League of Legends placement matches are a pivotal part of every ranked season, serving as the gateway to the competitive ladder. This series of games is designed to assess a player’s skill level and determine their starting rank.
Whether you’re a new player stepping into ranked for the first time or a veteran returning after the yearly reset, understanding how these matches work is crucial for setting yourself up for a successful season.
How Placements Work
Players who are unranked must complete a series of five placement matches in each ranked queue (e.g., solo/duo or flex) to receive their initial rank.
Here’s a breakdown of the key factors involved:
- Matchmaking: The system uses a player’s performance in these games—including win/loss results, individual statistics like KDA (kills, deaths, assists), vision score, and objective participation—to gauge their skill.
- New Players: For those new to the ranked system, the matchmaking algorithm considers their performance in normal games (their normal mode matchmaking rating or MMR) to determine a baseline.
- Returning Players: For players who were ranked in a previous season, the system performs a “soft reset,” which slightly lowers their previous MMR. This means a player who finished the previous season in Gold IV is likely to be placed somewhere in Silver after placements, even with a strong win rate.
- LP and Losses: During placement matches, losses do not result in a loss of League Points (LP). A defeat simply grants zero LP. However, leaving a match or going AFK (Away From Keyboard) is treated as a regular loss and will negatively impact your placement.
Rank Outcomes and Limitations
Even with a perfect 5-0 record, there are limitations on how high a player can place after their initial five games.
- Rank Cap: The highest rank a player can achieve after their placement matches is capped, currently at Emerald 1 with 80 LP. This cap is in place regardless of a player’s previous skill level or MMR.
- The Soft Reset: Due to the soft reset, most returning players will find themselves placed about one tier below their previous rank. This is a normal part of the seasonal reset and provides a new opportunity to climb.
After the placement matches are complete, players are assigned a rank and can begin earning or losing LP in the standard ranked system, starting their climb up the ladder. Winning a higher percentage of placement games and demonstrating a strong impact on your matches will increase the likelihood of starting in a higher division.
Written by:
Christian