Are You Allowed to Have Multiple Riot Accounts?

Many players end up with more than one Riot account. Some want to play with friends at a different rank, some want a clean account to try a new role, and some simply lost access to an old email. The question is whether Riot allows it. In short, owning more than one account is not forbidden by itself, but several things you can do with extra accounts are. This guide separates the two and points to the places where you can confirm the current rules yourself.

One Riot Account, Many Games

A Riot account (the login you use in the Riot Client) works across Riot's games, including League of Legends, Valorant and Teamfight Tactics. You do not need a separate account for each game. When people talk about "multiple accounts" they usually mean one of two things:

• Several Riot accounts, each with its own email address and login.
• Several game accounts or regions under one login, for example a League account on one server and another on a different server. What is allowed here depends on the game and on Riot's current policy, so check the Riot support site before you create one.

Each Riot account needs its own email address, so a second account means a second inbox you control. Keep the login details of every account in a password manager and turn on two-factor authentication for each one.

Is It Against the Rules to Have a Second Account?

Riot does not publish a rule that limits how many accounts one person may own, and creating a second account is something many players do. What matters is how the accounts are used. Riot's Terms of Service and Terms of Use prohibit specific behaviors, and you should read the current text on Riot's legal pages because the wording can change. Behaviors that commonly lead to penalties include:

• Using another account to get around a penalty. If one of your accounts is suspended or banned, playing on another account to avoid that penalty is a separate violation and can extend it.
• Sharing an account. Letting other people log in to an account you own, or logging in to someone else's, is covered by Riot's rules about account access.
• Trading or transferring accounts. Riot's terms contain rules about account ownership and transfers. Read them before you buy, sell or hand over an account.
• Cheating. Third-party programs that change how the game works or give an unfair advantage are not allowed on any account, whether it is your first or your fifth.
• Intentionally lowering your rating. Losing games on purpose to reach lower-ranked opponents can lead to penalties.

If you are unsure about a specific case, open a ticket with Riot support and ask. A written answer from support is more reliable than a forum post.

What Smurfing Means

Smurfing usually means a more experienced player using a newer account to play against less experienced players. It is a community term, not a rule name, so there is no single answer about whether it is punished. Riot has said that it designs matchmaking so that accounts that win a lot are moved up quickly, which shortens the time a strong new account spends in low-skill games. How fast this works depends on the game and the mode, and the details are Riot's to publish, so we do not give a number here.

If you start a second account, treat it as a way to practice, not as a way to avoid your real rating. For League players, our guide to how MMR works explains why a new account's rating does not stay low for long when you win.

Why Players Create Extra Accounts

• Playing with friends. Rank restrictions in a party can make it hard to queue with someone far from your rank. A separate account at their level can solve that.
• Trying new champions, agents or roles. Practicing on an account whose rank you do not mind risking can be less stressful.
• A different region. A player who moves country or has friends in another region may want an account there. See the region rules on the support page first, since not every region can be added freely.
• A fresh start. Some players want a new account after a long break. Remember that a new account means starting levels, unlocks and rank from zero.

Practical Checklist Before You Create or Use Another Account

1. Use an email address that only you control and that you can recover.
2. Read the current Riot Terms of Service and the support article about multiple accounts for your game.
3. Do not log in to someone else's account, and do not let anyone log in to yours.
4. Keep unlocks and purchases in mind. Skins and champions or agents belong to the account that bought them, so spending on several accounts splits your collection.
5. Turn on two-factor authentication on every account.

If You Want Help Instead of a New Account

A second account is a slow way to learn if the real problem is your decisions in game. Reviewing your own games usually shows more than another hundred games on a new login. Our LoL coaching and Valorant coaching services pair you with a coach who looks at your replays and gives specific advice. If you want to understand how ranks work before deciding, start with our LoL ranks guide or our Valorant ranks guide.

Summary

Having more than one Riot account is not a violation on its own, but evading penalties, sharing accounts, cheating and deliberately lowering your rating are. Rules and enforcement can change, so verify the current wording on Riot's official pages or with Riot support before you act. We have not tested Riot's enforcement, and we do not claim that any particular use of an extra account is safe.