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League of Legends Ranking System: How it Works

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League of Legends Ranking System: How it Works

If you’ve ever played ranked in League of Legends, you’ve probably wondered why you gain 15 LP after a win but lose 25 after a loss. Or why you’re stuck in Gold even with a 60% win rate. It all comes down to understanding how the ranked system actually works.

Here’s a clear breakdown of LP, divisions, tiers, MMR, and how promotions and demotions function.

1. Tiers and Divisions

League has nine ranked tiers:
Iron → Bronze → Silver → Gold → Platinum → Emerald → Diamond → Master → Grandmaster → Challenger.

Each tier (Iron through Diamond) has four divisions: IV (lowest) to I (highest). For example, Gold IV is lower than Gold I.

Master and above don’t use divisions. Instead, players are ranked by LP on a leaderboard.

2. League Points (LP)

LP is the visible point system tied to your rank. You gain LP when you win and lose LP when you lose. Win a game in Silver III? You might get +20 LP. Lose one? Maybe –18.

But the exact LP you gain or lose depends on your MMR—your hidden matchmaking rating.

3. Matchmaking Rating (MMR)

MMR is the invisible number behind the scenes. It decides who you play with and against and directly affects how much LP you win or lose.

  • If your MMR is higher than your rank, you gain more LP per win and lose less.
  • If your MMR is lower than your rank, you gain less LP and lose more.

For example, if you’re Gold IV but your MMR is closer to Silver I, the system is trying to pull you down to match your true skill level.

You can’t see your MMR directly, but you can estimate it based on:

  • LP gain/loss per match
  • The average rank of your teammates and opponents

4. Promotions and Demotions

Promotion Series (Iron to Diamond)

When you hit 100 LP, you enter a promotion series. You need to win 2 out of 3 games to move up to the next division or tier (e.g., from Gold II to Gold I).

  • If you fail, you drop to 75 LP and stay in your current rank.
  • You can skip divisions (e.g., from Silver IV to Silver II) if your MMR is much higher than your current rank.

Demotion

You drop a division or tier when your LP hits 0 and you lose again.
However, there’s demotion protection if you’ve just been promoted (you usually get a buffer of a few games).

From Master+, there are no promos. You climb by gaining LP directly.

5. Ranked Decay

  • Applies only to Diamond and above.
  • If you don’t play ranked games for a set period (e.g., 28 days in Diamond), you start losing LP automatically each day.
  • Playing a game resets the decay timer.

6. Other Ranked Details

  • Auto-fill protection: You’re less likely to be autofilled after already playing a game autofilled.
  • Dodging: You lose LP for dodging ranked games, but your MMR stays the same.
  • Remake: No LP or MMR change if a game ends early via remake.

Final Thoughts

If your LP gains seem unfair, it’s likely because your MMR doesn’t match your rank. Want to climb? Focus on consistent wins, limit your champion pool, and avoid tilt. The system isn’t perfect, but it rewards improvement over time.

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