League of Legends Introduces New Requirements for Ranked Matches

Riot Games is updating the requirements for playing Ranked matches in League of Legends, now mandating that players participate in unranked matches on Summoner's Rift beforehand. The massively popular MOBA offers various ways to play beyond its traditional 5v5 matches. Modes like "ARAM" provide unique gameplay with randomized champions on a one-lane map, while "Arena" offers a faster-paced 2v2 duel experience. However, a significant change is coming to one of the game’s most popular modes with Patch 14.15.

Ranked Queue, a long-time favorite among League of Legends players, pits competitors against each other in a classic 5v5 match on Summoner's Rift. Victories in this mode allow players to earn LP and climb the ranks from Iron to Challenger. Currently, Ranked play is restricted to players who are Level 30 or higher and own at least 20 champions. Riot Games is now introducing additional restrictions.

As reported by PCGamesN, Lead Gameplay Designer Matt "Phroxzon" Leung-Harrison explained the new requirements for Ranked mode. In addition to existing criteria, new accounts will now need to play at least ten unranked matches on Summoner's Rift before they can participate in Ranked play. Leung-Harrison noted that new players often level up through ARAM and Bot matches, necessitating a better way to gauge their skill level before they enter the competitive arena. This change has been in the works for a while, according to the developer.

New Restrictions Aim to Improve Ranked Play

The new restrictions are also targeting "smurf accounts," which are created by experienced players to compete at lower skill levels. Leung-Harrison emphasized the importance of placing new accounts for seasoned players at appropriate skill levels to prevent them from dominating less experienced players. The post also addressed issues of account selling and sharing, mentioning Riot’s "Vanguard" anti-cheat system as a tool to combat these problems.

These updates come amid a busy year for Riot Games, which has been working on several spinoffs. The studio recently unveiled its upcoming fighting game, "2XKO," set for a beta test in 2024 and a full release in 2025. Additionally, Riot Games announced a "resetting development" on the highly anticipated League of Legends MMORPG, indicating that fans will have to wait several more years for its launch. As the League of Legends universe continues to expand, these new changes aim to enhance the competitive experience in the original game.