In a game where milliseconds can determine the outcome of a teamfight, ping—also known as latency—is one of the most important yet misunderstood performance metrics in League of Legends. Whether you’re landing a game-winning skillshot or dodging a jungle gank, your ping directly affects how responsive the game feels.
But what exactly is “good ping” in League of Legends, and how much does it really impact gameplay?
What Is Ping?
Ping is the measurement of time (in milliseconds) it takes for your computer to send a request to the game server and receive a response. In simple terms, it reflects how much delay there is between your actions (like casting a spell) and the server registering them.
The lower the ping, the faster and smoother your gameplay will feel.
What Is Considered Good Ping?
In League of Legends, ping is typically categorized as follows:
- 0–30 ms (Excellent): Virtually instant input. Ideal for competitive and pro-level play.
- 31–60 ms (Good): Still very responsive; most players won’t notice any lag.
- 61–90 ms (Playable): Slight delay is noticeable for experienced players but still manageable.
- 91–130 ms (Mediocre): Abilities may feel sluggish. Skillshots and quick reactions are harder.
- 131–200+ ms (High Ping): Severe input delay. Unplayable at a competitive level.
For most casual players, a ping under 60 ms is considered optimal. Anything under 30 ms offers a near-perfect experience.
What Causes High Ping?
Several factors can lead to high ping in League of Legends:
- Geographic Distance: The farther you are from Riot’s servers, the higher your base ping.
- Wi-Fi vs. Ethernet: Wireless connections are more prone to instability and packet loss.
- Background Applications: Other devices or apps (like downloads or streaming) can hog bandwidth.
- ISP Routing: Poor internet service provider routing can lead to unexpected latency spikes.
- Server Congestion: Rare, but possible during peak times or regional outages.
How to Check Your Ping in League
You can view your ping in-game by enabling the display:
- Press Ctrl + F to toggle FPS and ping.
- Your current ping (in ms) will appear in the top-right corner of the screen.
Tips to Improve Your Ping
If you’re experiencing high latency, here’s how to bring it down:
- Use a wired Ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi.
- Close bandwidth-heavy apps like video streaming, cloud syncing, or large downloads.
- Pause updates or background software while gaming.
- Restart your router or modem to refresh your connection.
- Contact your ISP to request better routing or inquire about issues.
- Play on the correct server—make sure you’re not accidentally queuing on a foreign region.
Is Stable Ping More Important Than Low Ping?
Yes. A ping of 50 ms that’s stable is better than one that jumps between 30 and 120 ms. Consistency allows players to adapt, while unstable ping causes sudden delays and frustrating gameplay.
Final Thoughts
So, what is good ping for League of Legends? Ideally, anything under 60 milliseconds gives a smooth and responsive experience. Below 30 ms, you’re in elite territory. The lower and more stable your ping, the more control you have—and the better your gameplay feels.
If you’ve been losing close fights or missing clutch skillshots, it might not be just you. It might be your ping.
Written by:
Christian