Matchmaking queues are seeing less volatility. High-rank players can no longer "smurf" easily by throwing matches without consequences.
Many early patches focused on cosmetic issues that could confuse players:
and updated by Valve to address these abuses. Below is a solid draft explaining the state of the patch and how the system functions now. The Immortal Draft Patch: Overview & Fixes immortal loss guide patched
Glitches allowing players to be matched only against AI to avoid losses in competitive play have been patched. How to Manage Losses Now (2026 Edition)
| Problem | Solution | | :--- | :--- | | | Immediately use the new "Stuck Exit" option in the system menu. | | Corruption level is increasing too fast | Return to the nearest discovered bed and "sleep." The v0.47.0 patch added a Corruption reduction effect to sleeping. | | Cannot remove a cursed item at a Heart Lamp | This bug was largely fixed in v0.28.0. Make sure you are at a Heart Lamp that hasn’t been used recently. If the issue persists, try loading a previous save. | | Sprite appears to flicker or layer incorrectly | The v0.47.0 patch addressed several layer errors. Ensure your game is fully updated. If the issue remains, it may be related to specific hardware configurations. | | Encounter a new bug not listed | Report the bug on the game’s official community forums or the developer’s Ci-en page, including as much detail as possible and a copy of your save file. | Matchmaking queues are seeing less volatility
“Step-by-step methods to minimize permanent setbacks after the patch — from save-scumming limits to meta-progression backups that still work.”
Before the patch, various community "loss guides" detailed methods to manipulate matchmaking or in-game behavior to ensure that a loss wouldn’t severely damage a player's rank. Below is a solid draft explaining the state
With the exploits patched, you have to go back to the basics—but at an Immortal level.