ELO is the rating system you've probably heard of from chess. WotC's old DCI also used it for sanctioned Magic tournaments for years before they switched to Planeswalker Points around 2011. It's not something most casual MTG leagues use, but it should be.

What Is ELO?

ELO was invented by a Hungarian-American physics professor named Arpad Elo in the 1960s to rate chess players. Each player starts with a base rating. In Draftalot we use 1600 as the starting point, which is what the old DCI used too. Players gain or lose points based on match results. The key insight: beating a higher-rated player earns more points than beating a lower-rated one.

The Math (Simplified)

Before a match, ELO calculates the expected outcome based on the rating difference. If a 1700-rated player faces a 1500-rated player, the system expects the 1700 player to win. If they do, they gain a small number of points. If the underdog wins, they gain a lot.

This means every match matters. Even games between mismatched opponents produce meaningful rating changes.

Why ELO Works for Draft Leagues

• Every match counts - not just the playoffs or the final standings
• Upsets are rewarded - beating someone above your rank is worth more
• Ratings carry over - your reputation builds across series, not just within one
• Self-balancing - players naturally settle at their true skill level over time

ELO vs. Win Percentage

Simple win percentage treats all wins equally. Going 2-0 against the bottom of the standings looks the same as going 2-0 against the top. ELO knows the difference.

In our league we run ELO alongside win/loss records. The win/loss tells you who won the series. The ELO tells you who actually earned it.

Tracking ELO in Your League

Calculating ELO by hand is tedious. Draftalot calculates ELO automatically after every match, tracks it across series, and awards badges for reaching rating milestones - 1800 for Elite, 1900 for Legendary.