Ranked Restrictions in League of Legends
Ensuring a fair and enjoyable experience in a competitive mode like Ranked is a difficult task. To maintain a healthy environment, Riot Games enforces a series of Ranked Restrictions.
This form of disciplinary action is designed to curb toxic behavior and ensure that the competitive integrity of all games is upheld. In the following lines, we will delve into all LoL Ranked Restrictions, why they're implemented, and how they work.
What are Ranked Restrictions in League of Legends?
Ranked Restrictions in League of Legends are penalties imposed on players who engage in negative behavior or violate the rules of the game. When a player has been restricted, they are temporarily banned from participating in all ranked modes.
Additionally, these players may also face other limitations, such as being restricted from using the chat or getting a queue delay. But before we discuss the possible extra penalties, here are the main reasons people get ranked restrictions.
Toxic Behavior
League of Legends has long struggled with toxic behavior, including harassment, intentional feeding, and other disruptive conduct. Ranked Restrictions serve as a deterrent for players who consistently exhibit such behavior.
The goal is to encourage positive interaction and good sportsmanship within the community but it is difficult when you have tens of millions of active players.
However, Riot tightened its grip with the introduction of the new Vanguard security software, making it extremely difficult for players to violate the code of conduct without repercussions.
Account Sharing/Boosting and Cheating
Players who engage in account sharing or boosting violate the competitive integrity of the ranked ladder. Riot Games penalizes such activities to ensure that ranked games are a genuine reflection of a player's skill level.
Moreover, players who exploit in-game bugs or use third-party software to gain an unfair advantage are also subject to Ranked Restrictions.
And earlier in 2024, Riot's devs announced that they would also add brand new penalties for players using unauthorized third-party apps.
AFKing or Leaving Games
Playing a competitive game where winning depends on the performance of the entire team and having an AFK is one of the most infuriating situations.
Players who frequently leave games or go AFK ruin the experience not only for their teammates but also for the opponents who want a fair game.
Ranked Restrictions discourage this behavior by preventing repeat offenders from participating in ranked matches for a given period.
LoL Ranked Restrictions: Types of Penalties
Riot utilizes a variety of mechanisms to enforce Ranked restrictions. In the following segment, we will discuss the main penalties and all the additional disciplinary limitations that often come before the major bans.
Obviously, the main purpose of the restrictions is to limit your participation in all competitive modes. When your account gets issued with a penalty, you will be forced to complete a set number of unranked matches before you can return to competitive play.
Traditionally, you will have to play a minimum of 5 games to unlock your account. The most important thing to know at this point is which modes count for the allotted restriction.
In this case, you can only play Normal and Draft Pick games. All other modes like ARAM, Arena, and Co-op vs AI have been listed as unacceptable.
And the key to removing your Ranked restriction is to complete these games without exhibiting toxic behavior or AFKing.
In some cases, players may be given chat restrictions as an alternative or in addition to Ranked Restrictions. These restrictions limit a player's ability to communicate with others in the game, reducing the chances of toxic interactions.
Moreover, if a player under chat restriction continues to display negative behavior, they may subsequently receive a full Ranked restriction.
Additionally, repeated AFKing or leaving games will lead to additional limitations like the Low Priority Queue. The first few violations result in a minimal queue delay but the system has several tiers and the last few levels include a complete queue lockout for up to 2 weeks.
Last but not least, players who were restricted during a ranked season often become ineligible for end-of-season rewards. Offenders also often experience a drop in their Honor level, making it harder to reach higher tiers of Honor and unlock related rewards.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How do you unlock Ranked play in League of Legends?
Players have to reach Level 30 to unlock the competitive modes in League of Legends.
Are there Ranked restrictions for new accounts in LoL?
Riot Games introduced a special rule for new accounts in 2024. Since many people use alternative modes like ARAM and Co-op vs AI to level up new accounts quickly, players must now play at least 10 Blind or Draft Pick games to unlock Ranked.
This is done to ensure that players with new accounts get placed at their real skill level when they start playing competitive LoL.
How to get rid of ranked restrictions in League of Legends?
The only way to remove your restriction is to complete the five unranked games you were assigned and maintain good behavior throughout the process.
Can I play ARAM for ranked restrictions?
No, ARAM and all other seasonal/event modes no longer count for ranked restrictions.
Conclusion
Although competitive integrity and sportsmanship are at the heart of League of Legends, toxicity, and bad behavior exist even at the highest tiers of the Ranked ladder.
The LoL Ranked Restrictions were invented to help preserve these core values and foster a positive and fair gaming experience for everyone involved. And while cleaning out the lobbies from negative players will take a while, Riot's efforts are already bearing fruit.
