Elo and League Elo delivered the best predictive results.

Power Score formula

Power Score = x × Team Elo + y × League Elo

Here, x and y are the weights for Team Elo and League Elo.

Core factors driving GPR

• Elo based: Wins over higher rated opponents yield larger gains, while losses to lower rated opponents create larger drops.

• Recency bias: Recent matches carry more weight to better reflect current form.

• International bonus: Wins at Masters and Champions count more, while losses count slightly less to avoid over-penalizing teams at global events.

• Regional strength: A region’s aggregate results at global events contribute 20 percent of each team’s Power Score, helping align ratings between stronger and weaker regions.

• Stakes matter: Playoff matches affect ratings more than regular season or Swiss stage matches in both ILs and global events.

Additional features with lighter impact

• Round score: Margin of victory matters, so a 13 to 0 win moves ratings more than a 13 to 11 win, while match outcomes remain the primary driver.

• Attack and defense performance: Unexpected round wins against the map’s side bias provide a small boost.

• Eco and buy rounds: Surprising wins in low buy or eco situations provide a small boost using simplified credit thresholds.

This approach is a first step toward an objective global measure that compares teams across regions with confidence.

Looking ahead to 2026

• More granular eco and situational performance data

• Player level power rankings that roll up into team ratings

• Dynamic K factors that reflect team stakes, such as already qualifying for Champions or elimination from playoff contention

Community and expert feedback will guide further tuning and long-term improvements.