What are ranked slots?
Ranked slots are a way to be ranked for other characters independently of your default ranked slot.
However, you cannot use characters used in previous slots for the current season in new ranked slots.
Why ranked slots? What's the point?
Ranked slots were introduced for a few different reasons.
Primarily, you're able to find out how you place with other characters! Have you been excited to work on a secondary character, but didn't want to impact your rank? Have you wanted to experience the tension of a ranked match without hurting your prestigious rank associated with your main character? Ranked slots help with that!
Secondarily, they allow for players to appropriately play with a different skill set than they may be used to with their primary rank without the need to sandbag. By using ranked slots, players can build up their rank with a new character that they might not be as experienced with, without intimidating lower ranked players with their higher primary rank!
As you should already know, alternate accounts are prohibited. The feature of ranked slots helps eliminate any need you may have felt to make any additional account to see how one of your secondary characters may rank without interfering with your primary rank.
How do I use ranked slots?
When you start matchmaking, you'll see a screen much like this one.
If you haven't messed with other ranked slots at all yet, you'll just see your Ranked Slot #1 and a blank Ranked Slot #2.
To switch between ranked slots, simply click the slot before you begin searching for a match!
When you click another slot, you'll be greeted with a popup window like this one:
This window shows you which characters you can and cannot use in the slot. It's purely informational, so you can hit CLOSE and your ranked slot will be switched!
You'll notice that this ranked slot change is immediately reflected on your profile card.
Before!
After!
If you don't remember which slot you have selected, you can check on your card or in the matchmaking window.
To become ranked in a new slot, simply play your eight ranked placement matches in that new slot.