Why am I playing against Silver players when I'm still in Bronze?

ZileanUltdChrist·1/16/2015, 4:42:26 AM·2 votes·6,903 views

I'm trying to understand why I am playing against Silver players when I'm still in Bronze? In my mind, this makes no sense. To move up, you have to be better than the players around you, right? Well how am I supposed to do that if I'm already playing as well as if not slightly better than players in a higher division than me? I'm moving up slowly, don't get me wrong, but to move from, say, B2 to B1, you should have to be better than other B2 players. And to move from B1 to S5, you should have to be better than other B1 players. You feel me? I understand that my MMR is higher as I win more, but the system smashes me back down when it starts matching me up with higher MMR players in higher divisions. Like, how am I supposed to move from B1 to S5 if I'm already playing against S3 and S4 players? Thoughts?

23 Comments

NemeBro12/6/2015, 9:35:36 PM3 votes

The better question is: how do you expect to rank up if your self-esteem is so low that you give up the moment you quickfind a game and see the enemy team's rank?

Talamare1/16/2015, 4:50:41 AM2 votes

Its based on a hidden rating called MMR

you're just that good

MadManApocalypse1/16/2015, 4:43:55 AM2 votes

it's a broken system that makes no sense, it is not based off of your skill it is purely from win-rate and a massive pool of players within x - x levels

Talamare1/16/2015, 4:56:30 AM1 votes

Also, you have a really high chance of skipping ranks like this

When you finally became silver you will probably instantly be silver 4 or 3 instead of 5

MadManApocalypse1/16/2015, 5:01:22 AM1 votes

Riot will not change the system as it is, too many players would fall, too many would rise, they'd lose money because they'd have to make the game you know... competitive.

Terff1/16/2015, 7:27:35 PM1 votes

Because theres literally no difference.

Tilomentry1/16/2015, 7:42:43 PM1 votes

Yeah I was in that situation once. Honestly my gripe with the system is the promotion matches. Most normal matches were fine with me since my MMR was like silver 3 but i was placed in bronze 1 so i got like 30 LP for wins and lost 5 for losses. But then i got the my promotion matches and that was the majority of my matches at the end of season 3. Problem was i would get 2 wins then 3 losses and lose my series, but then i would get another win right after and go straight back into the promotion series again so my win/loss ratio was pretty even.

Kinda wish the promotion series worked more like LP gains.

causeimdabatman1/16/2015, 7:49:16 PM1 votes

same except I'm bronze getting matched up with gold kids every so often yet i can't get out of bronze because the kids keep pulling me down

Pasadon10/22/2015, 2:09:12 AM1 votes

I have the same problem. Not fair. GG Rito.

robertsadouch12/6/2015, 9:31:03 PM1 votes

ive been bouncing between b1 and b3 and silver now and again but ussually stickin around b2 and im having so much trouble moving up becuz my ranked matches have been with and against mostly s1 and s2 people with a few lower silver players at the lowest then theres me

BluePolarizer12/6/2015, 9:40:36 PM1 votes

Silvers and bronzes are indistinguishable to me.

NotDgoeff023/25/2016, 5:32:05 AM1 votes

I'm having the same problem in the five ranked games I played sene reaching lvl 30 as of two days ago I've played against gold and silver players only

EndlessSorcerer3/25/2016, 5:35:51 AM1 votes

The players you get matched with are based on your MMR, not your Tier and Division.

If you are getting matched with players of higher ranks, then there are two possibilities (or a combination thereof):

Your MMR is higher than your rank (you are climbing)
Their MMR is lower than their rank

Honestly, I've never had an issue with it. I was playing against primarily Plat 3 and Plat 2 players when I was doing my promos into Platinum 5.

PROJECT RAID3N1/22/2020, 8:01:15 PM1 votes

I just got promoted to bronze 4 from iron 1. why am i getting stomped by Silver 4 players? ITS NOT FAIR AT ALL. WHY SHOULD SOMEONE IN A HIGHER ELO HAVE THE LUXURY TO JUST STOMP BORDER LINE IRON PLAYERS.

I have multiple losses where the entire enemy team had a ridiculously positive KDA and everyone on my team is feeding so hard, that it doesn't matter how good you do because the entire enemy team has snowballed. this problem represents everything wrong with the game. its the reason why people get toxic and banned. remember the season 10 video with the feminine guy explaining how they are FINALLY going to update matchmaking? that means RIOT finally just admitted to YEARS of crappy matchmaking tilting and banning players world wide. No wonder they have a F-rating with the Better Business Bureau.

On my other account i got placed in S2 and its the same problem with gold players way above my rank.

Okamikazi1/16/2015, 4:53:55 AM1 votes

Take it as a compliment and a sign that you will be getting out of bronze hell in the near future. So keep it up.

Beerstein1/16/2015, 4:54:07 AM1 votes

Happens to everyone so we're all in the same boat. Balanced by a bad system, but balanced. summoner 4