Season 4 Rankings (2025)
- Beetleweight Rankings
- Antweight Rankings
Season 3 Rankings (2024)
Season 2 Rankings (2023)
How the MRCA Ranking System Works
The Midwest Combat Robot Association (MRCA) uses an ELO ranking system to track robot performance and decide who qualifies for the seasonal finals. This guide outlines how your robot’s ranking is determined, how points shift over time, and what you need to do to earn a spot in the finals.
ELO Rankings Explained
Your robot’s ELO rating is a number that shows how well it performs in fights. It changes after each match based on wins, losses, and the opponent’s rating.
- Every robot begins with an ELO rating of 1500.
- A win increases your rating. Beating a robot with a similar rating adds about 16 points. Defeating a higher-rated robot gives you more points.
- A loss decreases your rating. Losing to a similarly rated robot subtracts around 16 points. Losing to a lower-rated robot takes away more.
The point change depends on the rating gap between you and your opponent. Bigger upsets mean bigger swings.
Weight Classes and Seasons
The MRCA groups rankings by weight class, such as Antweight or Beetleweight. This ensures robots only compete against others in their category. Each year is a new season, numbered starting from 1.
- Weight Classes: Your ranking applies within your robot’s weight class.
- Seasons: Fights are recorded by season. Older seasons have less impact on your current ranking.
Point Decay Over Seasons
The MRCA reduces the value of points from past seasons to focus on recent fights. This decay affects only the points gained or lost per fight, not your total rating.
- Current Season: Points keep 100% of their value.
- Previous Season: Points are cut to 50%.
- Two Seasons Ago: Points drop to 25%. They halve again for each earlier season (12.5%, 6.25%, etc.).
For example, a +16 point win from two seasons ago counts as +4 points now.
How Rankings Are Calculated
Your robot’s ELO starts at 1500. It then adds up all point changes from your fights, adjusted for season decay.
- Start at 1500.
- Calculate points gained or lost for each fight based on the opponent and result.
- Scale those points down by season. A +16 from last season becomes +8 today.
- Add all adjusted points to 1500 for your current ELO.
Example:
- Season 1: Win (+16, now +4 in Season 3).
- Season 2: Loss (-16, now -8 in Season 3).
- Season 3: Win (+16, full value).
- Total ELO = 1500 + 4 - 8 + 16 = 1512.
Rankings and Finals Eligibility
The MRCA assigns rankings in two categories: overall rankings and finals eligibility. Each has its own rules.
Overall Rankings
- Ranked: Robots with 5 or more fights across all seasons get a numbered rank. They’re ordered from highest to lowest ELO.
- Unranked: Robots with fewer than 5 fights are listed below, sorted by ELO without a rank number.
Finals Eligibility
To qualify for the MRCA seasonal finals, your robot must meet two conditions:
- 5 or More Total Fights: Counts fights from all seasons, showing experience.
- 1 or More Fights This Season: Requires at least one fight in the current season for activity.
Only robots meeting both rules qualify. They’re ranked by ELO among eligible bots.
Example:
- BotA: 6 total fights, 2 in Season 3 → Ranked, Finals Eligible.
- BotB: 4 total fights, 1 in Season 3 → Unranked, not eligible.
- BotC: 7 total fights, 0 in Season 3 → Ranked, not eligible.
Boosting Your Ranking
To improve your robot’s ELO and finals chances:
- Fight at least once per season to stay eligible.
- Reach 5 total fights to get ranked.
- Beat higher-rated robots for larger point gains.
Why This System?
The MRCA ranking system blends your robot’s fight history with its current performance. Decay on older points highlights recent success. Finals rules ensure only active, experienced robots qualify. This keeps the league competitive and fair each season.
Questions? Ask the MRCA organizers. Your ranking reflects your robot’s record—keep fighting to rise