League of Legends
How Do Placement Matches Work in League of Legends?
The five ranked games you play in each queue to receive your starting rank, at the start of ranked and every new year.
What are placement matches in League of Legends?
Placement matches are the first five ranked games you play in a queue. They decide your starting tier and division. You cannot lose LP during them, and you play them again in each queue when a new ranked year begins.
What decides your starting rank
Riot looks at three things: how many of the five games you win, how strong your opponents were, and your rank from the previous year. For your very first placements, your normal-game MMR is also taken into account.
Personal stats are not part of the official list. What matters is winning against the opponents the system puts in front of you.
Rules during placements
- Five games per queue. Solo/Duo and Flex each have their own placements.
- No LP lost. A defeat simply gives 0 LP; your rank appears once the five games are done.
- A ceiling of Diamond III. No matter how well you do, placements cannot put you higher; the rest has to be climbed.
- Going AFK counts as a loss, so play with a stable connection.
Placements at the start of a new year
When the ranked year resets, returning players replay their placements in each queue. Your previous rank weighs on the result, so most players land somewhat below where they finished and climb back from there.
Example
Two players finished last year in Platinum II. One wins four of five placements against strong opponents; the other wins one. Even with the same history, the first starts noticeably higher.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many placement matches are there in LoL?
Five per ranked queue. Solo/Duo and Flex each need their own five games.
What is the highest rank you can get from placements?
Diamond III. Players who belong higher reach it by climbing after their placements.
Do placements reset every year?
Yes. At the start of each new ranked year, you play placements again in every queue, and your previous rank is part of the calculation.