Ranking System in League of Legends

In LoL, ranking plays a crucial role in matchmaking, earning rewards, and more. Ranks reflect a player's actual skill level, shaping their position both in the system’s leaderboard and within the gaming community.

Reputation, respect, recognition from professionals, and exclusive decorations that let everyone know you’re among the top players in the world—especially if you manage to reach Challenger rank by the end of the season.

Dreams are one thing, but in reality, climbing the ranks can be quite challenging, especially if you’ve just created an account and started playing.

Today, we’ll dive into what ranks in League of Legends are, how matchmaking works, what affects profile progression, and most importantly, what rewards await the most dedicated players.

How the Ranking System Works

The ranking system in League of Legends is a complex mechanism that calculates each player's skill level. Before you can participate in ranked games, your account must meet certain requirements:

• Own at least 20 different champions (purchased with real money or in-game currency).
• Reach level 30+ in League of Legends.

Only after meeting these conditions will you gain access to ranked matches. However, even then, climbing to the top won’t be easy due to soft locks and ranking restrictions.

For example, the LoL competitive year is divided into three seasons, each with its own conditions and events. The first season includes 10 placement matches to determine your division and league, while the second and third seasons require half as many.

This makes rank progression in LoL more challenging—you must carefully manage your promotion attempts to avoid getting stuck at the same rank for the rest of the season.

In January of the following year, the season resets along with your rank. You’ll lose one or more ranks, but this gives you the opportunity to quickly regain your reputation.

These are the fundamentals of the ranking system. Next, we’ll dive deeper into its key components.

Divisions and Ranks in League of Legends

The ranking system in LoL is based on several factors, including:

• rank;
• division;
• MMR;
• champion mastery;
• win rate.

Thus, the League of Legends ranking reflects a player’s actual skill level. These factors also influence how the system selects opponents and teammates in random matches, ensuring balanced gameplay.

The key ranking factor is rank, so let’s start by breaking it down.

LoL Ranks: What They Are and Why They Matter

LoL ranks are divided into 10 tiers:

• Iron – The starting rank assigned to players who meet the ranked match requirements and complete placement games.
• Bronze – A low-tier rank that indicates a basic level of skill.
• Silver – A slightly more advanced rank for players with average gameplay skills.
• Gold – The first top-tier rank that indicates a solid level of gameplay.
• Platinum – A mid-level rank that requires well-developed skills.
• Emerald – A mid-high rank where players can start competing at a stronger level.
• Diamond – A high-tier rank for players who are skilled and near the top.
• Master – The first professional rank, marking the beginning of the highest-level competitive play.
• Grandmaster – An expert-level rank, with players skilled enough to participate in tournaments.
• Challenger – The absolute highest rank, achieved by only 0.2% of players worldwide.

LoL ranks are also divided into divisions to ensure smoother player progression.

Divisions and Their Role in LoL

Up to the Master rank (inclusive), each rank is divided into four divisions:

• IV – Entry-level, for those who have just ranked up.
• III – The standard mid-tier of a rank.
• II – A high division, where players are strong enough to rank up.
• I – The final division before moving to the next rank.

Although LoL ranking is based on ranks and divisions, other factors like MMR play a crucial role in the final ranking.

MMR and the Matchmaking System

League of Legends ranks are a visual and numerical representation of a player's skill level. However, the game also has a hidden ranking system that is based on a player’s actual abilities and performance.

MMR (Matchmaking Rating) is a hidden LoL rating that has no visible indicators but directly affects matchmaking. Moreover, MMR can either boost or slow down your rank progression.

For example, your MMR can be:

• Above average – you gain more LP per win and lose less per defeat.
• Below average – you earn fewer LP for wins and lose more LP for losses.
• Average – standard LP values apply.

Hypothetically, with a high MMR, you might gain 25 LP per win and lose only 15 LP per loss. With a low MMR, the opposite happens: 15 LP per win and -20 LP per loss.

This hidden mechanic can be a great opportunity for rapid rank progression, especially if you’re confident in your skills and teammates.

Rank Progression in LoL

Divisions and ranks in League of Legends increase when a player reaches 100 LP and wins promotion matches. These matches come in two types:

• Solo/Duo Queue – You can enter the queue alone or with a friend, as long as their rank is within two divisions of yours.
• Flex Queue – Team-based ranked matches where full teams of 5 players compete.

Now, here’s the important part: these are separate rankings, meaning you need to climb ranks individually in each mode. For example, you could reach Master in Solo/Duo, while only hitting Grandmaster in Flex, or even staying in Gold.

To rank up, you must accumulate 100 LP in Division I of your current rank. After that, you’ll play promotion matches, and if you win, you move to the next rank.

If you lose, but have a high MMR, the system may forgive the first loss and give you a second chance. However, after that, every defeat will start reducing your LP, potentially leading to a rank demotion.

Rank Rewards

Ranks in LoL are more than just numbers and visual indicators of player skill. Climbing the ranks comes with exciting and valuable rewards, such as:

• Profile Icons & Borders – Cosmetic elements that make you stand out from other players, including loading screen frames and rank crests.
• Champion Skins (usually for Gold and above) – Victorious skins awarded to players who win at least 15 ranked matches. The color scheme of these skins depends on your rank, making them a great incentive to improve and rank up.
• Various Bonuses & In-Game Items – Shards, essences, boosters, and other valuable items, both cosmetic and practical.

In League of Legends, your rank reflects your actual skill level, teamwork abilities, and understanding of champions, tactics, and strategy.

Even if you ignore the extra rewards like skins, climbing the ranks is a matter of honor for every dedicated LoL warrior.

Yes, the road to the top is long and difficult, but completing this journey brings not only moral satisfaction but also pride in your achievements after a year of hard work in the game.

Tips for Ranking Up

LoL ranking is a complex system that evaluates player skills, ensures fair matchmaking, and determines a player’s standing. Your rank plays a key role in this process.

The Goranked.gg professionals have prepared some tips to help you rank up faster in LoL. First, focus on winning games:

• Specialize in 1-2 roles and 2-3 champions.
• Maintain good farm.
• Keep an eye on the map and macro play.
• If your lane is losing, don’t make it worse.
• Pick the right items for each situation.
• Avoid playing in a tilted state.
• Choose strong meta champions.
• Learn how to close out games efficiently.
• Use pings and communicate with your team.
• Focus on improving your skills, not just your rank.

For rank boosting, consider these additional tips:

• Continuously improve your mechanics.
• Maintain a high MMR by going on win streaks.
• Play promotion matches when you're in top form.

Or, increase your League of Legends rank without even logging in. With Goranked.gg’s boosting service, our professionals will level up your rank to your desired tier in the shortest time possible.