The ranked season in League of Legends is well underway, with players eagerly grinding through games to achieve higher ranks. However, the pursuit isn’t just for fame and glory; Riot Games rewards players who earn enough split points with exclusive skins.

These Victorious skins are highly anticipated among ranked players, who are always curious to see which champion will receive one each split.

Typically, the Victorious skin is awarded to a champion that has significantly impacted the game mode during that particular split. In the past, champions like Maokai, Aatrox, Graves, and Orianna have received these prestigious skins. Now, Sona will join the elite group of champions with a Victorious skin, as her new skin has been spotted in the PBE store.

SkinSpotlights, a well-known community source for in-game content, showcased that leaked Victorious Sona is available for testing on the PBE servers. Riot Games uses the PBE to test new content before its official release, so the skin is expected to be available on live servers soon.

While details about the leaked skin’s design are still scarce, the Victorious skin line usually features a consistent aesthetic. These skins are often shiny and incorporate shades of gold and other metals to accentuate the champions’ features.

However, the most recent Victorious skin for Kog’Maw deviated slightly from this theme, so Sona’s skin might also present a unique look.

For Sona players eager to obtain the skin once it goes live, there are specific requirements to meet. Players in Gold rank or higher need to earn at least 80 split points, while those in Silver rank or below must accumulate 1000 split points to unlock this new cosmetic.

Yorick has been the strongest top lane champion for the last 5 patches

For at least the last 5 patches, Yorick has maintained his position at the top of Iron’s standings in the top lane. As of this writing, Yorick boasts an astounding 55.23% win rate in Patch 14.13, according to the League stats site U.GG.

Not only does Yorick have an impressive win rate, but he also has a notable pick rate. He has been selected in 6.3% of Iron matches. Additionally, Yorick is frequently banned, appearing in the ban list for 11.2% of games. This indicates that players recognize his power and are wary of facing him.

While Yorick may not be the best champion to pick for high-ranked or competitive players due to his easy counterability, this has not hindered his dominance in the lowest rank.

Yorick’s success in low ranks is likely attributed to his unique abilities, which allow players to overwhelm their opponent in the top lane with his ghouls. When low-ranked top laners are forced to handle not only Yorick but also his ghouls, minions, and potential jungle pressure, they often struggle to survive the laning phase. If Yorick gains an early advantage, he can quickly become an unstoppable bruiser.

For those struggling against Yorick, it is recommended to choose champions like Tryndamere, Urgot, or Trundle. These champions can make trading with Yorick more manageable, and with proper play, you should be able to counter and defeat him in one-on-one situations.

Over the past day, League of Legends players have been experiencing problems with multiple games due to errors and issues with the company’s anti-cheat system, Vanguard.

League of Legends’ Vanguard anti-cheat was designed to eliminate scripters and botters from the game. However, due to some networking issues, many players were wrongly banned during their matches.

As a result of this problem, almost everyone in some matches was immediately disconnected. Moreover, some of the players affected by this issue have not had their bans lifted. Not only were they dropped from their matches, but they also lost their accounts.

This situation doesn’t apply to everyone, but even those who weren’t banned received a loss and an LP penalty. The ranked system severely punishes players who leave matches. As a result, those affected by this issue will face consequences for several matches and lose significantly more LP from just one loss.

Players who leave games experience greatly reduced LP gains for several matches after the initial loss. This penalty is applied regardless of whether they were reported by other players or not. This means that the burden falls on them either way, impacting their progress and ranking in the game.

The developers have responded, explaining that the bans were mistakenly handed out due to a “backend networking issue.” While they confirmed that the harshest penalties would be removed, they did not provide any information on whether players who lost LP or received LP penalties from losing a match would get any compensation.

“We’re investigating an occurence where players received errors and Vanguard error messaging due to a backend networking issue. Keep an eye in-client for updates. Any bans or restrictions that were served due to this error will be lifted ASAP.”

These LP losses could have led to players being demoted and significantly set back in their personal progress. Therefore, it makes sense that players are upset about this situation. Additionally, no details were provided about how this problem occurred, other than the announcement from the development team.

League players have been skeptical of Vanguard ever since it was introduced, with many claiming that the game no longer works on their PCs because of it.

This news follows the implementation of Vanguard, an anti-cheat system that has significantly increased the number of bans in higher ranked play.

The development team commented on this step, saying, “Now that Vanguard has had a bit of time to roll out, we’re starting to target more cheats that we weren’t able to action on in the past,” the dev team stated. “

This new wave of actions includes the first-ever Hardware ID bans in League, which will significantly enhance the anti-cheating measures.

Phillip Koskinas, Riot Games’ head of anti-cheat, provided statistics indicating that hardware bans now represent the second-largest category of bans. These hardware ID bans mean that offenders are prevented from playing the game on the same computer, forcing cheaters to replace their hardware if they want to return to the game. This is expected to deter many due to the high cost involved.

According to the data, these hardware bans started around May 15 and primarily targeted cheaters in the higher ranks, especially Masters and above. This crackdown occurred just one month after Vanguard’s introduction to League of Legends, demonstrating Riot’s commitment to tackling cheating.

However, Vanguard has had its share of problems. Originating from Riot’s tactical shooter Valorant, some League players reported that Vanguard was causing significant issues with their PCs. The developers responded by stating they found no confirmed cases of Vanguard causing such problems.

Overall, the introduction of hardware bans marks a significant and interesting development in Riot’s strategy against cheaters in League of Legends. This move is part of their broader, ongoing efforts to ensure fair play in their games.

LoL players are frustrated with the new rank split

A Reddit post on May 15 ignited a discussion on this topic, with one player expressing frustration over the logic behind having 3 ranked splits in a single year.

They emphasized their disappointment, recounting how they had worked their way up to the Diamond rank, only to have their progress reset and find themselves demoted to Emerald after unfortunate placement matches.

Others chimed in on the thread, echoing similar sentiments, attributing the multiple splits to a strategy aimed at boosting player engagement, albeit at the expense of players’ sense of achievement and progress stability.

Indeed, it’s challenging to dispute this perspective. For players who don’t devote extensive time to playing League of Legends, the prospect of climbing the ranked ladder becomes less appealing when faced with the frequent resets that accompany each split.

Unfortunately, obtaining accurate data on the impact of these additional splits on player participation in solo queue remains elusive, as such information is accessible only to Riot Games.

Opinions vary among players, with some choosing to opt out of participating in certain splits altogether as a form of protest. While it’s true that more splits offer the potential for increased rewards tied to achievements, those who don’t identify as hardcore League players may find themselves unable to attain the higher ranks necessary to unlock meaningful rewards.

On a more optimistic note, Riot appears to be receptive to player feedback regarding these changes. Given the regular updates to the system thus far, there’s a possibility that adjustments will be made by the end of season 14 in response to community input.

LoL midseason ranked system changes

The primary objective behind these changes is to address issues such as negative LP gain and encourage a smoother progression for players. One notable change is the extension of the maximum rank achievable after placement matches, now reaching up to Diamond III instead of stopping at Emerald I.

Riot aims to expedite players’ advancement to their rightful rank on their primary account, discouraging the practice of purchasing new accounts for gameplay advantages.

Furthermore, adjustments to demotion safeguards are on the horizon for Split 2. These changes will reduce the leniency between divisions, making it tougher for players to maintain their current rank if their LP falls below zero. While tiers will still offer some degree of protection against demotion, players will experience recalibrated LP upon demotion, better reflecting their skill level.

Lastly, Riot plans to reintroduce the option for duo queueing in Masters+ ranks, a feature previously disabled in 2021. While these changes will not affect regions such as China and Korea, Riot believes they can enhance the ranked experience for players at higher skill levels.

Overall, these upcoming adjustments aim to create a more balanced and rewarding ranked experience for League of Legends players, addressing key issues and fostering a healthier competitive environment.

The League of Legends community has long been puzzled by one aspect of the game’s ranked system: how it handles new players dipping their toes into ranked matches for the first time.

Many have criticized the system for often placing new players in higher skill tiers than they actually belong after their initial placement matches. However, a recent update in Patch 14.8 aims to address this issue, promising a more accurate placement for newcomers on the ranked ladder.

According to Matt “Riot Phroxzon” Leung-Harrison, League’s lead gameplay designer, who shared the update on social media, the changes in this patch are designed to ensure that all players, regardless of their prior gaming experience, are seeded more accurately into the ladder.

Previously, players who played in modes like ARAM and Bot matches weren’t being correctly placed, but these adjustments seek to rectify that.

Internally, Riot aims to position the average player around Silver IV upon completing their first set of placement matches. However, this rank may vary based on the player’s experience in normal games. This means that new players will now find themselves matched against opponents more aligned with their skill level, rather than being thrust into matches with more seasoned players. So, if you were hoping to skyrocket to high Gold after acing your placement games, you might need to adjust your expectations.

Moreover, these changes could impact smurf accounts, making their climb through the ranks longer and more challenging. Leung-Harrison notes that due to limitations in adjusting visual ranks easily, new players will initially experience negative LP gains as they transition to more appropriate skill brackets. These LP gains may seem imbalanced at first, with losses resulting in greater LP deductions than wins, but the system aims to balance out over time.

This adjustment is just one of many steps Riot is taking to refine the climbing experience. Earlier adjustments, such as making demotions more impactful and reducing starting LP at a new rank, hint at a trend towards making climbing more challenging.

It’s likely that Riot will continue to tweak the ranked system throughout the remainder of the 2024 season, aiming to create a more balanced and rewarding experience for all players.

Recently, one player shared their tough journey to Diamond rank on the League subreddit. They said they spent a lot of time playing the game to reach this high level. But once they got there, they found it was filled with tololxic teammates.

A LoL player regrets getting better

The user, named Lucia_LA, used to play in Gold rank where people were more relaxed, and troublemakers were rare. But as they climbed higher, they noticed more players ruining the game on purpose. If someone made a mistake or got upset, they’d sabotage the match.

“It’s funny because everyone thinks as your rank goes up, the game quality goes up. Makes sense, right? In reality, as rank goes up, the fragility of your teammates ego goes up.”

It’s no secret that players in high ranks can be very full of themselves. At every level, League players are known for being critical, but those in the top ranks are even quicker to judge because they expect everyone to perform at a high level. Only about 5% of League users are Diamond or higher, according to League of Graphs.

“Gold was my peak of league fun. Low Diamond is only suffering, i’m tired boss”

One commenter in the Reddit thread mentioned that in Master-GM ranks, everyone thinks they’re as good as the legendary Faker. If someone makes a mistake, they’re bombarded with criticism. People might even give up on the game if they think someone isn’t playing perfectly.

Most players in the thread agreed that lower-ranked are more humble because they know they’re not the best. But higher-ranked players might have a big ego after putting in so much time and effort to get there.

While there’s no exact number of games it takes to reach Diamond, it’s safe to say that anyone who gets there has spent a lot of time playing. They don’t want their hard work wasted by teammates who aren’t playing their best.

Set to go live on the League client for the entirety of the second split of the ranked season, which spans from May through September, this version of Arena, as revealed by Riot Games in their dev blog, is poised to redefine the player experience.

New Map

One of the most anticipated additions is the introduction of a brand-new map dubbed “The Koi Pond.” This visually captivating arena boasts 3 distinct sections, providing ample space for thrilling 2v2 battles. With features like the Bloom Bridge, portals, and blast cones facilitating fluid movement between these segments, strategic maneuvering is key to securing victory.

In line with the new map, players can expect a revamped shopping experience within Arena. Aligning with the evolving thematic elements of League of Legends throughout Split 2, the introduction of a dedicated shop area promises to enrich the gameplay with opportunities for tactical decision-making.

Prismatic items and Anvils

Moreover, Arena introduces a groundbreaking item tier known as “Prismatic.” These exclusive items boast unparalleled stats and effects, empowering players to build unque champion builds.

Unlike conventional items, Prismatic items cannot be purchased directly from the shop; instead, players are presented with a selection of random Prismatics during specific rounds, reminiscent of the Augments system from previous version.

Arena also introduces the concept of Anvils, consumable items available for purchase in the shop. These Anvils offer players a choice of three random items within predefined categories, ranging from Prismatic and Legendary to Stat. Not only are Anvils a cost-effective way to purchasing individual items, but they also add an element of unpredictability to itemization strategies.

Rank System

In addition to gameplay enhancements, Arena brings about a revamped ranked system, set to kick off with a one-patch pre-season on patch 14.10. This new system accommodates party sizes ranging from 1 to 8 players, fostering diverse team comps while maintaining balance and fairness. Furthermore, the ranked season will be accompanied by refined matchmaking rules, ensuring a competitive yet enjoyable experience for all players.

Excitement for Arena’s return is palpable, with the mode already making its debut on the League of Legends PBE on April 15. Its official release for the wider player base is scheduled for May 1, coinciding with the launch of patch 14.9. While the ranked system’s implementation is slated for patch 14.10, players can rest assured that Riot Games is committed to delivering an immersive experience.

A person who’s not very good at League of Legends was surprised when they got placed in a high palcement, Platinum 1, even though they lost all their placement matches. Even the Lead Gameplay Designer of League of Legends was puzzled.

Making a ranked system fair is hard. You want players to keep improving and climbing the ladder, but it shouldn’t be too easy.

The Lead Designer, Phroxzon, said they’ve been tweaking how new players are placed in ranks. But sometimes, things don’t work as intended. For example, a “bad” player ended up in Plat 1 after losing all their placement matches.

It’s tough to tell if someone is just doing well or if they’re intentionally playing below their skill level to win matches easily. When someone wins a lot during their placements, they expect to be placed in a rank that matches their performance. But sometimes, it doesn’t work out that way.

The player who ended up in Plat 1 was upset. They couldn’t play with their friend who was in Iron, and they struggled in solo matches against stronger opponents.

People on the internet felt sorry for the player and for the teammates who had to play with them. Having a player who doesn’t know what they’re doing can ruin a match.

Phroxzon and others tried to figure out what went wrong. They found out that the player had been playing with high-elo friends in normal games, which might have affected their placement in ranked matches.

Phroxzon looked at the player’s game history and said they were doing okay in Gold/Plat games, even though they thought they were an Iron player. He mentioned that there might be differences between normal and ranked games, and they were thinking about making adjustments.

So, it seems like the mystery of the high placement was solved. Phroxzon and the team are working to make sure this doesn’t happen again by adjusting how normal games affect placements.