FACEIT has shown how the ELO reset will work before the launch of Season 9. The new system should be softer for most players, but at the same time it will affect the highest ratings more strongly in order to contain ELO inflation at the top of the ladder.
The main change is that the reset now takes into account not only the current rating, but also the player’s form. The last 50 matches, win rate, and FACEIT Rating will be considered. In other words, the start of the new season will depend not only on how much ELO a player had at the end of Season 8, but also on how the player actually performed before the reset.
How the reset will work in Season 9
Season 9 starts on August 5, and before its launch, players will receive an updated ELO distribution. According to FACEIT’s explanation, for most users the reset will be lighter than in Season 8. This means that many players should not lose too much rating if they were active and showed a stable level.
At the same time, the system has become more dependent on individual form. If a player had at least 20 wins in Season 8 and also has good stats over the last 50 matches, their reset may be softer. In some cases, strong placement matches may even give them a chance to start the new season higher than expected.
This is an important change, because previously the reset was often perceived as an almost mechanical rating drop. Now it looks more like a recalculation of position based on the player’s current strength.
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The highest ELO will be affected more strongly
The harshest reset awaits players with more than 3500 ELO. For this category, FACEIT directly states that the reset will always be serious. The logic is simple: the top of the ladder needs to remain competitive, otherwise the gap between the top accounts and the rest of the players becomes too large.
This decision is primarily aimed against rating inflation. If the strongest players keep accumulating more and more ELO every season, the very top of the table gradually loses balance. That is why Season 9 keeps a harsher threshold for top players, even if their form was good.
Activity in Season 8 will matter
Separate emphasis was placed on the number of wins in Season 8. If a player has 20 or more wins, the system will look at their performance — meaning FACEIT Rating, win rate, and placement stats. If this activity is missing, the reset will be harsher regardless of ELO level.
This can be read as an attempt to separate active players from those who simply preserved their rating. For active users, the reset should be fairer because the system can see their current form. For inactive or low-activity players, on the contrary, the rollback will be larger.
This is especially interesting for players below 2001 ELO. If they showed strong form, they may even receive a better starting position. If their form is average, the reset will be very light. In other words, for most mid- and lower-level players, Season 9 should not feel like a painful drop.
Why this system looks more logical
The new approach makes the reset less crude. Instead of simply lowering everyone according to one scheme, the system tries to take context into account: who played actively, who was winning, who showed a good rating, and who simply held ELO without enough matches.
For players, this means several important things:
- the last 50 matches before the reset now have real weight;
- win rate and FACEIT Rating may affect the start in Season 9;
- top ELO will be reset more strongly;
- low and mid levels will receive a softer reset;
- inactive players may drop more noticeably.
As a result, the system should punish those who are genuinely playing well less and clean up inflated ratings more in places where they have accumulated without current confirmation of form.
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The new season will start from a fairer point
starts on August 5, and the main idea of the new reset looks quite clear: most players will receive a softer reset, but the top of the ranking will be cleaned up more strongly to preserve competition.
This is not a full reset and not a harsh punishment for everyone. On the contrary, the system now looks more at the player’s real form. Therefore, for active users with good recent matches, Season 9 may become a chance to start confidently, while for top players it will be a new stage in the fight to prove their level.