In one embodiment, a method comprises: identifying, by a root network device of a directed acyclic graph (DAG) in a low power and lossy network, a child network device in the DAG, including identifying a first rank associated with the child network device; allocating, by the root network device, an allocated rank for the child network device, the allocated rank different from the first rank; and outputting, by the root network device, a message to the child network device specifying the allocated rank, the message causing the child network device to implement the allocated rank in the DAG, including causing the child network device to generate and output a Destination Oriented Directed Acyclic Graph (DODAG) information object (DIO) message specifying the child network device is using the allocated rank.