What Is Liaoyun Season
Liaoyun Season (Chinese: 遼雲賽季 — Liaoyun literally means "Distant Cloud") is the first numbered competitive season in Ragnarok: The New World. It runs the same calendar as the Legend Cup Tournament Roadmap but adds a permanent ranked ladder for solo and 5-player squad play. Top finishers receive exclusive seasonal mounts, profile frames, and titles that do not return outside the season window.
Liaoyun (Distant Cloud) Season 1 is expected to start in Q4 2026 for TW/HK/MO and Q1 2027 for SEA, aligned with the global release window. This page summarizes what players can plan around.
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Ranked Ladder Structure
The ranked ladder splits into seven tiers:
| Tier | Rating range | Perks |
|---|---|---|
| Iron | 0–999 | Placement only |
| Bronze | 1000–1299 | Seasonal cosmetic frame |
| Silver | 1300–1599 | Frame + minor stat title |
| Gold | 1600–1899 | Frame + Gold-tier title + ladder emblem |
| Platinum | 1900–2199 | Frame + unique animated mount |
| Diamond | 2200–2499 | Frame + Diamond cosmetic + Top 100 spotlight |
| Champion | 2500+ | Exclusive Champion wing cosmetic + eternal title |
Placement matches set your initial rating; expect 10 calibration matches per queue. The ladder resets every three months when a new season opens.
Match Formats — Solo Queue vs Squad Arena
Two ranked queues exist. Solo Queue is a 1v1 ladder for individual ranked climbing; matches use standardized gear templates so build variance does not decide outcomes. Squad Arena is a 5v5 ladder mirroring the Legend Cup Squad Arena — squad composition matters here, and queued parties face other queued parties.
Both ladders grant season points, but Squad Arena scores count toward Tournament Roadmap eligibility. Solo Queue rating does not transfer to tournament play.
Seasonal Rewards and FOMO
Every ranked season is a limited window. Rewards are not repeatable — if you miss the season, you miss the cosmetic. FOMO is intentional design: the developers want players logging in daily during the three-month window. Plan your season participation:
- Cosmetic-only players: Hit Silver to earn the cosmetic frame. ~30 ladder games spread across the season.
- Mid-core players: Aim for Platinum to unlock the animated mount. ~150 ladder games.
- Hardcore players: Chase Diamond or Champion for the spotlight + eternal title. ~400+ ladder games.
Pair ranked grinding with the Daily Priority Guide so you do not neglect daily loop progression.
Class Picks for Liaoyun Solo Queue
Standardized gear means class mechanics and player skill decide solo queue outcomes. Top picks for Season 1:
- Wizard — Burst control through Storm Gust + Tetra Vortex. Wizard Build.
- Assassin Cross — Critical scaling with Sonic Blow spam. Assassin Cross Build.
- Gunslinger — Range advantage and Devastating Strike windows. Gunslinger Build.
- Sniper — Long-range single-target burst; rewards positioning mastery. Sniper Build.
- Druid — Form-swap flexibility catches opponents off-guard. Druid Build.
Tanks and supports underperform in solo queue because standardization removes their party-composition advantage. They remain top-tier in Squad Arena — see PvP Modes.
Squad Arena Composition Tips
Standard 5v5 Squad Arena meta from Korean server test seasons:
- Frontline tank: Paladin (reflect) or Champion (provoke).
- Off-tank / second DPS: Knight or Crusader.
- Healer / support: High Priest or Battle Priest.
- Burst DPS 1: Assassin Cross or Wizard.
- Burst DPS 2: Gunslinger or Sniper.
Druid is a flex pick — the second healer / damage hybrid slot. Composition beats raw rating at the squad level.
Practice composition in PvP Modes and the unranked Squad Arena before queuing ranked.
Season 1 Calendar
Confirmed and tentative dates:
- Pre-season ladder (soft launch): October 2026 (TW/HK/MO first).
- Season 1 official start: November 2026 — same day as Legend Cup Squad Arena. Tournament Roadmap.
- Mid-season balance update: January 2027 (concurrent with Starglade for SEA). Starglade Expansion.
- Season 1 finale: February 2027.
- Season 2 announcement: March 2027 at the global championship.
The full Content Roadmap covers Season 2 details when available.