League of Legends has ten Ranked tiers, starting at Iron and ending at Challenger. The complete order is Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, Master, Grandmaster and Challenger. Iron through Diamond each contain four divisions, while Master and above use a different competitive ladder known as the Apex tiers. Players climb by earning League Points (LP) from Ranked victories and lose LP after defeats. Reaching 100 LP promotes you automatically, but losing enough LP can cause demotion. Diamond and Apex players must also manage inactivity-based rank decay. In 2026, Riot maintains separate Solo/Duo and Flex rankings, five placement matches per standard queue and hidden matchmaking rating (MMR) that affects matchmaking and LP gains. The experimental Ranked 5s queue adds a separate competitive option for premade teams. This guide explains every rank, promotion and demotion rules, Ranked queues and the special requirements for reaching and maintaining the highest tiers.
Short answer: LoL has ten ranks from Iron to Challenger. Iron through Diamond use divisions IV–I and automatic promotions at 100 LP; Master, Grandmaster and Challenger use Apex rules. LP determines visible progression, hidden MMR influences matchmaking and LP changes, and inactivity decay begins at Diamond. Solo/Duo and Flex have independent ranks, while Ranked 5s is a separate experimental queue.
All League of Legends Ranks in Order
Ranked League of Legends divides players into ten tiers, with Iron at the bottom and Challenger at the top. Emerald sits between Platinum and Diamond. The seven tiers from Iron through Diamond contain four divisions each: IV, III, II and I. Division IV is the lowest, while Division I is the highest and leads into the next tier. Master, Grandmaster and Challenger do not have numbered divisions and instead use the Apex leaderboard system. The same rank order applies to standard Summoner's Rift Ranked Solo/Duo and Ranked Flex, although each queue tracks its own progression. The experimental Ranked 5s mode also maintains separate competitive progression.
| Order | Rank | Divisions | Progression System |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iron | IV, III, II, I | Standard LP and division promotions |
| 2 | Bronze | IV, III, II, I | Standard LP and division promotions |
| 3 | Silver | IV, III, II, I | Standard LP and division promotions |
| 4 | Gold | IV, III, II, I | Standard LP and division promotions |
| 5 | Platinum | IV, III, II, I | Standard LP and division promotions |
| 6 | Emerald | IV, III, II, I | Standard LP and division promotions |
| 7 | Diamond | IV, III, II, I | Standard LP progression and inactivity decay |
| 8 | Master | No numbered divisions | Apex LP ladder and inactivity decay |
| 9 | Grandmaster | No numbered divisions | Apex LP requirements and regional leaderboard |
| 10 | Challenger | No numbered divisions | Highest Apex tier with limited regional positions |
Riot's Ranked Tiers, Divisions, and Queues documentation explains the current tier structure and Ranked queue differences. These ranks should not be confused with the separate progression systems used in Teamfight Tactics, Wild Rift or League Classic.
How Divisions Work From Iron to Diamond
Divisions are smaller progression steps within a rank. For example, a player climbing through Gold moves from Gold IV to Gold III, then Gold II and Gold I before reaching Platinum IV. Each division uses LP to measure progress, so victories move you toward promotion while defeats can push you toward demotion. The Roman numerals run in reverse order of strength: I is higher than II, III and IV. This means an Emerald I player is closer to reaching Diamond than an Emerald IV player, even though both have the same tier name.
What Are the Lowest and Highest LoL Ranks?
Iron IV is the lowest visible division in standard Ranked, while Challenger is the highest tier and is reserved for a limited number of the strongest eligible players in each region. Reaching Challenger requires more than crossing a fixed LP threshold because players must also compete for positions on the regional leaderboard. The number of available Challenger positions varies by server and queue, making the effective qualification cutoff different across regions. A player's rank is not permanent: it can rise through victories, fall through defeats or change after a Ranked reset.
How League Points (LP) Work
League Points are the visible measure of Ranked progression. After placements, winning a Ranked match generally adds LP and losing deducts LP, but the amount is influenced by hidden MMR relative to your displayed rank and the conditions of the match. There is no universal LP reward that applies to every player, even within the same tier. Two Gold players can gain different amounts from a victory because their accounts have different matchmaking histories. Understanding this distinction is important when your LP gains and losses appear inconsistent.
How to Rank Up With 100 LP
Promotion through standard divisions happens automatically when your LP reaches or exceeds 100, with any excess LP carrying into the next division. For example, a player at 92 LP in Silver III who earns 24 LP advances to Silver II with 16 LP. The same principle applies when moving from Division I into the next tier, such as Gold I to Platinum IV. You do not need a separate promotion series. Older guides describing best-of-three division promotions or best-of-five tier promotions refer to historical systems rather than the current rules. Reaching 100 LP in Diamond I promotes the player into Master, where the Apex progression system takes over.
How Much LP Do You Gain or Lose Per Game?
LP gains and losses depend heavily on the relationship between visible rank and hidden MMR. When your MMR is above the level suggested by your current rank, victories generally award more LP and defeats remove less; the opposite tends to happen when visible rank is higher than MMR. For example, receiving +27 LP for a victory and losing 19 LP after a defeat creates a more favorable climbing pattern than earning +18 and losing 28. These numbers are illustrative, not guaranteed rewards for a particular tier. Special systems can also affect individual LP results: Riot introduced Aegis of Valor in 2026 for eligible autofilled and priority-role games, providing additional LP or loss protection when its performance requirements are met. Riot raised the required champion mastery grade from C to B in Patch 26.3. For a deeper explanation of LP patterns and hidden matchmaking rating, see the LoL MMR Guide.
What Happens at 0 LP?
Reaching 0 LP does not always cause immediate demotion. The result depends on whether you are moving between divisions, crossing a tier boundary or playing in an Apex rank. Within the same tier, a loss larger than your remaining LP can move you down a division. When a loss would take you below Division IV into a lower tier, additional demotion protection applies. Master and the higher Apex tiers have their own rules, so an account at 0 LP in Silver IV should not be expected to behave exactly like an account at 0 LP in Master.
How Demotion Works in League of Legends
Demotion occurs when a player loses enough LP to move down a division or tier. The current system distinguishes ordinary division demotions, demotions across tier boundaries and the special rules used in Master and above. Understanding which boundary you are approaching helps explain why some losses move players immediately while others leave them temporarily at the bottom of a tier. Demotion protection can reduce the risk of losing a tier immediately, but it does not make that rank permanent.
Demotion Between Divisions
Within the same tier, demotion can occur when a loss exceeds the LP remaining in your current division. Riot provides the example of a player at 5 LP in Silver III who loses 20 LP and drops into Silver IV with 85 LP. The calculation accounts for the portion of the loss that crosses the division boundary rather than resetting the player to 0 LP in the lower division. Because standard promotion and demotion series have been removed, movement between divisions is handled through the LP system directly.
Demotion Between Ranks
Dropping from one tier into another has additional protection, meaning a player at Gold IV is not handled exactly like someone moving from Gold III into Gold IV. Once the relevant protection is exhausted and a tier demotion occurs, Riot places the player into Division I of the lower tier with 25, 50 or 75 LP. The resulting LP depends on the system's assessment of the account's underlying skill relative to its visible rank. There is no universal number of consecutive losses that guarantees a demotion, so rules such as "three losses at 0 LP always demote you" should not be treated as accurate for every account.
Demotion From Master to Diamond
Master has a separate protection rule for newly promoted players. After first reaching Master, an account receives demotion protection for its first three games. Once that protection ends, dropping below 0 LP through match results can cause demotion to Diamond I, with the resulting LP set to 25, 50 or 75 according to the applicable skill assessment. This is different from inactivity-based Apex decay, which can move a player down to Diamond II under Riot's separate decay rules. Distinguishing ordinary match losses from inactivity penalties is essential when evaluating an unexpected demotion.
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LoL Rank Decay: Which Ranks Lose LP for Inactivity?
Rank decay is an inactivity penalty that applies to Diamond, Master, Grandmaster and Challenger. It is separate from losing matches: a player can lose visible LP simply by remaining inactive after their banked activity days expire. Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Emerald do not have inactivity decay. Players in those lower tiers can take a break without losing LP solely because they have not queued for Ranked. Diamond and Apex players must monitor their available banked days, particularly when planning a longer break from the game.
| Rank | Banked Days per Match | Maximum Banked Days | LP Lost per Decay Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron–Emerald | Not applicable | Not applicable | No inactivity decay |
| Diamond | 7 | 28 | 50 LP |
| Master | 1 | 14 | 75 LP |
| Grandmaster | 1 | 14 | 75 LP |
| Challenger | 1 | 14 | 75 LP |
These values are described in Riot's Placements, Promotions, Series, Demotions, and Decay documentation. Players entering Diamond initially receive 28 banked days, while Apex players initially receive 14. Decay losses follow the inactivity system and should not be confused with ordinary LP changes after Ranked matches.
How Banked Days Prevent LP Decay
Banked days determine how long you can remain inactive before decay begins. Each day of inactivity consumes one banked day, while completing an eligible Ranked match adds days up to the maximum allowed for your tier. Diamond players receive seven banked days per game and can store up to 28; Apex players receive only one day per game and can store up to 14. For example, a Diamond player with 14 banked days has approximately two weeks before inactivity decay begins, assuming no more games are played. An Apex player with the same 14-day balance has similar protection but needs substantially more games to rebuild it after a break. Your remaining banked days can be checked in the Ranked section of the client. Riot also processes decay on the final day of the season, making it important to maintain sufficient banked days until the season actually ends.
Can Rank Decay Demote You?
Yes. Inactivity decay removes LP and can eventually move a player into a lower division or tier. A Diamond IV player who loses enough LP through decay can drop into Emerald I, while Riot's 2026 Apex documentation specifies that players dropping out of Apex through inactivity decay descend to Diamond II. This differs from the ordinary match-result demotion from Master into Diamond I. Inactivity decay changes the visible ladder position, but it should not be interpreted as proof that Riot has reduced the account's hidden MMR by the same amount. Visible rank and matchmaking rating remain related but separate systems.
Master, Grandmaster and Challenger: How Apex Tiers Work
Master, Grandmaster and Challenger are the three highest ranks in League of Legends. Unlike Iron through Diamond, these tiers have no numbered divisions and instead rely on LP totals and competitive regional leaderboards. Reaching Master requires promotion from Diamond I, but advancing to Grandmaster or Challenger requires meeting a minimum LP threshold and qualifying for an available leaderboard position. The number of positions differs by region and queue, so an LP total that is sufficient on one server may not guarantee the same result elsewhere.
| Tier | LP Requirement | Additional Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Master | Reach 100 LP in Diamond I | Automatic promotion into Master |
| Grandmaster | At least 400 LP | Have more LP than the lowest-ranked qualifying Grandmaster in the region |
| Challenger | At least 800 LP | Have more LP than the lowest-ranked qualifying Challenger in the region |
The thresholds are documented in Riot's Master, Grandmaster, and Challenger: The Apex Tiers guide. Older guides may describe different requirements, so current Riot rules and the live regional leaderboard should take priority.
Why 400 or 800 LP Does Not Guarantee Promotion
Grandmaster and Challenger have limited regional slots, making the minimum LP requirement only one part of the promotion process. A player must also have enough LP to overtake the lowest qualifying player in the desired tier. For example, reaching 800 LP does not guarantee Challenger if every available Challenger position is occupied by a player with more LP. Leaderboard standings are recalculated on a rotating 24-hour schedule, allowing promotions and demotions as players move above or below the relevant cutoff. Riot's current Solo/Duo documentation lists 300 Challenger positions for EUW, KR and NA, 200 for EUNE and smaller allocations for some other regions. Flex can use different limits, so the live leaderboard for your own region and queue is the appropriate reference.
How Apex Players Lose Their Rank
A Master player can fall into Diamond after the relevant protection ends and their LP drops below the required boundary. Grandmaster and Challenger operate differently because their players compete for limited leaderboard positions. Falling below the minimum LP requirement or being overtaken by another eligible player can result in losing the higher Apex tier during a leaderboard update. This means an Apex player's tier can change even when their own LP has not moved, provided other competitors gain enough points to pass them. Inactivity creates an additional risk because Apex players lose 75 LP per decay day after exhausting their banked days.
Can Master, Grandmaster and Challenger Players Duo Queue?
Under Riot's published 2026 Solo/Duo restrictions, some Master players can queue as a duo, but Grandmaster and Challenger players cannot. A Diamond I player can duo with a Master player only if that Master player has fewer than 200 LP. Two Master players can duo when their LP totals are within 400 LP of each other, subject to the applicable MMR restrictions. Master players competing for Grandmaster are also restricted from duoing. South Korea has stricter regional rules, preventing Master and higher players from duo queueing, while additional MMR-based restrictions can apply regardless of visible rank. Always check the current eligibility displayed in the client before forming a high-rank duo.
MMR vs LoL Rank: Why Your Opponents May Have Different Ranks
Visible rank and Matchmaking Rating represent different aspects of League's competitive system. Your rank displays progress through tiers, divisions and LP, while hidden MMR is Riot's estimate of skill used to create matches with appropriately rated opponents. Winning generally improves MMR and losing reduces it, but the visible rank may move at a different pace. This can explain why an Emerald player faces opponents whose displayed ranks are above or below Emerald. Riot does not publicly reveal exact individual MMR values, and third-party calculators cannot retrieve an official rating directly from Riot.
Why You Gain Less LP Than You Lose
When your visible rank is higher than the matchmaking level indicated by MMR, the system may award less LP for victories than it removes after defeats. Conversely, a player whose MMR is substantially higher than their displayed rank may gain more LP than they lose. These differences can develop through winning or losing streaks, Ranked resets or periods when visible rank and matchmaking rating change at different speeds. Riot introduced a Climb Indicator in 2026 to help explain cases where a player's MMR places them in stronger lobbies than their visible rank suggests. The LoL MMR Guide examines these patterns and the limitations of estimating hidden MMR without claiming access to Riot's exact rating.
How Placement Matches Determine Your First Rank
Placement matches establish your starting tier and division when you are unranked for the relevant Ranked year. Riot's 2026 system requires five placement games for each standard Ranked queue. Your starting position depends on game results, opponent difficulty and previous matchmaking information; first-time Ranked accounts can also have their initial assessment influenced by Normal Draft and Swiftplay MMR. Placements are intended to establish an appropriate starting rank rather than guarantee a particular tier based on wins alone.
How Many Placement Games Are Required?
You must complete five games in Solo/Duo to establish that queue's rank. If you also want a rank in Flex, you complete a separate five-game placement series there. You cannot lose visible LP from a placement defeat, but the result still affects MMR, so losses are not meaningless. Winning all five games does not guarantee a particular tier, and the highest possible standard placement is Diamond III. These rules replace older guides describing ten placement matches. The experimental Ranked 5s queue has its own placement process and competitive ladder, independent of Solo/Duo and Flex. For the full explanation of first-time Ranked, returning accounts and how individual games affect placement, use the LoL Placement Matches Guide.
Ranked Solo/Duo vs Ranked Flex
Standard Summoner's Rift Ranked has two main queues with independent competitive progression. Solo/Duo is designed for solo players and eligible two-player groups, while Flex allows a wider range of party sizes and maintains its own visible rank and MMR. A player can therefore be Emerald in Solo/Duo and Gold in Flex without a contradiction. In 2026, Riot also began using Solo/Duo ranking information to help calibrate Flex matchmaking more accurately, but Flex performance does not raise a player's Solo/Duo rank. Flex parties can include one, two, three or five players, but not four. Rank restrictions are more permissive in Flex: players ranked Diamond or below have no Flex rank restrictions, while Master and higher players can only group with players ranked Emerald or above. The experimental Ranked 5s mode is separate from both standard queues. It requires a premade group of five, allows teammates of different ranks and uses Tournament Draft. As of Patch 26.20, its weekend queue window was extended to 4 PM–4 AM server time where available.
How to Unlock Ranked in League of Legends
A new account must meet Riot's Ranked entry requirements before starting placement matches. These include reaching Summoner Level 30, owning at least 20 champions and playing at least 10 Swiftplay or Normal Draft games. The requirements determine whether the account is eligible to enter standard Ranked queues; they do not assign a skill tier. Once eligible, the account completes placements and the matchmaking system establishes an initial position on the competitive ladder. League Classic and other special modes can have separate access and progression requirements, so their systems should not be confused with standard Solo/Duo and Flex.
Do LoL Ranks Reset and What Rewards Can You Earn?
League's Ranked progression is organized into a competitive year containing three seasons. The regular visible-rank reset takes place at the beginning of a new Ranked year, while progression normally continues between seasons within that year. Ordinary champion balance patches do not reset Ranked progress. Riot also provides seasonal rewards. Under the published system, winning 15 Ranked games during a season qualifies players for that season's Victorious skin mission; victories can be earned through Solo/Duo, Flex or a combination of both. Additional rewards can include a rank-based chroma and other cosmetic items, and Riot requires at least Honor Level 3 for reward eligibility. Separate Ranked 5s rewards follow that mode's own rules. Current information is maintained in Riot's Ranked Years, Seasons, and End-of-Season Rewards documentation and the relevant seasonal announcements.
Does a Ranked Reset Delete Your MMR?
A regular visible-rank reset does not necessarily erase the account's underlying matchmaking history. Riot can use previous MMR and ranking information to determine an appropriate starting position when new placements begin. Exceptional resets are different: during the 2026 competitive year, Riot introduced a special Apex reset in selected regions in Patch 26.9. Master, Grandmaster and Challenger players in NA, EUW, EUNE, BR, LAN and TR were reset to Master at 0 LP, while other players retained their rank status. That intervention should not be mistaken for the normal annual placement process. When evaluating changes to your rank, distinguish routine annual resets from separately announced adjustments affecting particular tiers or regions.
LoL Ranks FAQ
These answers cover common questions about rank order, promotions and inactivity that can be confusing when comparing older Ranked guides with the current system.
Is Emerald higher than Platinum? Yes. Emerald sits above Platinum and below Diamond. The relevant order is Gold, Platinum, Emerald and Diamond.
Does League still have promotion series? No. Standard division and tier promotions happen automatically when the required LP threshold is reached, without an additional best-of-three or best-of-five series.
Can you decay from Platinum or Emerald? No. Inactivity-based LP decay begins in Diamond. Players in Iron through Emerald do not lose LP solely because they stop playing Ranked.
Is Master higher than Diamond, and how do you reach Challenger? Yes. Players promote from Diamond I into Master, then compete for Grandmaster and Challenger by meeting the minimum LP requirements of 400 and 800 respectively and qualifying for positions on the regional leaderboard.
Conclusion
League of Legends has ten ranks from Iron to Challenger, with four-division progression through Diamond and a separate leaderboard system for Master and above. Understanding the 100-LP promotion rule, the differences between division and tier demotion, and the inactivity requirements beginning at Diamond makes Ranked progression easier to interpret. Solo/Duo and Flex maintain independent ranks, while the experimental Ranked 5s queue offers a separate competitive format for full teams. Track your visible LP, follow the queue-specific restrictions and use MMR and placement information to understand your competitive position without treating those separate systems as identical.
