Riot Games is planning major updates to the League of Legends ranked system for the 2024 Season 14 to address issues with matchmaking fairness and transparency. These changes aim to more accurately evaluate player skill and ensure that rank better reflects a player's actual ability level. Let's take a closer look at what's in store.
New Ranking System
Riot Games is planning major updates to the League of Legends ranked system for the 2024 Season 14 to address issues with matchmaking fairness and transparency. These changes aim to more accurately evaluate player skill and ensure that rank better reflects a player's actual ability level. Let's take a closer look at what's in store.
TrueSkill 2 evaluates player skill more holistically, looking at factors beyond just wins and losses. It considers things like KDA, CS, objective control, and overall impact in the game when determining a player's "true skill". This should lead to more accurate rankings that reward strong individual performance.
4.9Lower Entry Point
New accounts are sometimes able to climb faster than longtime mains under the current system. To address this, Riot is lowering the average initial rank placement for new players. Most will start in low Silver or Bronze after initial placement games, with higher placements being more rare outliers.
This provides a more even playing field where all players must consistently prove their skill to climb, rather than lucking into an inflated initial rank. Reaching high ranks will require a solid track record of strong performance.
Improved Transparency
Many players have expressed frustration with the lack of clarity around LP gains and losses. In Season 14, expect more transparency around your MMR progress and how much LP you can expect to earn from each game.
Clearer feedback on your hidden MMR and how it compares to your current visible rank will help explain why LP gains may be faster or slower. You'll have a better sense of what you need to do to climb and can trust that the system is evaluating you fairly.
4.9Smarter Matchmaking
By more accurately identifying player skill level, the new ranked system should lead to better quality matches. You'll be more likely to be paired with and against players of similar true ability, leading to more competitive games.
The TrueSkill 2 system can also factor in things like your champion pool and strengths in different roles when finding fair opponents. So even if you switch roles often, the system can adjust its evaluation to keep games balanced.
Performance-Based Rewards
Borrowing from Valorant's ranked system, LoL may start awarding bonus LP gains and reduced losses based on your individual performance in the game. This would provide incentive to always play your best, even in a losing effort.
Metrics like KP, damage, vision score, and objective control could all factor in, giving you more control over your climb. Popping off and carrying games could be rewarded with bonus rank-ups, while consistently playing well could shield you from big LP drops.
TL;DR
Season 14's ranked changes are all about making the climb feel more fair, transparent, and reflective of your personal skill and impact. While the details are still being finalized, the move to TrueSkill 2 and other updates promise to address many long-standing frustrations with League's ranking system.No MMR system will ever be perfect in a team game like League, but these are positive steps toward ensuring that a player's rank is an accurate badge of their achievements. As the new season rolls out, look forward to a more rewarding ranked grind that recognizes your individual growth as a player.
