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Everything about the League of Legends ranked system
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Hamza Rashid
Gamer
15 Jan 2025
Posted On
League of Legends is in one of the best positions of its 10+ years, largely thanks to multiple factors coming together. Not only did Arcane end up attracting countless newcomers to the game, but the game also launched its 2025 seasons which will continue to introduce different regions of the game to players.
With over 80 million monthly players, League of Legends is one of the most popular PC games. Its champion roster and tactical depth make it unique and challenging. The vast user base requires skill ranks to sort players, and understanding this system is key to improvement. This guide covers everything from MMR to rewards and tips to boost you toward victory!
So, without further ado, here’s everything to know about the League of Legends ranked system. If you already know about it and want to climb now then you can always hire a professional booster from Eloking to show you the ropes. Just don’t forget to use the code “BoostToday” for an excellent 20% discount.
How to unlock ranked mode in League of Legends
Before you can start playing ranked games in League of Legends, there are certain prerequisites that you have to fulfill:
Reach at least Summoner Level 30: Practicing normal games gives you the experience you need to access ranked.
Own a minimum of 20 champions: this ensures you have a basic idea about the different champion roles and playstyles.
Placement matches
If a new Ranked season begins or you’ve never played Ranked, placement matches assign your starting rank based on performance.
Each Ranked queue requires five placement matches. Your initial rank depends on your performance, opponents' skill, and last year’s rank. New players’ placements use their normal MMR, but the highest possible rank is Diamond III, even if previously higher.
You won’t lose LP for defeats but won’t gain any either. Losing too much results in a lower initial rank; disconnecting or going AFK counts as a loss, so ensure a stable connection before playing.
All League of Legends ranks
League of Legends offers 10 ranks, with the first 7 subdivided into 4 divisions each- IV being the lowest and I being the highest. Higher divisions bring you closer to the next tier. If you drop a tier, you’ll end up in the highest division of the next rank down. (E.g. From Platinum IV to Gold I).
Master, Grandmaster, and Challenger don’t have divisions; instead, players compete for leaderboard spots. These are all the LoL tiers:
Iron
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Emerald
Diamond
Master
Grandmaster
Challenger
The following are summaries of general skills players in each rank have, along with rank-specific tips they should focus on.
Iron:
Players are still learning the basics of the game. Focus on building foundational skills like CSing, jungle pathing, and warding. Use simple champions like juggernauts, prioritize split-pushing over grouping, and secure key objectives like dragons and Barons.
Bronze:
Mechanics are starting to show improvement. Practice laning and punishing enemy mistakes, continue split-pushing and limit fights to smaller skirmishes. Stick to easy champions and force objectives.
Silver:
Players show better mechanics but lack map awareness. Split-pushing is still effective, but team fighting starts to become more common. Focus on individual mechanics, use simple champions, and take advantage of poor enemy map control by forcing objectives.
Gold:
Macro play and wave management improve, and player preferences become more evident. Use utility or engage champions to fit roles and support your team, keep your hero picks simple, and adapt to a wider range of skill levels.
Platinum:
Players are stronger in mechanics, macro, and game fundamentals. Continue to practice specific mechanics to improve game knowledge, and focus on grinding matches to improve further.
Emerald:
Players are pretty solid in their mechanics, macro play, and decision-making. They need to polish more advanced mechanics, improve map awareness, and remain flexible when it comes to champion picks. Emphasise team play and objective control to outplay the opponent.
Diamond:
Players have strong mechanics and game sense. Teamwork and communication are critical, so coordinate for invades, dives, and objective control while taking down opponents.
Master and Beyond:
Mechanics have reached a pro player level, making mental fortitude key. Try your best to avoid tilt and toxicity, stay focused, and play every game to win- regardless of setbacks.
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How the ranking system works in League of Legends
Now that you know everything about the League of Legends ranks, it’s time ot hihglight some basic thinks about how the ranked system works. This includes MMR, LP, and how LP decay work.
MMR
Matchmaking Rating (MMR) is a hidden skill rating that determines a player’s skill and pairs them with others on the same level during queues. It also influences LP gain and loss after matches.
If your MMR is above your rank, you’ll gain more LP for wins and lose less for defeats, as the system believes you belong to a higher rank. On the other hand, lower MMR results in smaller LP gains and larger losses.
Riot Games hasn’t revealed how it’s calculated, and there’s no way to determine your exact MMR. However, if you gain a lot of LP for wins and lose little for defeats, your MMR is likely high for your rank.
League points (LP)
When a player wins a match they gain LP, while being defeated causes a deduction. To move to the next division, about 100 LP is needed. To reach Master, you must win Diamond promotions and hit 100 LP. Advancing to Grandmaster requires 200 LP, while Challenger demands approximately 500 LP,
The LP gained or lost depends on the following:
The skill levels of opponents and teammates
Your matchmaking rating (MMR)
Your performance
Winning against higher MMR opponents grants more LP while losing to them results in smaller losses. This system aims to rank players fairly based on skill. If your LP gains and losses are equal, the game considers your rank appropriate for your skill level.
LP decay
Being inactive in ranked mode for a while is punished with LP decay after a certain amount of time. This is when you begin to lose LP until you play a match in that queue. Reaching 0 LP can result in demotion to a lower rank (e.g., from Gold IV to Silver I).
What are the two ranked queues in League of Legends?
League of Legends has two distinct types of queues players can utilize to begin their ranked journey. The first is the solo/duo queue, while the second is the flex queue. Here’s what makes both of them different from each other.
Solo/duo queue
The Solo/Duo queue is the battleground for individual skill, offering intense competition to refine mechanics, game sense, and communication. Players can queue alone or with one partner, strategizing with fresh teammates each match. The Solo/Duo rank is separate from the Flex rank, with rewards exclusive to your Solo tier at the end of the season.
Restrictions:
In Duo, only players in adjacent ranks can queue together. For example: Iron, Bronze, and Silver players can team up, but Bronze can’t team up with Gold.
While Emerald can pair with Platinum and Diamond, Diamond players can only match with others in the same rank or Emerald.
Master, Grandmaster, and Challenger are solo only
Flex queue
Flex queue allows teams of up to five players and focuses on teamwork. It’s ideal for practicing with friends, trying unconventional comps, and preparing for Clash. Flex rank is independent of Solo rank, with rewards specific to your Flex tier at season’s end. However, Only Emerald players and higher can pair with Master, Grandmaster, and Challenger, and a group of four can't queue up.
End of season rewards:
There are a handful of season end rewards players who played the ranked modes of League of Legends can get depending on how high they climbed.
Regalia
Crests: Crests display your current rank on your profile, during the loading screen, and can appear as an optional border around your Summoner icon in the pre-game lobby.
Borders: Showcase your rank for the active queue (in normals, this reflects your highest Summoner's Rift rank). You can also click on players in the loading screen to view their ranked status and champion mastery details.
Victorious skins
Beginning with Season One of 2025, you can unlock Victorious skins by winning 15 Ranked games in Solo/Duo, Flex, or a mix of both.
This change ensures any player can earn a Victorious skin. Remember, chromas for the skin are tied to your final rank for the season, so push yourself to climb as high as possible.
Honor awards
Rewards are available for achieving Honor Level 3 or higher, but the exclusive Three Honors skinline is reserved for players who reach Honor Level 5 through outstanding sportsmanship by the season’s end.
FAQs
What is a good rank to be in League of Legends?
Similar to every other competitive online game, it’s hard to say with confidence what a good League of Legends rank is. While silver may be good enough for most casual players, others may want to aim for diamond or even higher. After all, with a competitive game like League of Legends, players primarily get satisfaction by climbing the ranks to prove their skill and knowledge of the game.
What’s the best way to climb the ranks in League of Legends?
There are multiple ways players tend to climb the League of Legends ranks. While some like to queue only with friends, others look for the best players to team up with. After all, since League of Legends is a competitive team-based game, you’re only as strong as your weakest link and one player alone can’t win a match.
If you’re struggling to find the ideal teammates for yourself, you can always hire a professional LoL teammate from Eloking. Just don’t forget to use the code “BoostToday” so you get a 20% discount on your order.
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