2025 Season Rank System Updates

As the MRCA continues to grow and improve, we are making several updates to our ELO ranking system to enhance its accuracy, fairness, and manageability. These changes are based on feedback from our community and an in-depth review of our current system.

1. Simplified ELO Calculations

We will now only consider wins and losses in ELO calculations. Previously, judge's decision wins and losses were also factored into the rankings. However, after analyzing the differences between the two systems, we found that removing judge's decisions has a negligible impact on rankings. This change significantly reduces the administrative burden for Event Organizers (EOs) and simplifies record-keeping as our community continues to expand.

2. Forfeits Count as Losses

Forfeits will now be counted as a loss in the ELO system. MRCA events are competitive and sought after, and we expect competitors to come prepared with sufficient spares to keep their robots operational for all scheduled fights. While tactical forfeits are still allowed, they will result in a point deduction this season. This ensures that the opponent being forfeited to receives the same benefit in points as if the fight had taken place.

3. Name Changes No Longer Reset Rankings

Effective immediately, name changes intended to reset a robot’s rank will not be permitted. If a robot closely resembles a prior entry of yours, its ranking will carry over. The ELO score associated with the old name will transfer to the new name, ensuring consistency and fairness in the rankings.

4. Minimum Fight Requirement for Displayed Rank

To ensure the accuracy of our ranking system, we are introducing a minimum fight requirement for a rank to be displayed. It often takes several fights to accurately determine a robot's performance. For the 2025 season, each robot must complete a minimum of five fights over its lifetime to have a displayed rank and be eligible for Finals. This fight count does not reset between seasons and will help provide a clearer picture of each robot’s skill level.

We believe these updates will streamline the ranking process, reduce administrative overhead, and promote fairness in our competitions. Thank you for your continued support and participation in the MRCA. We’re looking forward to an exciting 2025 season!