Why Call of Duty Keeps Resetting My Rank Each Season

ByJames Dorn Last Update on

As a passionate Call of Duty player and content creator, I‘ve had many fans ask why their hard-earned ranks keep getting reset every season. It‘s frustrating building up levels and camo unlocks, only to lose that progress when the next season drops.

While rank resets can be annoying, they‘re a core part of Call of Duty‘s seasonal model. In this guide, I‘ll break down exactly how seasonal rank resets work, why Activision keeps bringing them back, and tips to progress faster each season.

An Overview of Call of Duty‘s Seasonal Progression System

Modern Call of Duty games utilize seasonal systems, with new content and limited-time events every ~60 days. This model was popularized by games like Fortnite and Apex Legends, and Activision has fully embraced it.

When a season ends, ranks are reset to level 1 so players can progress through seasonal challenges again. Unlocked weapons, skins, and equipment carry over, but rank and battle pass progress do not.

Here‘s an example season timeline:

  • Day 1 (Season Launch): Ranks reset to level 1, new battle pass activated
  • Day 60 (Mid-Season): New modes/playlists, store rotation
  • Day 90 (Season End): Ranks reset, new battle pass starts

This gives players something fresh to work towards every 60-90 days. Now let‘s dive deeper into why Activision keeps resetting ranks each season.

Why Activision Resets Ranks in Call of Duty Games

Seasonal rank resets may frustrate players, but they serve an important purpose for Call of Duty publishers.

1. Encourages Continued Engagement

Resetting ranks gives players a reason to keep grinding through the seasons. If we kept our ranks indefinitely, progression would stall after hitting the max level.

Starting everyone at level 1 creates an engaging "race to prestige" each season. Experienced players rush to hit max level, knowing their ranks will reset again soon.

According to Activision‘s 2022 financial reports, emphasis on seasonal progression helped drive Call of Duty engagement hours up by 40% from 2020. Rank resets likely contributed to those gains.

2. Sells More Seasonal Battle Passes

Rank resets also help sell seasonal battle passes. Playing through 100 battle pass ranks gives a supplemental rank progression system alongside seasonal levels.

Battle passes encourage daily play and offer cool cosmetic rewards. Their popularity even surprised Activision executives, with 2022 sales dwarfing initial projections.

Resetting ranks makes completing passes feel more rewarding. I‘ll grind Warzone much harder if I‘m also rebuilding my seasonal progression.

3. Provides a Fresh Start Each Season

Finally, resetting ranks allows players to start fresh each season. Everyone returns to level 1 as equals when new operations launch.

This creates a thrill similar to prestige systems of old, letting veterans "flex" their skills against lower-ranked players after resets. It may frustrate skilled players at first, but the race to regain top ranks is part of the fun.

While players have speculated about persistent ranks someday, seasonal resets will likely be integral to Call of Duty moving forward.

Player Reactions to Seasonal Rank Resets

Based on community sentiment I‘ve observed, reactions to rank resets seem mixed:

  • Many casual players enjoy starting fresh and find progression more rewarding
  • Highly skilled players dislike regrinding unlocks and losing their prestige
  • Returning/new players often mistake resets as random rank wipes

Resets seem most controversial in competitive playlists like League Play. Skilled players feel ranks should persist between seasons, not reset completely.

However, the overall reception seems positive. Call of Duty subreddits and forums see some complaints after resets but mostly get flooded with excitement about new seasons.

Here are some player reactions to seasonal resets I‘ve seen:

"Kind of annoying I have to regrind weapon levels, but I like having a reason to play more. Makes battle pass progression feel meaningful."

"Lost all motivation when I saw my level reset from prestige 8 to level 1. Months of grinding camo challenges wiped."

"Hopped on Call of Duty for the first time in a year and was so confused why my rank reset. Thought I got hacked or something at first!"

Reactions illustrate a clear divide between casual and highly engaged players.

Tips for Progressing After Seasonal Resets

If you struggle to progress after rank resets, here are my best tips for leveling up quickly:

  • Actively complete challenges/missions: Seasonal challenges are the fastest way to gain XP after resets and help unlock new content. Using 2XP tokens on challenges speeds up progression substantially.

  • Group up when possible: Playing in a party, especially with battle pass/2XP active, lets you breeze through levels early on. Having a coordinated squad also helps complete challenges requiring match wins or objective play.

  • Play endurance game modes: Playlists like Ground War give the most weapon XP over time compared to TDM. More kills = faster camo and level unlocks.

  • Preview seasonal content: Review upcoming battle pass and level rewards early on Reddit or CharlieIntel. This gives visibility into what challenges/weapons could be useful to focus on.

Follow those tips, and you‘ll be back atop the leaderboards in no time!

What Changes Around Rank Resets Could We See in Future Seasons?

While seasonal resets seem here to stay, Activision could tweak the system to address frustrations:

  • Make battle pass rewards account-wide: Allowing unlocked skins/blueprints to be used across Warzone 2.0 and future titles would ease the sting of rank resets each season. Players want to show off rewards from previous passes that required heavy grinding to unlock at max rank. Account-wide unlocks (like in Fortnite) would achieve this.

  • Add persistent ranked playlists: As mentioned for League Play, preserving rankings past each season makes sense for the most competitive modes. This gives top players a lasting mark of their skills and dedication. Regular public playlists can still reset each season to keep engagement high among the wider player base.

  • Increase rewards for highly ranked players: Currently all players reset to level 1, whether they just prestiged or didn‘t play at all last season. Adding exclusive rewards (weapon blueprints, skins, etc.) for reaching certain prestige levels would reward dedication and give veterans status symbols each season.

We‘ll have to wait and see what changes do or don‘t come in future seasons. But Call of Duty executives would be smart to address frustrations around rank resets, given the community‘s vocal feedback.

Closing Thoughts

While starting fresh and losing my hard-earned Dark Matter camos stings at first, I still get hyped for launch day each Call of Duty season. The race to max level drives engagement across multiplayer and Warzone, which is great for players and Activision executives alike.

Rank resets are a necessary part of Call of Duty‘s seasonal model that keep progression feeling rewarding. And tips like leveraging 2XP and completing challenges ease the grind to prestige every few months.

I don‘t see seasonal rank resets going away anytime soon. But we could see changes like account-wide unlocks or rewards for dedicated players to smooth out issues. Either way, strap in for more exciting seasons of ranking up again in Call of Duty!

What are your thoughts on Call of Duty‘s seasonal rank resets? Love or hate seeing your level wiped each season? Let me know in the comments!

James K. Dorn, a passionate gamer deeply immersed in the world of video gaming. My journey in gaming is not just about playing; it's about exploring every facet of the games I love. I am particularly fascinated by the intricate worlds of role-playing games like "The Witcher" series and "Elder Scrolls: Skyrim," where every decision shapes the story.

As a strategy game enthusiast, I spend hours devising tactics in games like "Civilization VI" and "StarCraft II," always eager to share my strategies with fellow gamers. I'm also an ardent follower of the ever-evolving landscape of indie games, finding gems like "Hollow Knight" and "Celeste" that offer unique, compelling experiences.

My content isn't just reviews; it's about deep dives into game mechanics, storytelling, and the art of game design. I love dissecting the narratives of games like "The Last of Us" and discussing the innovative gameplay of titles like "Death Stranding."

Being at the forefront of gaming news, I eagerly anticipate and share insights on upcoming releases like the next big open-world adventure or the latest in the "Final Fantasy" series. My goal is to build a community where we not only play games but also appreciate the artistry and effort behind them. Join me in this gaming journey, where every session is an adventure, and every game is a story waiting to be told.

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