The New Ranked 2019 System in League of Legends
The solo queue ladder in League of Legends has been revamped, with Riot announcing major changes for 2019. The most notable change is the introduction of positional ranking, which means players will have a separate solo queue rank for each of the game’s five positions. This is to ensure more accurate matchmaking when players are not playing their main roles.
When players get auto-filled or play an off-role, they may not be as proficient as they are in their main role. By tracking each position with their own ranks, the game can match players against similar opponents based on proficiency in the off-role, creating more balanced matches.
However, this new system has clear drawbacks. Players may only care about the ranks for their main positions and feel that playing other roles is a waste of time, as it won’t contribute to their desired rank. Additionally, players who enjoy playing multiple roles will have to work on ranking each one separately, potentially discouraging players from being multi-role and pressuring them to focus on one position.
In 2019, placement matches will also change. After the first game, players will receive a provisional rank which will not be lower than their final rank. This provisional rank is only visible to the player. Only after playing all 10 games will players unlock their actual rank, which will be made public.
The structure of the ranked ladder is also being adjusted. Two new tiers will be added between Bronze and Diamond, with each tier consisting of four levels instead of five. These changes aim to distribute players more evenly throughout the ladder and prevent clumping in certain ranks.
Riot is also considering splitting the ranked season into three splits, allowing players to reevaluate their goals and giving them more opportunities for improvement. The ranked loading screen border will now be visible at the beginning of the season and will change according to the player’s rank, serving as a reminder of their journey.
For more information on all the changes coming to the ranked 2019 ladder and rank-exclusive rewards, check out Riot’s full announcement page.
League of Legends, ranked 2019, solo queue, ladder, positional ranking, matchmaking, auto-fill, off role, provisional rank, placement matches, structure changes, tiers, splits