All You Need to Know About the LoL Ranking System

5 min read

In League of Legends, ranked mode is the true test of skill. Unlike casual modes like Normals or ARAM, ranked matches match you with players of similar skill levels, giving you a clear path to improve and climb the ranks.

In League of Legends, every player has a rank, which goes up when you win and, naturally, down when you lose. Whether you're a competitive player at the heights of Challenger or a casual gamer starting in Silver or Bronze, you’ll need to learn about the LoL ranking system to start climbing.

Let's break down the system, open up hidden mechanics like MMR and LP gain, and optimize your climb.

Ranked Tiers, Divisions, and Queues – League of Legends Support

How the LoL Ranking System Works

Losing Twice as much LP as gaining : r/leagueoflegends

Earning and Losing LP (League Points)

  • Winning games earns you LP while losing takes LP away.

  • Each tier has 100 LP. When you pass this, you get promoted to the next rank.

  • Previously, to reach 100 LP in a tier, you had to play a promotion series (best of 3), and to reach 100 LP in a top tier, you had to play a best-of-5 promo before advancing to the next rank.

  • Now, Riot has removed promos, making rank-ups faster and easier. However, demotion shields (preventing immediate demotion at 0 LP) may still apply.

Every LoL Ranks and Tiers in Order

  • Iron (IV, III, II, I)

  • Bronze (IV, III, II, I)

  • Silver (IV, III, II, I)

  • Gold (IV, III, II, I)

  • Platinum (IV, III, II, I)

  • Emerald (IV, III, II, I)

  • Diamond (IV, III, II, I)

  • Master (LP-based ladder)

  • Grand Master (LP-based ladder)

  • Challenger (Top 300 players per region for solo/duo ranked queue)

Riot Games streamlined the LoL ranking system in 2023 by removing the series of promotions between divisions. Reaching 100 LP in your division now pushes you up a tier. Once you are higher up, the difference in skill grows.

What Is League of Legends MMR?

Your position in the ranks is only the tip of the iceberg. Underneath that is your Matchmaking Rating (MMR), a hidden rating that decides LP gain and loss and the skill of opponents:

Every player has a hidden rating called MMR (Matchmaking Rating), which determines who you’re matched with.

Your MMR is based on past performance and affects LP gains/losses.

  • If your MMR is high, you gain more LP per win and lose less per loss.

  • If your MMR is low, you gain less LP per win and lose more per loss.

Winning streaks improve MMR, helping you rank up faster.

For example:

  • High MMR. Win up to +25 LP; lose only -15.

  • Low MMR. Struggling with +15 LP wins and -25 losses.

Consistency beats spam. Use tools like OP.GG will track your MMR trends and adjust your gameplay accordingly.

What Does ELO Mean in LoL?

Elo is just another term for rank or skill level. It comes from chess, where players are rated between 0 and 2200+ based on skill.

How to Unlock Ranked Mode in LoL

To start playing ranked games, you must reach level 30 and own at least 20 champions.

When you first enter ranked, you must play five placement matches. Your wins/losses in these games determine your starting rank. Don’t stress if you start low; it’s normal, and climbing up is part of the process!

Current LoL Rank Distribution

  • Iron – 19%

  • Bronze – 19%

  • Silver – 19%

  • Gold – 17%

  • Platinum – 11%

  • Emerald – 8.4%

  • Diamond – 2.7%

  • Master – 0.59%

  • Grand Master – 0.067%

  • Challenger – 0.028%

Reaching Gold or Platinum is a victorious experience as you'll be above average starting high tiers in Gold.

Every Rank Has a Demotion Shield

Is demotion shield expiring out of sync with games? : r/leagueoflegends

  • 0 LP Buffer: You can lose a few games at 0 LP before demotion.

  • Demotion Shield Expiry: Repeated losses may result in rank reduction.

Demoting from Gold to Platinum usually takes around 5-7 losses at 0 LP. Remember, the system isn’t unfair; it simply matches you with players of similar skill, so if you're on a losing streak, step away for a bit or find a way to regain momentum.

The Newly Added Emerald Rank

Emerald redefined mid-tier rank distribution with its 2023 launch. Sitting between Platinum and Diamond as a buffer, it shifts the previous bottom-heavy rank distribution to a higher average rank and keeps Master+ ranks elite. Emerald's more strict matchmaking means more even matches and more refined progression.

Quick Tips for Ranking Up in LoL

  • Dominate your Placement Matches as they give the most LP gains.

  • Players win more by outplaying your average in a particular tier. Roam, take objectives, and avoid inting.

  • Avoid Master+ Rank decay.

  • Adapt to the Meta.

LoL Rank Decay

So, what happens when you stop playing? To keep players engaged and prevent inactive high-ranked players from holding top spots unfairly, Riot Games introduced a system called rank decay.

  • This only affects high ranks (Diamond and above).

  • If you're inactive for too long, you lose 50 or 75 LP per day.

  • Playing games “banks” active days so you don’t lose LP immediately.

  • The decay rules for each rank are shown below:

Rank

Banked Days Per Match

Maximum Banked Days

Initial Days Before Decay

LP Loss on Decay

Diamond

7

28

28

50

Master to Challenger

1

14

14

75

Ready to Dominate Ranked Play?

League of Legends ranks track your skill level, helping you improve and compete against similar players. Whether climbing from Iron to Platinum or aiming for Challenger, understanding LP, MMR, and ELO is your starting point for ranking up. To speed up the climbing process, choose from our League of Legends boosting services. Your desired ranks will be only a few clicks away! Stay consistent, keep learning, and enjoy the climb.