If this system fails, the game becomes a frustrating, unplayable mess that bleeds players instantly.
While this conspiracy theory is widespread, the reality is much more mundane and focused entirely on mathematical fairness.
Trophy and Rating Systems
Your trophy count is a numerical representation of your skill; win a match, and you take trophies from the loser.
If the system matches you perfectly, you should mathematically have a 50% chance of winning every single game you play.
- If you are hovering around 50%, you are in the correct arena for your skill level.
- Queue times increase at the top of the ladder.
- If you drop trophies, the algorithm matches you against easier opponents.
Level-Based Matchmaking
The standard Elo system works perfectly for chess because all pieces are equal, but tower rush games feature upgradeable cards.
To combat this, developers have implemented secondary checks that look at the player's King Tower level.
| Matchmaking Factor | Significance |
|---|---|
| Elo Rating | Absolute Highest Priority |
| King Level / Card Levels | The system tries to match levels, but will abandon this check if the queue takes longer than 10 seconds |
The Esports Standard
By artificially capping all card levels to a specific number, the algorithm can rely purely on the Elo rating.
When levels are equalized, the matchmaking system shines, ensuring that the better player almost always wins.