League of Legends remains incredibly popular, despite being more than a decade old, indicating the game’s enduring appeal. This also highlights the continuous influx of new players creating accounts and joining the gaming community.

Today, we will delve into the realm of League of Legends rankings and discuss how new players can improve their skills. Riot Games has devised a ranking system within the game, and we will uncover the process of ascending through various tiers, commonly referred to as elo hell.

LoL Ranks: What is League of Legends “Ranked”?

Ranked is the term used for the ranking system in LoL, which is one of the limited game modes offered in League of Legends. Apart from normals, there are various other game modes available in League of Legends. Once players attain level 30 in League of Legends, they gain access to ranked mode, enabling them to accumulate LP by participating in ranked games.

The ranks of LoL players will remain unaffected if they opt to play either normal games or ARAM.

What Ranks Exist in League of Legends?

League of Legends currently consists of ten ranks, each distinguished by a unique name, border, and icon. This system allows players to easily distinguish their skill level, as individuals within the same rank and tier are expected to possess comparable proficiency in the game.

From the lowest to the highest on the ladder, the current ranking system in League of Legends consists of ten ranks.

• Iron
• Bronze
• Silver
• Gold
• Platinum
• Emerald
• Diamond
• Master
• Grandmaster
• Challenger

League of Legends: New Emerald Rank in Season 13 Split 2

Riot introduced the Emerald Rank in League of Legends during Season 13 Split 2. The purpose behind adding this new rank was driven by the developers’ dissatisfaction with the existing rank distribution within the game. Initially, they intended for the player population to be fairly distributed across Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum ranks.

The intention was for Bronze and Silver to serve as the testing grounds for below-average and average players, while above-average players would compete in Gold and Platinum. However, in recent seasons, a significant number of above-average players found themselves trapped in Silver. The introduction of the new rank aims to once again balance out the distribution of ranks.

When Was Iron Rank Introduced To League?

When beginners first start playing League of Legends, they usually find themselves in the lowest tier known as Iron. In anticipation of Ranked Season 9, Riot Games introduced this tier in 2018. The purpose of adding the Iron tier was to help players have a clearer understanding of their progress as they embark on their League of Legends journey.

Therefore, as a new player embarking on your gaming journey, it is highly probable that you will spend a considerable amount of time in the Iron rank. However, do not let this discourage you, as this is the perfect opportunity to discover which playstyle suits you the most.

Simultaneously, with the introduction of the Iron tier in League of Legends, Riot Games decided to create a new rank for players who climbed out of the lower elos, which encompassed anything below Diamond. Additionally, in 2018, the Grandmaster rank was introduced to more accurately distinguish between Master and Challenger players, as the skill gap between these two ranks was frequently significant.

In the year 2023, Riot unveiled the introduction of the Emerald rank, positioned between the Platinum and Diamond Ranks.

What Is LoL Challenger?

In League of Legends, attaining the Challenger rank signifies the pinnacle of achievement, as it is reserved for the most exceptional 300 or 200 players in each region. To earn this prestigious title, players must successfully progress through the nine preceding tiers in the LoL hierarchy.

The journey towards reaching Challenger can often feel like being trapped in elo hell, facing a challenging grind and experiencing tough defeats across the eight tiers. Majority of players find themselves unable to reach Challenger and instead find themselves stuck in the Silver or Gold ranks, which are the most populated divisions.

To pursue a professional career, aspiring individuals must successfully navigate this elo ladder. To catch the attention of a prestigious team and secure a spot in their academy or even the LEC/LCS roster, one must attain a ranking among the top 300 or 200 players in their respective region.

How Do Ranks In League of Legends Work?

Once you have familiarized yourself with the various ranks in League of Legends and their availability, let’s delve into a deeper understanding of how these ranks function within the Riot MOBA.

How Do Tiers and Divisions Work In LoL?

As previously stated, League of Legends consists of nine tiers. These tiers are further classified into four divisions, denoted by Roman numerals IV to I.

Once players reach level 30, they have the opportunity to reach any rank. However, in order to participate in ranked ladder games, they must first gain sufficient game knowledge by playing a substantial number of games.

So, how exactly can you progress through the ranks and divisions in League of Legends? In Season 11, Riot Games has made a change to the system. Now, players are no longer required to win three out of five games in order to move between divisions. This alteration increases the likelihood of players ranking up, but it also raises the possibility of them being demoted.

At the commencement of the 2023 League of Legends season, alterations have been made to the process of transitioning between tiers. Previously, players were required to engage in a best-of-five series, but now a best-of-three series will suffice.

How To Get Your First Rank In LoL?

It should be emphasized that reaching level 30 and opting for ranked play on their LoL account does not immediately place players in Iron IV, which is the lowest tier and division in League of Legends.

Instead, players are required to complete provisional ranked games, also known as placement matches, to determine their official LoL rank. As a result, highly skilled players may be placed in Silver II directly after these matches, bypassing the Iron or Bronze divisions entirely.

It is crucial for players, especially those who wish to reach the diamond tier without having to go through all the ranks, to prioritize their placement matches when beginning their journey in ranked games.

What is LP?

LP stands for League Points and is required to progress through different ranks. Winning games earns you LP, while losing games causes you to lose LP. The amount of LP gained is determined by your or your opponents’ MMR (Matchmaking Rating), which we will explain shortly.

During gameplay, the objective is to accumulate as many victories as possible in order to earn LP and strive towards reaching 100 LP. Achieving 100 LP allows you to participate in a promotion series. Transitioning between divisions within a tier requires winning a best-of-three series, while moving between ranks necessitates winning a best-of-five series.

In summary, imagine you are currently in Platinum I and have just achieved the crucial 100 LP. This qualifies you for a promotion series, where you must win three games consecutively in order to advance to the Diamond IV tier. However, if you happen to lose during this series, your LP will reset to 0 and you will need to start the climb once more from Platinum IV.

What is MMR?

A is a reference to your matchmaking rating, a numerical value assigned by Riot according to your skill level. It signifies that the lower your MMR is compared to your opponent’s MMR, and if you manage to defeat them, you will earn a greater amount of LP.

A player’s matchmaking rating (MMR) is determined by their individual skill level. Therefore, if a player consistently wins multiple games, their MMR will increase, resulting in them being matched with players of similar skill. This implies that even if a player is ranked in Silver II, but possesses a high MMR, they may find themselves playing alongside or against someone in Gold III.

What Does Elo Refer to in League of Legends?

The term “Elo” pertains to the elo ranking system, which was utilized prior to the implementation of the current League system. Originally designed for games such as chess, the elo system computes players’ skill levels.

In modern times, the term “elo” has become synonymous with one’s rank in League of Legends. Thus, when someone inquires about your “elo,” they are essentially asking about your League of Legends rank.

How do LoL Ranks Work in Master, Grandmaster and Challenger?

Once players reach the Diamond tier, divisions no longer exist. Master tier and beyond have a distinct ranking system where players progress based on their LP.

After successfully winning your promotion series and attaining the Master tier, you’ll keep earning LP. By accumulating higher LP, players can progress through the ranked ladder, climbing from Master to Grandmaster, and ultimately reaching the prestigious Challenger tier.

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Every day, the system undergoes a reset and players with higher LP gains have the ability to surpass those with lower LP, resulting in increased transparency at the highest skill levels in League of Legends.

In both Challenger and Grandmaster, there is a limit on the number of players allowed. To illustrate, the EUW Challenger tier accommodates the highest 300 players from the region, whereas the Grandmaster tier accommodates 700 players.

If you have dedicated enough time and reached the Master, Grandmaster, or even Challenger ranks, it is essential to have opponents available for gameplay. As these tiers consist of a limited number of players, Riot has introduced LP Decay. This means that if you go without playing a match in that particular queue for an extended period, you will automatically lose LP.

How are LoL Players Distributed Between the Different Ranks?

Based on op.gg data, approximately 21% of Ranked players are located in each of the three tiers above Iron, with the majority of players currently positioned in Gold IV. However, higher tiers such as Challenger, which are typically occupied by esports professionals, have a significantly lower percentage of players.

The following presents the percentage breakdowns of the League of Legends player base:

Based on the statistics, Riot has undeniably achieved their objectives for Split 2. Rather than having only the top 15% of players in Platinum and above ranks, now we see that the top 30% of players constitute these tiers.

Just to clarify, your valuable Platinum rank remains unaffected. The redistribution has simply resulted in the average player being placed slightly higher, by one or two divisions, rather than an entire Ranked tier. So, you still need to demonstrate your worthiness for the rank you aspire to achieve!

LoL Ranks: The Differences Between Ranked Solo/Duo and Ranked Flex

There are various methods to savor the experience of climbing up the ranks in League of Legends. You have the option to embark on a solo queue adventure, where you play individually and get paired with four other players. Alternatively, you may opt for the duo queue, teaming up with a friend. It is quite common for support and ADC duos to queue up together.

Aside from Solo and Duo Queue, there exists another means of attaining a ranking called positional rank in flex queue. This involves teaming up with four other friends in flex queue, but it can be challenging to find such a large group of League players.

Starting from [date], players with a Master MMR and above are no longer permitted to team up in duos. This change aims to enhance the fairness of ranked matches, as effective communication plays a vital role in League of Legends gameplay. Consequently, players can only partake in solo queue games when participating in high elo matches.

Leaving Dodging and going AFK in Ranked

If you leave or go AFK in ranked games, it can have serious repercussions for you. The purpose of playing ranked games in League of Legends is to progress and improve your elo, just like your teammates. However, by going AFK, you make it extremely challenging for your team to achieve this goal. Consequently, Riot has imposed strict penalties for individuals who repeatedly engage in this behavior.

In order to address inactivity during gameplay, Riot has introduced a system of different punishments. Tier 0 is designated for players with no previous instances of being AFK (Away From Keyboard), while the most severe punishment is now Tier 7. Under Tier 7, players will be prevented from entering the game queue, meaning they cannot start matches in MOBA queues. Additionally, they will experience a 15-minute delay in joining the queue for the following five games.

Players who exhibit good behavior will receive rewards and have the opportunity to prove their reformation. For instance, if a player has been placed in one of the lower tiers due to being AFK (Away From Keyboard), they can strive to improve and climb out of that tier. On the other hand, players who fail to reform will remain in their current tier, and if they have another AFK match, they will face the corresponding punishments assigned to their tier once again.

Dodging the queue can prove to be quite bothersome, particularly at higher ranks where the player pool is significantly smaller compared to Gold or Silver tiers. As a result, Riot has introduced penalties for those who repeatedly dodge games.

Moving up a tier is earned with every dodge, but if someone dodges more than three games in a day, they will be unable to join the queue for 12 hours. This time frame allows for the reset of one dodge tier.

What is a Ranked Season in LoL?

League of Legends consists of numerous seasons, each year commencing with fresh modifications to the map, item store, and champions. Additionally, at the start of every ranked season, players are reset to a score of 0 and are required to play placement matches once again in order to ascertain their standing. However, it is worth noting that players who achieved high tiers typically begin the new season in Diamond automatically.

At the start of each season, typically in January, every player begins with a clean slate. Their LP (League Points) and MMR (Matchmaking Rating) reset to zero, and they must climb the elo ladder once again.

In contrast to previous years when the LoL ranked season spanned the entire year, concluding in November, the 2023 League of Legends season will be divided into two splits. This change brings about several benefits, including increased rewards for players and a stronger motivation to participate throughout the entire season.

Do You Get Rewards at the End of a LoL Ranked Season?

Indeed, Riot does distribute ranked rewards upon the conclusion of each season. Starting from LoL Season 13, all players will be granted the victorious skin as a token of their accomplishment. The chromas for players who achieved Gold or higher will remain intact. Moreover, players now have the opportunity to obtain two victorious skins within a year due to the introduction of significant ranked splits. Victorious Anivia has already been bestowed as a reward for Split 1.

In the past, Riot would reward players who reached the Challenger tier with physical gifts. However, this practice has been discontinued. Previously, players would receive personalized jackets displaying their summoner name and rank. Now, those players will only receive a victorious skin chroma, leaving them to find contentment in this alternative reward.

Do TFT and Wild Rift Also Use the Same LoL Tiers?

Riot Games developed Teamfight Tactics and Wild Rift, two games that feature ranking systems akin to League of Legends. In Wild Rift, players are required to participate in promotion series to advance their ranks.

In TFT, players’ LP and MMR are determined by their rankings in the top 8 of each match. Winning or losing LP is directly influenced by these placements. Additionally, higher MMR is attained through better rankings. This implies that even if you are a Gold II TFT player who wins four consecutive rounds, you may find yourself matched against Platinum II players who have experienced a few defeats.

The division system in Wild Rift differs from League of Legends. Instead of divisions, Wild Rift uses marks to indicate progression. Additionally, Wild Rift introduces a new tier called Emerald, which is positioned between Platinum and Diamond. Could this new tier potentially be incorporated into League of Legends in the future?