GunBoundM matches players based on league, not on rank. Some higher-rank players may be in the same league as you are for a number of reasons (inactivity, poor win-rate, punishment). You may be paired against someone in a league that is one removed from your own in either direction if the game does not register a player of matching league in the queue. If no qualified human players are found to play as your opponent within roughly 30 seconds, you will get matched against an AI controlled opponent instead, of appropriate difficulty level.
The more complicated way of answering this question would be to point out the probably shifting ratio of experienced to newer players. At this stage, several years after release, most active players have reached mid-to-high ranks and leagues. New players join less frequently, have fewer people in the same level as they are, and quickly ascend themselves. At the mid-to-high leagues, matching happens with much more effectiveness and consistency because this is currently the most populated range.
Approximately 80% of matches are determined by the player who makes their shots, or in other words, misses the least. The number one way to improve your win rate therefore is to improve your shot-making ability. Spending time in the medium or hard training battle modes and practicing higher angle shots until you can consistently make them from various distances and wind conditions is recommended. Around 10% of matches are determined by superior strategy decisions (e.g. using items at optimal times, situational awareness, strategic movement and positioning, etc.). About 5% of matches are determined by having superior equipment. The remaining 5% is luck, and depending on the mode (this is especially true of "Duel Battle" and to an extent, "Pro Battle"), most of this is the player who gets first-turn-advantage.
For an in-depth answer, please refer to the spending guide.
If you are using a FaceBook-connected account, you may change your profile picture in-game to that of your FaceBook profile picture by selecting the option "use my image" in the account tab of the settings.
To use an avatar image as your profile image, you must own either the avatar you wish to use or one of its cards. To use the avatar, go to the avatar's tab in the mobile's information screen and select "change my image". To use an avatar card, click on the avatar card in your inventory and select "change my image".
Images other than FaceBook profile pictures or avatars cannot be used.
For specific avatar recommendations for newer players, see Which Avatars Should I buy?
For a wider overview on all of the available avatars, see: avatar guide.
The answer to this question is that 99% of games are not determined by cash-purchase-only items, nor does spending cash to "accelerate" your gear do very much to increase your win rate. However, the avatar that is commonly perceived by new players as the strongest in the game is indeed a cash-only-purchase item (edit 01/18/20: Even Yunin at this point has largely faded out of the meta-game and occupies but a small niche at high-level, competitive play). Some games may include them and come close such that the avatar uniquely caused one player or team to win over the other. That being said, the short answer is "Mostly and primarily, 'no'".
There cannot be a drawn match in GBM. In these situations, it is the mobile who is destroyed first (in terms of real-time) who loses. In most cases, this is tantamount to saying "the mobile who had fewer remaining HP as the mobiles were struck will be the one who loses". In the case of dual bungee knock-outs from tanks such as Beetle King, JD, or Dark Raon, the player that is furthest from the center of the attack will be counted as having been knocked out first.
Disconnection issues are usually a result of poor internet connection. Sometimes, immediately after an update, users of certain mobile devices experience problems connecting. Softnyx usually fixes this issue before the end of the day when this happens. If you are experiencing inexplicable connection issues, please contact Softnyx directly.
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