Heroes of the Storm’s first official ranked season is coming to a close next week! We’ve got a few changes in store for ranked play during Season 2, as well as a host of new rewards that you can earn just by playing ranked games.

Season Roll Dates

Season 2 will begin as soon as our next patch becomes available for download in each region throughout next week. Check the season start and end dates below to make sure you’re able to dive into the rankings as soon as the season rolls.

Event Date Season 2 Start Week of September 12* Season 2 End Week of December 12*

*Exact date may vary slightly by region.

Grand Master League Changes

As Season 1 played out this Summer, we began to feel that Grand Master League’s 500-player limit may be a little too broad, and also saw this sentiment mirrored in some corners of the Heroes community. We want Grand Master League to feel more prestigious —a ranking that even very skilled players will have to work hard to achieve. In order to do this, we’re going to reduce the maximum number of Grand Master players allowed in Hero League from 500 to 200.

Promotion and Demotion Match Changes

We heard your feedback that losing extra points beyond the division cap when you head into a promotion match was taking some of the fun out of the experience, and we agree. Here’s what we’re changing with the start of Season 2:

You’ll no longer receive a flat 250 ranked point adjustment after winning a promotion match or losing a demotion match. Instead, these matches will now award or remove the same amount of points as a normal ranked game.

When you head into a promotion match, any points you earned beyond the 1,000-point division cap during the prior game will now be stored and applied at the end of your promotion match. Winning a promotion match will now award you with the points that were stored prior to that match, in addition to the normal ranked points you’ll earn for the win. Losing a promotion match will now subtract the normal ranked points for a loss, minus the number of excess ranked points that were stored prior to your promotion match.

Demotion matches do not store lost ranked points, which means you’ll only lose the normal amount of ranked points if you’re defeated during a demotion match.

Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts with us during Season 1! Your feedback helped to shape these changes, and we’d love to know what you think after playing through promotion and demotion matches in Season 2.

Season 2 Ranked Rewards

Players who manage to brawl their way up through the leagues during Ranked Season 2 can lay claim to new portrait, mount, and gold rewards for their achievements in Hero and Team League. Take a look at everything that’s up for grabs this season!

Hero League Portraits

Team League Portraits

Elemental Lion Mount

Hero League Team League

League Rewards League Rewards Bronze Bronze Hero League Portrait Bronze Elemental Lion Mount Bronze Team League Portrait Silver 750 Gold Silver Hero League Portrait Silver 750 Gold Elemental Lion Mount Silver Team League Portrait Gold 1000 Gold Gold Hero League Portrait Gold 1000 Gold Elemental Lion Mount Gold Team League Portrait Platinum 1250 Gold Elemental Lion Mount Platinum Hero League Portrait Platinum 1250 Gold Elemental Lion Mount Platinum Team League Portrait Diamond 1500 Gold Elemental Lion Mount Diamond Hero League Portrait Diamond 1500 Gold Elemental Lion Mount Diamond Team League Portrait Master 1750 Gold Elemental Lion Mount Epic Elemental Lion Mount Master Hero League Portrait Master 1750 Gold Elemental Lion Mount Epic Elemental Lion Mount Master Team League Portrait Grand Master 2000 Gold Elemental Lion Mount Epic Elemental Lion Mount Grand Master Hero League Portrait Grand Master 2000 Gold Elemental Lion Mount Epic Elemental Lion Mount Grand Master Team League Portrait

In addition to everything we’ve mentioned so far, there will be 10 placement matches waiting for you on the other side of the season roll that you’ll need to play through in order to receive your initial ranking. We also plan to once again loosen the system’s certainty level in everyone’s skill rating, so it’ll be little easier to move up or down through the rankings during your first few matches this season.

If you’re ready to begin your Ranked Play journey in Heroes of the Storm but unsure how, head over to our Ranked Play Guide to get started on the right foot.

Good luck and have fun during Ranked Season 2!