What Is a Smurf Account?
When you play League of Legends, you will often come across players who are clearly much more skilled than the average player in that game. You may notice that they are making very advanced plays, dominating their lane, and making very fast and decisive decisions. If you ask them, they might tell you that they are playing on a smurf account. But what is a smurf account exactly?
A smurf account in League of Legends is an alternative account used by a high-ranked player to play in lower-ranked games. The term "smurf" originated from a pair of professional Warcraft II players, Geoff "Shlonglor" Frazier and Greg "Warp" Boyko, who used alternate accounts with the names "Papa Smurf" and "Smurfette" to avoid being recognized in games.
Why Do Players Use Smurf Accounts?
Players use smurf accounts for a variety of reasons. The most common include:
- To play with lower-ranked friends: Many high-ranked players have friends who are at lower ranks, and a smurf account allows them to play with these friends without negatively affecting their main account's rank.
- To practice new champions or strategies: A smurf account allows high-ranked players to practice new champions or strategies in ranked games without risking their main account's rank.
- For a more relaxed gaming experience: High-ranked games can be very stressful. A smurf account allows high-ranked players to have a more relaxed gaming experience in lower-ranked games.
- When players switch roles: Some players switch roles in ranked games, and a smurf account allows them to do so without affecting their main account's rank.
Are Smurf Accounts Allowed?
This is a question that many players have. In League of Legends, the use of smurf accounts is technically against Riot's terms of service (ToS). Riot's stance on smurfing has become stricter since 2023 — they have improved detection systems, introduced faster automated rank placement for high-MMR accounts, and launched Vanguard anti-cheat for League of Legends in 2024 (already running in Valorant since 2020). While bans specifically for smurfing remain uncommon, the risk environment is meaningfully different from what it was a few years ago.
That said, certain activities on a smurf account are clearly against the rules and will result in a ban:
- Boosting other players on your smurf account
- Win trading
- Deliberate feeding/throwing
As long as you are playing legitimately and not engaging in these activities, your smurf account risk remains low. A pre-leveled account from a reputable seller, played normally, is the safest approach.
Smurfing in Valorant
Smurf accounts are just as common in Valorant as they are in League of Legends. In Valorant, your competitive rank is tied to your account, so high-ranked players — Immortal and Radiant — sometimes create fresh accounts to play in lower-ranked environments. The reasons are the same as in LoL: playing with lower-ranked friends, learning new agents without the pressure of a high-stakes match, or simply enjoying a more relaxed ranked experience.
Valorant's competitive rank system runs from Iron to Radiant, and the same dynamics apply — smurfing in lower ranks is a common practice that the community has mixed feelings about. Riot's Vanguard anti-cheat has been active in Valorant since launch in 2020, so account security is something to take seriously. A legitimately purchased Valorant smurf account used without cheating software or toxic behavior carries low risk. BoostRoyal offers pre-leveled Valorant smurf accounts ready for ranked play.
Where to Get a Smurf Account
If you are looking to get a smurf account, you have several options:
- Level up an account yourself: This is the most time-consuming option, but it is also the safest. You can create a new account and level it up to level 30 (the minimum level for ranked play) by playing normal games.
- Buy a pre-leveled smurf account: This is the most popular option. You can purchase a pre-leveled smurf account from a reputable seller. Make sure that the seller is reliable and offers guarantees for their accounts.