If you’ve ever logged into BGMI ready to grind ranked only to see a pop-up warning that your merit score is too low to access competitive lobbies, you know how frustrating that hit can be. A low merit score locks you out of exclusive events, limits your reward earnings, and can even lead to temporary or permanent account bans if you let it drop too far. This guide breaks down exactly how to increase merit in BGMI using safe, official methods that won’t put your account at risk, no hacks or sketchy workarounds required.
How to Increase Merit in BGMI: Core Daily Actions That Work
The most reliable way to raise your merit score is sticking to small, consistent daily actions that the game’s system rewards automatically. You don’t have to win every match or rack up 10 kills per game to gain merit, you just have to follow the rules and play full matches without violations. Play at least 3 full, violation-free matches per day to max out your daily merit gains, since the system only allows you to earn up to 3 merit points per 24 hour period.
Each full classic or arcade match you complete without reports, AFK time, or early exits gives you +1 merit point, as long as your score is below 100. If your merit is already at 100, you won’t earn extra points, but you will maintain your access to all game modes and rewards. You don’t have to place in the top 10 or get any kills to earn these points, just stay in the match until it ends and avoid negative behavior. This is the slowest but most low-effort way to raise your score over time, even if you only play a few matches per week.
Common Merit Penalties to Avoid At All Costs
The fastest way to tank your merit score is making small, avoidable mistakes that trigger automatic or player-reported penalties. Most players lose merit not because they’re using hacks, but because they make impulsive choices during frustrating matches that lead to reports. Never leave a match before the final circle even if you’re knocked out early, since early exits are one of the most common reasons for automatic merit deductions.
The exact penalty amount varies based on the severity of your violation, but these are the most common deductions you’ll face:
Even accidental team kills can lead to deductions if multiple teammates report you, so always apologize quickly if you hit a teammate by mistake and prioritize reviving them immediately. If you’re playing with random teammates who are being toxic, mute them instead of arguing, since even defensive responses can lead to mutual reports that hurt your score.
Low-Merit Workarounds for Players Stuck Below 60
If your merit score drops below 60, you’ll be locked out of ranked play, event lobbies, and most reward tracks until you raise it back above that threshold. The only way to earn merit when you’re below 60 is playing classic mode against AI opponents or unranked arcade matches, since custom games and training mode don’t count for merit gains. You can't gain merit from custom matches or training mode, so stick to official classic vs AI lobbies to make sure every match counts toward your score.
Grinding AI matches for hours on end can feel mind-numbing, especially when you’re used to fast-paced ranked lobbies with real opponents. Most players carve out 5 to 10 minute breaks every hour to stretch, grab a snack, or play something low-stakes to reset their mood. Many casual fans load up Spin Winner during these short breaks to pass the time without getting sucked into a longer game that would derail their merit grinding schedule.
It’s tempting to speed through AI matches by rushing into enemy lines and getting killed fast to finish the match quicker, but don’t do that. The game’s system can detect if you’re intentionally throwing matches, and you won’t get the merit point for that match if you’re marked as AFK or intentionally underperforming. Take the matches slow, play normally, and you’ll see your score climb back up to 60 in a week or less if you max out your daily gains.
Long-Term Habits to Keep Your Merit Score High Permanently
Once you get your merit score back to 100, you don’t have to worry about daily grinding anymore, but you do need to stick to small habits to keep it from dropping again. Even accidental team kills can lead to reports if you don't apologize quickly, so always make a point to revive teammates first if you hit them by mistake. Most players won’t report you if you acknowledge the mistake and make an effort to fix it, even if the kill was accidental.
Another easy habit is checking your merit score every time you log in, so you can catch unexpected penalties early. If you see a deduction you don’t recognize, it might be a false report or a mistake from the game’s anti-cheat system. Appeal any unfair penalties within 72 hours to restore lost merit fast by submitting a ticket to BGMI support with a clip of the match if you have it saved. Most false reports are overturned within 24 hours if you provide proof of your innocence.
You should also enable two-factor authentication on your account to prevent hackers from accessing it, playing matches with cheats, and tanking your merit score while you’re offline. Hacked accounts are one of the most common reasons for permanent merit drops that players can’t appeal, so adding an extra layer of security is a small step that saves you a lot of hassle later.
At the end of the day, learning how to increase merit in BGMI doesn’t require any fancy tricks or expensive tools, just consistent, respectful play and avoiding the common mistakes that lead to penalties. The small daily effort of playing full matches and avoiding toxic behavior pays off with full access to all game modes, exclusive event rewards, and better matchmaking with other positive players. Even if you’re stuck at a low score right now, sticking to the steps in this guide will get you back to a 100 merit score in a few weeks at most.