The ranked ladder in any competitive video game is far more than just a test of mechanical skill. Climbing requires three core pillars: knowledge, mechanics, and information combined with an ironclad competitive mindset, patience, and resolve. You must be able to take the good and the bad, and still make something out of the match. Furthermore, be aware that the player base for ranked games is often smaller, which can amplify volatility.
At the end of the season, things are always messy. Players have left or quit after hitting their desired rank, and the process of climbing can be painful. This reminds me of one painful, recurring truth: You must carry your way out of the lower ranks.
The single common factor in every game is YOU. If you sit and wait for good teammates, you are not going to climb; you are hoping to be carried up. The climbing path requires you to reduce your mistakes and pull yourself higher.
