Riot Unveils Major Ranked System Overhaul Coming in 2026

Riot Games has officially outlined a sweeping set of upgrades coming to League of Legends’ ranked ecosystem in 2026. The goal is clear: shorter queues, smarter matchmaking, and the smoothest ranked climb the game has ever offered. Early regional tests in Europe and Oceania this September already showed promising results, with queue times dropping by roughly 40%, and Riot now plans to scale that success globally.

A key part of this overhaul is the introduction of a new climb indicator on the loading screen. This feature highlights when a player’s MMR is significantly higher than their shown rank—a common scenario early in the season when strong players start in Bronze or Silver. Riot believes this added transparency will reduce mistrust and tension during champion select. Alongside this, the studio will also synchronize MMR between Flex and Solo/Duo, preventing situations where highly skilled players with low Flex ranks skew the match balance.

Autofill is also getting a major upgrade. The system will now try to place two autofilled players in the same roles on opposite teams, or at minimum ensure the number of autofilled players is equal. To offset the inherent frustration of being placed off-role, Riot is introducing the Aegis of Valor. With it, anyone forced into an off-role will lose zero LP on a defeat (as long as they earn at least a grade of C) and gain double LP on a win. Riot will also occasionally grant this buff to players who queue for low-population roles, rewarding them for helping improve queue health. 🛡️

To curb common lobby frustrations, Riot is implementing stricter anti-dodging rules. Banning a teammate’s locked-in champion will no longer be allowed, and backing out of a lobby will no longer remove autofill—it will simply carry over. For players from Master and above, dodging while autofilled will now be treated as a full loss, reinforcing competitive integrity at the highest ranks.

Champion select is getting streamlined as well, with Riot shaving off about 30 seconds by removing unnecessary animations. The most surprising update, however, is the return of duo queue in high Elo, including Challenger. Thanks to more sophisticated detection systems that identify boosting and manipulation, Riot is ready to bring duos back without compromising competitive fairness.

Outside of ranked, Riot is also refreshing Swift Play. The mode will now feature a faster start (beginning at level 3), accelerated deaths, more frequent minion waves, and a new Minion Frenzy mechanic. Key jungle elements such as Grumps and Scuttlers are being removed, objectives are being simplified, and both Baron and Elder will spawn earlier. The goal is a more explosive, fast-paced format that better reflects the mode’s purpose.

Taken together, these changes make it clear that Riot is zeroing in on the biggest pain points of ranked play—long queues, uneven matches, autofill frustration, and champion-select toxicity—while setting the stage for a more modern, player-friendly competitive experience in 2026.