Premade means a group of players who formed a party before queueing, as opposed to teammates the matchmaker picked. A premade can be as small as two players or as large as a full team.
The word is used for the group ("a premade of five") and as a description of the team ("they are a premade"). It is the opposite of a team assembled from strangers in solo queue.
How players use it
- "We were solo and they were a five-stack premade"
- "Is the other team a premade? They never stop talking"
- "Premade only, no randoms"
- "Anyone want to make a premade for ranked tonight?"
Why premades matter
Premades have a few natural advantages:
- Communication. They share voice chat and callouts.
- Trust. They know each other's habits and roles.
- Planning. They can agree on strategies before the match.
That is why games with ranked modes treat parties carefully. Matchmakers often weigh a party's skill differently from a team of solos, and some modes restrict party sizes, limit the rank gap inside a party, or keep premades and solos in separate queues. The details vary by game and change from season to season.
Premade versus solo
The tension between premade and solo players is a recurring debate in competitive communities. Solo players argue that playing against coordinated groups is unfair. Premade players argue that playing with friends is the point of an online game. Our post on solo queue versus duo queue goes into this, and the guide on CS2 Premier five-stacks shows one specific case.
How to form a premade
- Ask in a Discord LFG channel or in-game.
- Pick teammates with a similar level, language and schedule.
- Agree on roles and comms before the first match.
- Use a player finder: apps like GameVerse show players online now for the same game and region and let you message them. Start at /find-players.
Related terms
- Duo queue: a premade of two.
- Solo queue: queueing alone.
- Five-stack: a premade of five.
- LFG: the post used to find group members.
FAQ
Is a duo a premade?
Yes. Any party formed before entering a match counts, including a duo.
Do premades get matched against other premades?
Sometimes. It depends on the game and mode. Some ranked queues try to match groups against groups, others only consider combined skill.
Is playing in a premade allowed in ranked?
Usually yes, with limits on party size or rank gaps in some games. Check the current rules for your game.