MMR in League of Legends: How It Works

MMR in League of Legends: How It Works and How to Increase It

Are you wondering what your MMR is in League of Legends? This guide will explain how MMR works, why it matters, and how you can increase it to climb the ranks more efficiently.

What Is My MMR? – How MMR Works in League of Legends

Matchmaking Rating, commonly abbreviated as MMR, is a hidden value in League of Legends that determines who you play against in ranked games. While your rank (Bronze, Silver, Gold, etc.) provides a general indication of your skill level, your MMR is a more accurate measure of your current performance.

How MMR Works

• Hidden Score: Unlike your LP (League Points) and your tier/division, MMR isn't visible to you or other players. It's an internal value used by Riot Games' matchmaking system.

• Matchmaking: When you queue for a game, the system tries to find players with similar MMR values to ensure fair matches.

• Influence on LP Gain and Loss: The difference between your MMR and the average MMR of your rank influences your LP gains and losses. If your MMR is higher than expected for your rank, you'll gain more LP for a win and lose less for a defeat.

Why MMR Matters

While achieving a higher rank and division is rewarding, your MMR truly reflects your skill and determines your opponents. A higher MMR means you're more likely to face and be teamed with higher-skilled players.

How to Increase Your MMR

• Consistent Winning Streaks: The most straightforward way to increase your MMR is by winning games, especially against opponents with a higher MMR.

• Play With and Against Better Players: Consistently matched with higher-ranked players will adjust your MMR upwards over time.

• Limit Losses: Minimizing losing streaks prevents rapid MMR drops. Taking breaks during bad streaks helps avoid tilting.

• Improving Your Gameplay: Regularly review your games, learn from higher-ranked players, and adapt to the current meta.

• Stay Updated: Keep track of game patches that buff/nerf champions and introduce new mechanics. Staying up-to-date ensures you’re always playing optimally.

How to Reset Your MMR

• Seasonal Resets: At the start of a new season, there's a soft reset that adjusts your MMR slightly toward the average.

• Decay: In some games, rank (and sometimes MMR) decays if you don’t play ranked matches for an extended period. Check how decay applies to League of Legends.

• New Account: Creating a new account resets your MMR completely. You can also buy a fresh level 30 account to start playing ranked faster.

• Improving Your Gameplay: If you feel your MMR doesn’t represent your skill, the best way to reset it is through consistent gameplay improvement.

How MMR and LP Work Together

Your visible rank (tier, division and LP) and your hidden MMR do not always match. The gap between them explains most of the uneven LP gains players notice:

• MMR above your rank: you tend to gain more LP for a win and lose less for a loss, and your rank climbs toward your MMR.
• MMR below your rank: you tend to gain less LP for a win and lose more for a loss, and your rank drifts down toward your MMR.
• MMR close to your rank: gains and losses are close to even.

When you start ranked, the system gives you a starting MMR and adjusts it with every result. A win against opponents with a higher MMR moves your rating more than a win against opponents with a lower MMR, and the reverse is true for losses. If you often see gains like +15 and losses like -25, read why your gains and losses look uneven.

Tiers, Divisions and the Elo Name

Players still say "Elo" for their rank because the Elo rating system was designed for two-player games such as chess and was the model for early online ladders. In League of Legends the ranks run from Iron up to Challenger. Iron through Diamond are split into four divisions, from IV (lowest) to I (highest), and when you pass Division I of a tier you move into Division IV of the next one. Master and above do not use divisions and rank players by LP alone. For the full ladder, see our League of Legends ranking system guide.

Riot's 2024 Matchmaking Changes

In early 2024 Riot said it planned to replace its matchmaking rating calculation with a new system aimed at reducing frustrating stretches where wins give little LP and losses cost a lot. Reports at the time also mentioned Microsoft's TrueSkill 2 as a system Riot was evaluating for later, noting that parts of it use statistics such as KDA that may not reflect a player's contribution in every role. These plans were announced as work in progress, so the exact system in use today may differ. Read Riot's current patch notes and developer posts if you need current details.

The Emerald Bottleneck

Riot added the Emerald tier between Platinum and Diamond in 2023. Many players find it hard to move through because the skill range inside the tier is wide, and results vary a lot from game to game. The same MMR rules still apply: consistent wins over many games are what move your rating, not one good session.

Habits That Help Your MMR

• Focus on one role. Each role has its own mechanics and win conditions. Playing one role regularly builds consistency.
• Keep a small champion pool. Two or three champions per role let you learn their strengths, weaknesses and matchups. Test new champions in Normal or ARAM, not in ranked.
• Build map awareness. Track wave position, enemy locations and objective timers so you can play safely and make decisions before fights start.
• Communicate clearly. Short calls about objectives and enemy positions help your team more than long chat discussions.
• Review your replays. Look for one repeated mistake per session and work on it in the next one.
• Know when to stop. A losing streak played while frustrated tends to extend itself. Taking a break protects your rating.
• Stay current. Patches change champions and items. A short look at patch notes before you queue keeps your choices up to date.

If Your MMR Feels Stuck

There is no shortcut that resets MMR instantly. Winning more than you lose over a meaningful number of games is the dependable way, and it takes time. If you do not have that time, you can compare the options on our LoL rank boost page, or ask for feedback through LoL coaching. Results depend on your starting point.

Conclusion

MMR in League of Legends is more than just a hidden number. It's a reflection of your current skill and performance in the game. By focusing on improvement, adapting to changes, and maintaining a positive win rate, you can steadily increase your MMR and climb the ranks. Whether you’re aiming for Gold, Platinum, or even Challenger, understanding and optimizing your MMR is crucial to your journey.

By implementing these strategies and consistently striving to improve, you'll not only see your MMR rise but also your overall enjoyment and mastery of League of Legends. Happy climbing!