League of Legends can be pretty frustrating sometimes, especially after a long losing streak. But is the loser's queue real? Riot Phroxzon explains why it's just in your imagination.
League of Legends players have been convinced for ages that there is a "loser's queue" in League, where the matchmaking system automatically sticks you with the worst of the worst. Does this actually exist, though, or are players just delusional after too many hours of ranked?
Lead Gameplay Designer on the League of Legends team, Matt "Phroxzon" Leung-Harrison, went into great detail on Twitter/X outlining some reasons why you might be losing games and none of those reasons point to there being an actual loser's queue.
League of Legends: "There Are 100's Of Things You Could Have Done Differently"
If you've ever played ranked in League of Legends, then you know how much of a grind it is and how frustrating it can be. The matchmaking is also not perfect, but Riot is trying to improve it, especially with new matchmaking systems in the works.
One myth that has been around for a while though is the loser's queue, which will pit you with inters against smurfs. But Riot has come out and full on stated that this does not actually exist. Riot Phroxzon even explained how some of the matchmaking works and given reasons why you might be losing more than winning.
Losers queue doesn't exist
— Matt Leung-Harrison (@RiotPhroxzon) February 11, 2024
We're not intentionally putting bad players on your team to make you lose more.
(Even if we assumed that premise, wouldn't we want to give you good players so you stop losing?)
For ranked, we match you on your rating and that's all. If you've won a...
If you've won a lot and start losing, it's because you're playing against better players and aren't at that level anymore. It's not because we matched you with all the inters and put all the smurfs on the enemy team.
He also added that even if you played well with decent KDA, higher ranking players will always find something that you could have improved upon in your gameplay. This means you can continue to learn and better your gameplay as well.
Of course, players can have inting teammates from time to time, or ones who aren't as good, but that is part of an online multiplayer game and is something to be expected. As mentioned, matchmaking is not perfect, but at least there's no loser's queue.