👨‍🚀 Greetings, Commanders!

💡 Here goes another “SpaceMyths” segment issue, where we fact-check popular myths among players. If you have some myths to check, please send them to community managers!

This time we continue to check the myth regarding the difficulty adjustment feature. In short, this feature allows players to face weaker opponents after several defeats in a row. We will have a couple of Myth conditions. Here is the first one:

❓ Will Commander face opponents with a lower number of ranking points after several defeats in a row?

To check this myth, we picked the account with less than 2000 ranking points. 

During the first test, the account with the following parameters:

• Level: 50
• Rating: 1514
• Ship: Mjollnir Mk2

Stage 1 — we had to conduct 15 Arena battles without using the self-destruction option. All battles were conducted using x2 speed. Both ship and build of the ship were not changed during all battles. 

• Battle 1, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1515 rating. Victory.
• Battle 2, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1519 rating. Defeat.
• Battle 3, opponent Revenant, 1519 rating. Victory.
• Battle 4, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1515 rating. Victory
• Battle 5, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1515 rating. Victory
• Battle 6, opponent Vindicator, 1524 rating. Victory
• Battle 7, opponent Revenant, 1519 rating. Victory
• Battle 8, opponent Revenant, 1526 rating. Victory
• Battle 9, opponent Vindicator, 1537 rating. Victory
• Battle 10, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1536 rating. Victory
• Battle 11, opponent Revenant, 1526 rating. Victory
• Battle 12, opponent Vindicator, 1525 rating. Defeat
• Battle 13, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1536 rating. Victory
• Battle 14, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1525 rating. Victory
• Battle 15, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1531 rating. Victory

Average rating of the opponents: 1524

Stage 2 — we had to lose 15 Arena battles. The rating equaled 1535.

• Battle 1, opponent Vindicator, 1532 rating
• Battle 2, opponent Vindicator, 1524 rating
• Battle 3, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1534 rating
• Battle 4, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1535 rating
• Battle 5, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1539 rating
• Battle 6, opponent Vindicator, 1525 rating
• Battle 7, opponent Vindicator, 1532 rating
• Battle 8, opponent Vindicator, 1525 rating
• Battle 9, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1517 rating
• Battle 10, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1531 rating
• Battle 11, opponent Revenant, 1520 rating
• Battle 12, opponent Revenant, 1519 rating
• Battle 13, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1518 rating
• Battle 14, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1524 rating
• Battle 15, opponent Vindicator, 1524 rating

Average rating of the opponents: 1526

Stage 3 — we had to conduct another 15 Arena battles without using the self-destruction option. The rating equaled 1520.

• Battle 1, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1519 rating. Victory
• Battle 2, opponent Revenant, 1526 rating. Victory
• Battle 3, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1515 rating. Victory
• Battle 4, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1515 rating. Defeat
• Battle 5, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1525 rating. Victory
• Battle 6, opponent Vindicator, 1525 rating. Victory
• Battle 7, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1531 rating. Victory
• Battle 8, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1536 rating. Defeat
• Battle 9, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1516 rating. Victory
• Battle 10, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1520 rating. Victory
• Battle 11, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1524 rating. Defeat
• Battle 12, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1530 rating. Victory
• Battle 13, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1529 rating. Victory
• Battle 13, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1525 rating. Victory
• Battle 13, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1524 rating. Victory

Average rating of the opponents: 1524

As you can see, the average ratings of the opponents from Stage 1 and Stage 3 are no different. That means Commanders will face Commanders with an approximately equal rating.

It’s about time to check the second Myth condition:

❓ Will Commander face opponents with a lower number of ranking points after several defeats in a row if Commander will stick to the “win 2 battles and lose 1 battle” principle?

During the second test, the account with the following parameters:

• Level: 51
• Rating: 1529
• Ship: Mjollnir Mk2, same build as before.

Stage 1 — we had to conduct 15 Arena battles based on the mentioned principle. All battles were conducted using x2 speed. Both ship and build of the ship were not changed during all battles

• Battle 1, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1534 rating. Victory
• Battle 2, opponent Radiant-X, 1536 rating. Victory
• Battle 3, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1530 rating. Defeat
• Battle 4, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1524 rating. Victory
• Battle 5, opponent Radiant-X, 1520 rating. Victory
• Battle 6, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1530 rating. Defeat
• Battle 7, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1529 rating. Victory
• Battle 8, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1534 rating. Victory
• Battle 9, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1535 rating. Defeat
• Battle 10, opponent Radiant-X, 1536 rating. Victory
• Battle 11, opponent Radiant-X, 1534 rating. Victory
• Battle 12, opponent Radiant-X, 1526 rating. Defeat
• Battle 13, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1535 rating. Victory
• Battle 14, opponent Radiant-X, 1525 rating. Victory
• Battle 15, opponent Radiant-X, 1534 rating. Defeat

Average rating of the opponents: 1530

Stage 2 — we had to lose 15 Arena battles. The rating equaled 1533.

• Battle 1, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1531 rating
• Battle 2, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1524 rating
• Battle 3, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1535 rating
• Battle 4, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1534 rating
• Battle 5, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1535 rating
• Battle 6, opponent Radiant-X, 1528 rating
• Battle 7, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1535 rating
• Battle 8, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1534 rating
• Battle 9, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1519 rating
• Battle 10, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1534 rating
• Battle 11, opponent Radiant-X, 1519 rating
• Battle 12, opponent Radiant-X, 1525 rating
• Battle 13, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1517 rating
• Battle 14, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1529 rating
• Battle 15, opponent Radiant-X, 1515 rating

Average rating of the opponents: 1527

Stage 3 — we had to conduct another 15 Arena battles based on the mentioned principle. The rating equaled 1518.

• Battle 1, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1513 rating. Victory
• Battle 2, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1529 rating. Victory
• Battle 3, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1531 rating. Defeat
• Battle 4, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1513 rating. Victory
• Battle 5, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1517 rating. Victory
• Battle 6, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1515 rating. Defeat
• Battle 7, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1529 rating. Victory
• Battle 8, opponent Radiant-X, 1525 rating. Victory
• Battle 9, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1518 rating. Defeat
• Battle 10, opponent Radiant-X, 1516 rating. Victory
• Battle 11, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1525 rating. Victory
• Battle 12, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1525 rating. Defeat
• Battle 13, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1515 rating. Victory
• Battle 14, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1529 rating. Victory
• Battle 15, opponent Radiant-X, 1528 rating. Defeat

Average rating of the opponents: 1521

In this situation, the average rating of the opponents was decreased by 9 points in the third stage. However, it is possible that this ranking points gap between the first and third stages would be decreased if the number of defeats was bigger than in our tests.

And finally, the third Myth condition was suggested by Commander German Dizindorf.

❓ Will Commander face opponents with a lower number of ranking points after several defeats in a row if Commander will use the ship that can’t reduce the ranking points due to the level of the Commander? (Like in the previous condition, Commander must also stick to the “win 2 battles and lose 1 battle” principle)

During the last test, the account with the following parameters:

• Level: 51
• Rating: 1523
• Ship: Mjollnir Mk2, same build as before; Wing Mk2.

Stage 1 — we had to conduct 15 Arena battles based on the mentioned principle. All battles were conducted using x2 speed. Both ship and build of the ship were not changed during all battles. 

• Battle 1, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1529 rating. Victory
• Battle 2, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1529 rating. Victory
• Battle 3, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1522 rating. Defeat
• Battle 4, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1534 rating. Victory
• Battle 5, opponent Radiant-X, 1520 rating. Victory
• Battle 6, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1524 rating. Defeat
• Battle 7, opponent Radiant-X, 1517 rating. Victory
• Battle 8, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1529 rating. Victory
• Battle 9, opponent Radiant-X, 1536 rating. Defeat
• Battle 10, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1531 rating. Victory
• Battle 11, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1529 rating. Victory
• Battle 12, opponent Radiant-X, 1528 rating. Defeat
• Battle 13, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1534 rating. Victory
• Battle 14, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1529 rating. Victory
• Battle 15, opponent Radiant-X, 1526 rating. Defeat

Average rating of the opponents: 1527

Stage 2 — we had to lose 15 Arena battles using Wing Mk2 ship. The rating equaled 1528.

• Battle 1, opponent Revenant, 1543 rating
• Battle 2, opponent Mjollnir, 1556 rating
• Battle 3, opponent Mjollnir, 1546 rating
• Battle 4, opponent Mjollnir, 1540 rating
• Battle 5, opponent Vindicator, 1532 rating
• Battle 6, opponent Revenant, 1520 rating
• Battle 7, opponent Revenant, 1526 rating
• Battle 8, opponent Vindicator, 1525 rating
• Battle 9, opponent Revenant, 1564 rating
• Battle 10, opponent Revenant, 1520 rating
• Battle 11, opponent Revenant, 1547 rating
• Battle 12, opponent Mjollnir, 1556 rating
• Battle 13, opponent Mjollnir, 1556 rating
• Battle 14, opponent Revenant, 1543 rating
• Battle 15, opponent Mjollnir, 1546 rating

Average rating of the opponents: 1541

Stage 3 — we had to conduct another 15 Arena battles based on the mentioned principle using the same Mjollnir Mk2. The rating equaled 1528.

• Battle 1, opponent Radiant-X, 1519 rating. Victory
• Battle 2, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1529 rating. Victory
• Battle 3, opponent Radiant-X, 1525 rating. Defeat
• Battle 4, opponent Radiant-X, 1528 rating. Victory
• Battle 5, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1524 rating. Victory
• Battle 6, opponent Radiant-X, 1536 rating. Defeat
• Battle 7, opponent Radiant-X, 1536 rating. Victory
• Battle 8, opponent Radiant-X, 1535 rating. Victory
• Battle 9, opponent Radiant-X, 1526 rating. Defeat
• Battle 10, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1531 rating. Victory
• Battle 11, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1526 rating. Victory
• Battle 12, opponent Mjollnir Mk2, 1531 rating. Defeat
• Battle 13, opponent Radiant-X, 1525 rating. Victory
• Battle 14, opponent Radiant-X, 1526 rating. Victory
• Battle 15, opponent Radiant-X, 1535 rating. Defeat

Average rating of the opponents: 1528

During this last test using the low-level ship, the average ratings of the opponents of the first and third stages have not changed.

Thus, we can make the following conclusions regarding the difficulty adjustment myth. When using both ship that is relevant to the current level of Commander and the low-level ship, it is possible to meet opponents with a rating lower than yours. At the same time, Commanders must bear in mind that the opponents’ selection system is based not only on such factors as the chosen ship and the current rating. That is why the builds made by Commanders with a rating lower than yours may be more efficient than builds made by Commanders with a higher rating. Be sure to consider this in-game aspect, Commanders.

💬 And that’s all for today, Commanders! Don’t forget to suggest your own ideas for the next SpaceMyth issues.

See you all at the Arena!

411782cookie-checkSpaceMyths, VOL 12no