League of Legends has developed a competitive ranking system that puts players into ranks based on their skill, consistency, performance, and game understanding. Currently, there are 10 ranks. Here’s the order of the League of Legends ranks: Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, Master, Grandmaster, and Challenger.
In this order, Iron is the lowest rank, while Challenger is the highest tier. The top three tiers share a single leaderboard without divisions. But the remaining seven are divided into four divisions. Today’s LoL rank system uses an underlying MMR system that influences your League Points (LP). Let’s understand how it all works in this quick and easy guide.
All League of Legends Ranks in Order
Here is the League of Legends rank order, their divisions, and position in the ranked ladder.
| Rank | Divisions | Position in Ranked Ladder |
| Iron | IV to I | 10 |
| Bronze | IV to I | 9 |
| Silver | IV to I | 8 |
| Gold | IV to I | 7 |
| Platinum | IV to I | 6 |
| Emerald | IV to I | 5 |
| Diamond | IV to I | 4 |
| Master | Single division | 3 |
| Grandmaster | Single division | 2 |
| Challenger | Single division | 1 |
As you can see, all the ranks from Iron through Diamond contain divisions. Within each tier, the ‘IV’ division is the lowest and the ‘I’ division is the highest. Simply put, Iron IV is the lowest rank on the ladder, and just a single promotion separates Diamond I from Master.
Meanwhile, the top three tiers, Master, Grandmaster and Challenger, operate differently than the others on the ladder. They are Apex ranks with a single division.
How Does the League of Legends Ranking System Work?
According to Riot Games, the purpose of the League of Legends ranking system is to ensure “fair matches that provide goals for ambitious players.” These tiers and divisions offer a more structured path for players. As we saw before, ranked players are divided into ten tiers. Each tier consists of players of the same skill set. They can climb the ladder by winning more.
Divisions
Divisions are an important part of all the tiers from Iron through Diamond. Each tier consists of four divisions. Players must complete one division to move on to the next one. When they move to the next tier, they begin at the lowest division. For instance, if you start with Iron IV, you have to move through Iron III, then Iron II, and finally Iron I to climb to Bronze IV.
Also note that if you drop a tier, you end up being demoted in the highest division of the previous tier. For instance, if you suffer through a losing streak in Bronze IV, you move down to Iron I.
League Points (LP)
The more you win, the more League Points (LP) you earn. Similarly, the more defeats you face, the more LP you lose. Each division ranges from 0 to 100 LP. These points determine progress within the visible ranked ladder. The goal is to hit 100 so that you can be promoted to the next division, or tier. Any extra LP you have generally roll over.
However, if you fall below 0, you immediately get demoted to the division or tier below. Also, your hidden skill rating (MMR) decides how much your visible LoL league rank changes after each game.
- If the MMR is higher than the visible rank, the system assumes you are climbing. So, wins give you more LP, such as +28, while losses cost you less LP, such as -18.
- If the MMR matches your visible rank, you are balanced. So, wins give you +20 LP, while defeats cost you -20 LP.
- Lastly, if the MMR is lower than your rank, the system thinks you are slipping. So, you can get less LP despite a win, such as +14, and defeats cost more LP, such as -28.
MMR
Unlike your displayed visible rank, Matchmaking Rating (or MMR) is the engine that works under it. Basically, it’s just a hidden number that shows your skill level. It also affects your LP gains and losses and influences who your opponent is. Your LP gains and losses are indicators of your hidden MMR. So, even if you can’t see it, you can use your losses and gains to understand how it’s related to your rank.
For instance, if you earn 28+ LP for every win and lose only between 15-18, then it indicates an MMR higher than your rank. This means that you are climbing. On the other hand, if your gains for every win are less than 20 LP, then your MMR is lower than your rank. The system is saying that you are slipping.
There’s a way to fix this low LP gain, but it’s not a shortcut. You simply need to start winning more and losing less. MMR cares a lot about this. It changes based on your overall win streak, not just single games.
Placement Matches and Ranked Resets
First, you are required to unlock ranked before you queue up. You can unlock Ranked Solo/Duo and Ranked Flex once you hit level 30 after 20 champions and finishing 10 Swiftplay or Normal Draft games. After unlocking ranked, you start every queue by completing five placement matches.
Their job is to determine your starting tier and division. But remember that your rank cannot exceed Diamond III. A perk of placement losses for new players is that you can’t lose LP. A loss only results in you gaining 0 LP instead of dropping out. Things are pretty straightforward after placement. Your wins and defeats determine if you gain or lose LP, promoting automatically at 100 LP, with excess carrying over.
Placement matches are just for unranked players, including those who are new to the LoL rank system or those beginning a new season. Even though your visible rank resets, the MMR stays active and influences placement matches. Coming to rank resets, a common mistake is forgetting when they occur. Your rank won’t stay the same all the time.
The start of a new ranked year brings with it the biggest reset. Many older guides overlook how Riot’s system uses seasonal participation and reward progress. These are important to figure out early-season mix-ups, as the visual rank tends to lag behind MMR. A lower visible rank doesn’t necessarily mean lower skill. It might feel random, but it’s just the system correcting for MMR after resets and placements.
Also, the reward system has shifted from the traditional Gold-only structure that old players might remember. It is now based on participation and rank progression. That’s why old League of Legends guides often feel outdated even when the ranks themselves haven’t changed.
Solo/Duo vs Flex Ranks
League of Legends ranks are maintained independently for each queue. Solo/Duo ranks and Flex ranks are completely separate. Note that your performance in one queue doesn’t really affect the other because each has its own distinct rank and MMR. Basically, players can have different ranks in the two queues.
In Solo/Duo, queue restrictions tighten as you climb the ladder. Lower ranks such as Iron and Silver can pair with players a few tiers above them. However, this allowed range shrinks steadily until Diamond, when rules grow quite strict. Then, at Master and above, you face exclusive restrictions.
Meanwhile, Flex offers more flexibility just as its name suggests. But large skill gaps in your group can lead to more challenging games. These rules directly impact your ability to climb. Solo/Duo is better for pure individual skill tests. But Flex is better for team-focused practice. Let’s list out their major differences to better understand the two.
| Ranked Solo/Duo | Ranked Flex |
| Solo/Duo rank is designed to evaluate your personal growth, such as your climbing ability, laning skills, and decision-making. | Flex rank is ideal for practising team play, coordinating compositions, and preparing for grouped events, such as Clash. |
| You can play alone or with only a single partner. | Flexible party sizes of one, two, three, or five players are allowed in this rank. But there is no option for groups of four. |
| The party rules become increasingly strict as you progress. Lower ranks allow more flexible queuing, but Diamond has tighter restrictions, while Master tier and above have unique, high-level restrictions. | While Diamond and lower ranks have more flexibility, high-tier restrictions apply. The most important being that players must have at least an Emerald rank to queue with players in the Master tier or higher. |
League of Legends Ranks FAQ
What Is the Lowest Rank in League of Legends?
Iron is the lowest rank in League of Legends. However, all seven low-tier ranks on the ladder are divided into divisions from IV to I. When you consider these divisions, Iron IV is technically the lowest League of Legends rank on the ladder.
What Is the Highest Rank in League of Legends?
Challenger is the highest rank in League of Legends. However, it’s limited to the top 300 players in major regions, and the top 100 players in smaller ones. It’s extremely rare to achieve the highest spot. Only the top 0.02% of ranked players earn this elite status.
How Many League of Legends Ranks Are There?
There are 10 League of Legends ranks. This is the order of these ranks: Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, Master, Grandmaster, and Challenger. Here, Iron is the lowest rank, while Challenger is the highest tier. The top three tiers share a single leaderboard without divisions, but the remaining seven are divided into four divisions each.
How Do You Rank Up in League of Legends?
In League of Legends, you rank up by winning matches to earn more LP. From Iron to Diamond, each tier has four divisions from IV to I. You must reach 100 LP in your current division to be promoted to the next division. Finally, when you reach the top division of a tier, you are promoted to the lowest division on the next tier.
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