How do matchmaking and ratings work on Skirmz?
Understand game-specific queues, party limits, Elo-style result changes, and the difference between a match estimate and a saved rating.
Skirmz combines queues for repeatable play with an Elo-style rating system. The queue organizes who plays; the rating records competitive results. Neither is the same as your rank inside the game publisher's own matchmaking service.
Queue context matters
Players choose an available game, mode and team size. A community queue belongs to that community's configuration. Party size must fit both the match size and any configured party limit. A game being listed does not mean it has an active queue or that opponents are always available for it.
Waiting depends on other eligible players. Skirmz does not promise an instant match or perfectly equal opponents. Once a match is found, players check in and complete any configured pre-match votes before playing in the game itself.
What changes a rating
The rating calculation compares the teams' ratings and the result. Beating stronger opposition generally gains more than beating weaker opposition; losing to weaker opposition generally costs more. Team ratings use the participating players' ratings, so there is no single fixed number awarded for every victory.
Community ratings have their own context and can use community rating settings. Do not compare a community number directly with an unrelated game or board and assume it measures the same competition.
Preview versus final result
The match summary calculates a provisional rating change and separately attempts to save the actual result and ratings immediately. Match cleanup retries rating persistence if it has not succeeded. The preview is display-only, so use the saved leaderboard record when checking your current standing.
Skirmz relies on players reporting the result and moderators resolving disputes; it does not automatically read the game's final scoreboard. The match guide explains that process, and the leaderboard guide helps you choose the right view afterwards.