Champion Mastery in League of Legends is more than just a badge of honor—it’s a system that showcases your experience, dedication, and performance with specific champions. Introduced in 2015 and updated since, Champion Mastery allows players to earn points and progress through levels to show off their investment in a particular champ. But how exactly does the mastery system work, and what does it take to level up in the current environment?
Let’s break down how to climb the mastery ladder.
What Is Champion Mastery?
Champion Mastery is Riot’s way of recognizing how well you play a champion over time. For every matchmade game you complete, you earn Mastery Points (MP) for the champion you played. The better you perform, the more points you receive.
Mastery progress is visible in your profile, on the loading screen, and during post-game lobbies, letting everyone know just how much time and skill you’ve invested in a particular champ.
Earning Mastery Points (MP)
To earn Mastery Points:
- Play matchmade games (Normal, Ranked, ARAM, Clash, most rotating game modes).
- Perform well to receive a grade (S+, S, S-, A+, etc.). Your grade is based on your performance compared to other players on the same champion in that role in your region.
- Higher grades = more Mastery Points.
- Match length, performance metrics (kills, deaths, assists, vision, objectives, CS), and whether you win or lose all contribute. Playing with premade teammates also grants bonus MP.
- Custom games and Co-op vs. AI typically do not count for Mastery progression in the same way or past early levels.
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Mastery Levels and How to Unlock Them
Champion Mastery progresses through accumulating Mastery Points and earning Marks of Mastery:
- Levels 1–5: Earned primarily by accumulating Mastery Points through playing matchmade games. Level 5 is typically reached after earning around 10,000 MP on a champion. No additional items are needed to reach these levels.
- Level 6 and Beyond: To progress past Level 5, you need to earn Marks of Mastery. You earn Marks of Mastery by achieving high grades (like S-, S, or S+) and completing Season Milestones with that champion. These milestones reset each season. As you accumulate Marks of Mastery and continue earning Mastery Points, you can unlock levels beyond 5. The Mastery system currently allows for progression to levels far beyond the original cap, essentially allowing for infinite leveling to showcase long-term dedication.
Tips to Level Up Faster
- Play Your Best Role and Focus on Performance Stick to the role where your champion performs strongest and focus on key metrics like high KDA, CS per minute, vision control, and objective participation. Better performance leads to higher grades and more MP, which are crucial for progression and earning Marks of Mastery.
- Group Up With Friends Playing in a premade group grants bonus Mastery Points, helping you accumulate MP faster.
- Understand Season Milestones Pay attention to the Season Milestones for your champion, as completing these by achieving certain grades is how you earn the Marks of Mastery needed to advance beyond Level 5.
- Avoid Modes That Don’t Count Focus on playing matchmade queues that contribute to mastery progression and allow you to earn grades and complete milestones.
- Use Champion Shards Strategically (as a form of currency) While you no longer combine shards with tokens to unlock levels, Champion Shards can be disenchanted for Blue Essence, which is valuable for unlocking champions or other content in the store. Efficiently managing your loot can still support your overall League experience.
Final Thoughts
Leveling up Champion Mastery in League of Legends is a satisfying journey that rewards skill, consistency, and dedication over many games. Whether you’re aiming for a high level to showcase your expertise or just want to track your progress with a favorite champion, understanding the updated system gives you one more reason to improve and engage with the game.
Next time you drop a well-timed combo or clutch play, remember it’s contributing to your journey of mastery!
Written by:
Christian