MCTrainer Guide
Learn how McTrainer Ranked PvP queues, placement matches, kit-specific SR, tiers, matchmaking ranges, special kits, and leaderboards work in this player guide.
MCTrainer Guide13 min readRANKED
Ranked PvP on McTrainer tracks your performance separately for each kit. Your Sword rating is independent from your ratings in Pot, Vanilla, Cart PvP, and other modes.
Open the Queue Browser, choose Ranked or Unranked, and select a kit. Once an opponent is found, both players are sent to an arena with the selected loadouts. Ranked results update the rating for that kit.
Ranked is designed for rating progression, while Unranked lets you play without affecting your SR.
Related guides based on the learning path, explicit relationships, and matching topic metadata.
| Feature | Ranked | Unranked |
|---|
| Skill rating | Updates your kit-specific SR | Does not affect Ranked SR |
| Placement matches | Five placements per kit | No placements |
| Leaderboards | Available after placements | Not applicable |
| Matchmaking | Rating-aware opponent selection | Compatible public matchmaking |
| Custom category | Unavailable | Available with a valid saved kit |
| Best used for | Competitive progression | Practice, warm-ups, and testing |
You can only match players searching in the same mode, kit, and, where applicable, Vanilla or Cart division.
A player searching for Sword Ranked cannot match a player searching for Sword Unranked.
Start in Unranked to learn the loadout and combat style. Move to Ranked when you are comfortable with the kit and want your results to affect your rating.
Use any of the following commands to open the public Queue Browser:
/queue/q/playYou can also open a specific mode directly:
/queue ranked/queue unrankedWhen no mode is specified, the browser opens your most recently selected Ranked or Unranked tab.
The mode button lets you switch between both tabs. You cannot change the selected mode while you are already in a queue.
Each kit card can display information such as:
The Active value includes players waiting in the queue and players currently playing in that kit and mode.
The Avg. Wait value is an estimate for that specific queue. It is displayed in minutes and seconds. When no estimate is available, the browser may show --.
| Browser element | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Mode | Whether the selected queue is Ranked or Unranked |
| Active | Players queueing or currently playing in that category |
| Avg. Wait | Estimated wait for the selected queue |
| SR | Your visible rating for the selected Ranked kit |
| Tier | The tier assigned from your current SR |
| Placement | Your progress through the first five Ranked matches |
| Division | A special Vanilla or Cart queue classification |
Click a kit to join its queue.
Clicking the active selection again leaves the queue. Selecting another kit switches your search to the newly selected category.
You can only search in one normal public queue at a time.
While waiting, the action bar displays information such as:
The normal public duel queue is solo-only and cannot be used while you are in a party.
Queue entry may also be blocked when:
Before joining, confirm that the correct kit slot, inventory, armor, and layout are selected. The prepared loadout will be used for the match.
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open the Queue Browser |
| 2 | Choose Ranked or Unranked |
| 3 | Select a PvP kit |
| 4 | McTrainer searches for a compatible opponent |
| 5 | Both players are assigned to an arena |
| 6 | The selected loadouts are prepared |
| 7 | The duel is played |
| 8 | Ranked results update the relevant kit rating |
The Queue Browser contains eleven PvP categories.
| Kit category | Main combat style | Ranked availability |
|---|---|---|
| Vanilla | Crystal and anchor PvP | Conditional |
| Custom | Community-created loadouts | Unranked only |
| Cart PvP | Explosive minecart combat | Conditional |
| Axe | Axe, shield, and utility combat | Available |
| UHC | Diamond utility duels | Available |
| SMP | Netherite gear, golden apples, and potions | Available |
| Diamond SMP | Diamond survival PvP equipment | Available |
| Sword | Diamond sword and armor combat | Available |
| Netherite OP | Maxed netherite potion PvP | Available |
| Pot | Fast-paced potion duels | Available |
| Mace | Fast mace combat | Available |
Ranked progress is tracked separately for each category.
This includes:
Ranked Vanilla checks your active saved Vanilla loadout and places it into one of three divisions:
A Vanilla loadout classified as Custom cannot be used in Ranked.
Eval is available during placement matches. After placements, it is only available to players below HT3.
The Queue Browser displays the detected Vanilla division before you join.
The separate Custom kit category and a Vanilla loadout classified as Custom are not the same queue. However, neither is available for Ranked progression.
Ranked Cart PvP requires a saved Cart kit that meets the Ranked Cart requirements.
Players completing placements and placed players below HT3 use the LT3 division.
Placed players at HT3 or higher use the HT3+ division.
The current Cart division is displayed in the Queue Browser before queueing.
The separate Custom category is available in Unranked only.
You must save a valid Custom kit before joining the queue.
A Custom match uses one shared loadout. Your selected preference may influence whether the match uses your kit or your opponent’s kit.
Some preference combinations may take longer to match because both players must be compatible.
Every Ranked kit begins with five placement matches.
During placements, the Queue Browser still displays your visible SR and tier. It also shows a progress counter such as:
Placement 2/5
Your rating already changes during placements, but you will not qualify for that kit’s leaderboard until all five matches are complete.
Wins, losses, and draws all count toward placement progress.
The fifth completed result ends the placement stage and makes that kit eligible for its leaderboard.
| Placement status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0/5 | No Ranked results completed for the kit |
| 1/5–4/5 | Rating is active, but leaderboard access is not yet unlocked |
| 5/5 | Placements are complete and the kit is leaderboard-eligible |
Matchmaking may be slightly more flexible while players are completing their placements.
Placement matches are part of your continuing Ranked rating. Learn the kit and check your active loadout before entering the queue.
SR is your visible rating for a specific Ranked kit.
It is based on both your estimated skill and how confident the rating system is in that estimate. Because of this, SR changes are not always identical after every match.
Your tier is determined by your current visible SR.
McTrainer also stores your peak SR, which is the highest visible rating you have reached in that kit.
| Tier | SR range |
|---|---|
| LT5 | 0–300 |
| HT5 | 301–500 |
| LT4 | 501–750 |
| HT4 | 751–999 |
| LT3 | 1000–1299 |
| HT3 | 1300–1649 |
| LT2 | 1650–2049 |
| HT2 | 2050–2499 |
| LT1 | 2500–2999 |
| HT1 | 3000+ |
| Progression level | Tier |
|---|---|
| 1 | LT5 |
| 2 | HT5 |
| 3 | LT4 |
| 4 | HT4 |
| 5 | LT3 |
| 6 | HT3 |
| 7 | LT2 |
| 8 | HT2 |
| 9 | LT1 |
| 10 | HT1 |
Your tier can move up or down when your visible SR changes.
Peak SR records the highest rating you have reached, even if your current SR later decreases.
Every kit rewards different skills, so McTrainer rates them separately.
Being placed in Sword does not affect your rating or placement progress in Pot, Vanilla, Cart PvP, or another category.
You may already be placed and leaderboard-eligible in one category while still completing placements—or having no Ranked matches at all—in another.
For example:
| Kit | Example status |
|---|---|
| Sword | Placements complete, HT4 |
| Pot | Placement 3/5 |
| Vanilla | No Ranked matches |
| Cart PvP | Placements complete, LT3 |
Completing five Sword placements does not complete placements for any other kit.
Each Ranked kit has its own:
There is no single Ranked number that represents every PvP category. Always check which kit an SR or tier belongs to.
Ranked matchmaking first looks for players in the same:
It then compares the available opponents and prioritizes the closest suitable match.
Match quality is an estimate of how evenly matched two players are expected to be. It does not predict who will win.
When a match is found, players may be shown information such as:
Two players with similar visible SR may not always be treated as identical by the matchmaking system. The rating system can also consider how established each player’s current rating is.
Matchmaking begins by searching for opponents close to your current rating.
The longer you wait, the wider the acceptable rating range may become. This helps prevent players from remaining in the queue indefinitely when no close opponent is available.
Even after the search range expands, McTrainer continues looking for the fairest suitable match. A longer wait does not make matchmaking completely random.
| Queue time | General search behavior |
|---|---|
| Early search | Prioritizes opponents close to your rating |
| Continued search | Gradually considers a wider group of suitable players |
| Long search | Uses a broader range while still checking compatibility |
| Match found | Selects the best suitable opponent currently available |
Queue times can vary depending on:
The displayed average wait is an estimate, not a guaranteed match time.
Ranked duels support three normal results:
When an opponent resigns, the remaining player receives a win and the resigning player receives a loss.
After a match, McTrainer updates the relevant kit’s:
SR changes are not fixed and may vary depending on the players involved.
A draw can also affect both ratings differently.
The result message displays:
No-contest matches do not affect SR or your normal match record.
| Match result | Ranked effect |
|---|---|
| Win | Records a win and updates SR |
| Loss | Records a loss and updates SR |
| Draw | Records a draw and updates SR |
| Opponent resignation | Counts as a win for the remaining player |
| Your resignation | Counts as a loss |
| No contest | Does not affect normal SR or match records |
A kit becomes leaderboard-eligible after you complete five Ranked matches in that category.
Before placements are complete, your SR may already appear in the Queue Browser, but your profile is not included in that kit’s leaderboard.
Per-kit leaderboards are ordered by visible SR and may display:
Overall Ranked statistics may combine your eligible kits, but each kit keeps its own rating.
Completing placements only qualifies you for the leaderboard. Your final position still depends on your SR.
Completing five matches allows your kit rating to be considered for the leaderboard. It does not automatically place you near the top.
Before joining the queue, make sure that:
Use Unranked while learning a new category or testing a loadout.
When you are ready to play Ranked:
/queue ranked.During placements, focus on playing consistently instead of worrying about every individual SR change.
Use replays to review mistakes and improve for your next match. Replay analysis does not affect your Ranked rating.
SR is your visible rating for a specific Ranked kit. It changes based on your match results and determines your current tier.
You must complete five Ranked matches for each kit.
Wins, losses, and draws all count toward your placements. After the fifth result, that kit becomes eligible for its leaderboard.
Yes.
Sword progress does not update Pot, Vanilla, Cart PvP, or another category. Each kit keeps its own placements, SR, peak rating, tier, and match record.
No.
The separate Custom category is available in Unranked only.
A Ranked Vanilla loadout classified as Custom is also blocked. You must use an eligible Ranked Vanilla loadout or switch to Unranked.
Queue times depend on how many players are searching in the same mode, kit, and division.
At quieter times or less common ratings, finding a suitable opponent may take longer. The average wait displayed in the Queue Browser is only an estimate.
Yes.
The acceptable rating range may gradually expand during longer waits, while McTrainer continues prioritizing the closest suitable opponent.
You become eligible immediately after completing the fifth Ranked match for that specific kit.
Eligibility does not guarantee a visible leaderboard position. Your position still depends on your SR.
Ranked updates your kit-specific SR, includes placement matches, and uses rating-aware matchmaking.
Unranked does not affect your Ranked progress. It is suitable for practice, testing loadouts, and playing with Custom kits.