What Are LoL Placement Matches? Why Are They So Important?
Placement matches are more important than most players think. They don’t just determine your starting rank—they also influence how the game treats you moving forward.
When you enter a new season in League of Legends or start playing ranked for the first time, the first thing you encounter is placement matches. Most players see this process as just “a few games that determine your initial rank,” but in reality, there’s a bit more depth behind it.
Placement matches are a period where the system is trying to understand you. In other words, it’s not the game proving itself to you—you’re proving yourself to the game. Where you should play, who you’ll be matched with, and how you’ll progress throughout the season are all largely determined during this phase.
That’s why the mindset of “what difference do the first 5–10 games make?” is usually the wrong approach.
How Do Placement Matches Affect My Account?
In short: more than you think.
These matches don’t just assign you a rank—they also shape your hidden MMR. This unseen value is actually the most important factor behind your matchmaking and progression.
When you get off to a good start, you’ll notice:
• You begin earning more LP
• Your opponents tend to be more balanced
• Climbing feels smoother and more consistent
But if you start off poorly, things can go the other way. Even if you’re in the same rank, you might gain less LP and face more difficult matches.
That’s why the placement phase essentially works like the “background settings” of your entire season.
What Happens If I Win All My Placement Matches?
This is the classic question everyone asks.
Winning all your matches is, of course, a big advantage. You’ll usually start the season with a higher rank and a stronger MMR. You might even notice yourself climbing much faster in the first weeks.
However, there’s a small detail: the system doesn’t look at wins alone.
Your past season performance, the skill level of your opponents, and your in-game contribution are also taken into account. So going 10/10 is a strong start, but it doesn’t automatically place you in the highest tier.
Still, to be clear: the better you start, the easier your climb will be.
How Is MMR Affected at the Start of the Season?
When a new season begins, your MMR isn’t completely reset. Instead, it undergoes a soft reset. The game doesn’t start you from scratch, but it also doesn’t fully preserve your previous performance.
This is where placement matches come into play.
The system reassesses you and tries to answer the question: “Where should this player be right now?” If you perform well during this period, you push your MMR higher, which makes your climb easier throughout the season.
If it goes poorly, recovery is still possible—but it will require more games.
Why Are Placement Matches So Important?
Because they essentially set the tone for your entire season.
If you place well, the game feels smoother. You play more balanced matches, tilt less, and overall enjoy the game more.
If you place poorly, you often fall into a cycle like this:
“I’ll just play a bit more, it’ll fix itself” → “why is this so hard?” → “my MMR is probably ruined”
This can make the game much more stressful.
So placement matches aren’t just a starting point—they’re a threshold that shapes the direction of your season.
Small but Effective Tips for Placement Matches
You don’t need to make huge changes during this phase, but a few simple adjustments can make a big difference:
• Play champions you’re comfortable with. This is not the time to experiment
• Don’t queue while tilted. One game can affect the entire series
• Play fewer but more focused games. Spamming 10 games in a row usually hurts performance
• Don’t underestimate team play. Solo carrying isn’t always the solution
When you play more controlled, you’ll notice a significant improvement in your results.
Conclusion
Placement matches are more important than most players think. They don’t just determine your starting rank—they also influence how the game treats you moving forward.
A good start makes everything feel smoother. A bad start can be recovered from, but it requires more effort.
In short, instead of brushing these matches off as “just a few games,” taking them seriously will make your life much easier in the long run.
