League of Legends (LoL) is famous for its ranked mode, where players test their skills, climb the ladder, and earn in-game rewards.
If you’re new to ranked or want to understand how it all fits together, here’s a complete breakdown of how the LoL ranked system works in 2025.
Unlocking Ranked Mode
First things first, to play ranked in LoL, you must:
- Reach account level 30.
- Own at least 20 champions.
Once you meet these requirements, you’ll play a set of placement matches (usually 10) to determine your starting rank for the season. However, you can buy a LoL account that’s already ranked to skip this process.
The Ranked Ladder: Tiers and Divisions
LoL’s ranked ladder is structured into ten main tiers, each showcasing different skill levels:
| Tier | Order (Lowest to Highest) |
| Iron | 1 |
| Bronze | 2 |
| Silver | 3 |
| Gold | 4 |
| Platinum | 5 |
| Emerald | 6 |
| Diamond | 7 |
| Master | 8 |
| Grandmaster | 9 |
| Challenger | 10 |
- Iron through Diamond: Each of these tiers is split into four divisions (IV is lowest, I is highest). For example, Gold IV up to Gold I.
- Master, Grandmaster, Challenger: These are single-division tiers for the very best players.
Climbing the Ladder: LP and MMR
League Points (LP)
Winning ranked games earns you LP, whereas losing games deducts LP. Each division requires 100 LP to promote to the subsequent division or tier. If you’re in Division I, you’ll be promoted to the next tier upon reaching 100 LP.
Matchmaking Rating (MMR)
MMR is a hidden value representing your actual skill level, and your LP gains and losses depend on your MMR relative to your current rank.
If your MMR is higher than your rank, you’ll gain more LP per win and lose less per loss; similarly, if your MMR is lower, you’ll earn less and lose more, making it harder to climb.
Promotion and Demotion
When you exceed 100 LP, you’re promoted to the subsequent division or tier (with a small LP bonus in the new division). If you drop to 0 LP and lose again, you may be demoted to a lower division or tier, depending on your MMR.
Promotion Series:
As of recent updates, promotion series (best-of-three or five) have been removed for most divisions. Now, you move up automatically when you surpass 100 LP, except for tier promotions, where you start at 1 LP in the new tier.
Placement Matches
At the start of each season (or if you haven’t played ranked before), you’ll play a set of placement matches. Your performance in these games, combined with your previous season’s MMR, determines your starting rank.
Rank Decay
- Rank decay affects only players in Diamond and above.
- If you don’t play ranked for a specific period, you’ll lose LP over time. To prevent decay, you need to play regularly or use “banked days” earned by playing games.
Ranked Seasons and Rewards
Each ranked season lasts about a year, typically divided into two splits. At the end of each split, your rank is locked in and determines your seasonal rewards, which can include: Epic skins, icons, emotes, ranked borders, and merchandise. The higher your final rank, the better the rewards!
Conclusion
The League of Legends ranked system is designed to match you with players of similar skill and reward improvement over time.
By understanding these tiers, divisions, LP, and MMR, you can set realistic goals and enjoy the climb, whether you’re aiming for Gold or dreaming of even Challenger!