I love you Riot! Season 6 Solo Queue = Zero Excuse Season
I have played this game since Nov. /09, and season 1 has still been the only season where excuses didn't fly into the face of logic (at least on my friends list). It was the only season where people didn't cry foul, elo hell was only for all those under 1,200 elo, and the word toxic was never used. Trolls existed, but it was the greatest solo queue season to date. Until now.
**Season 2 - 5 **
Those seasons have been so full of ego maniac, AP Quinn mains crying that their support doesn't ward, every game I'm ganged up on by 9 other toxic players, duo queues are the reason I can't climb, etc etc. Well... Prove us all wrong big man, get your 4 best players who could easily hit challenger if ,who had the same exact unfortunate events (mentioned above), and reach challenger. Riot has perfectly eliminated almost all the negative from your personal solo queue journey (only unfortunate is the 1v4 scenario which we all will likely have a handful of games in), and given you the best opportunity to put your money where your mouth is.
My Prediction
The people who group will lose elo, not gain elo. Solo queue is a different beast, it forces players to play with less communication and no clue what your mates intentions are/strategies they want to employ. If you do decide to run a 5 man squad, be prepared to do it for the full season because it will be difficult to play 100games as a 5 man squad then randomly swap to 1v1v1v1v1.
Everyone will claim when they solo they ALWAAYYYYS are in a 4 man squad so they get trolled. I hope Riot implements a way for the public to see in match history if you are truly in these 1v4's often, because I know that's going to be the excuse this season.
My Advice to Climb
As an exclusive support main who has done nothing since season 1, but support; I can tell you duo queueing rarely gave me an advantage. At some point either the adc held me back, or I held him back (eventually happens). It reduced team communication, and it encouraged me to vent, piss/moan over skype about how bad the other 3 were. Everyone climbs consistently better going it alone, because it forces you to learn basic etiquette, work with strangers, and rely solely on YOU and YOUR skill.
I hit gold in season 1 (ended exactly on gold which was 1520 or 1550 can't remember), plat season 2 (barely), diamond 5 season 3 (0lp), diamond 4 season 4 (worst season to date), and now diamond 3 in Season 5. I duo'd every season except Season 5, and 1/3 of Season 4 (best decision of my life).
During the entire season on this account (one of my smurfs) I did almost nothing but Soraka using Heal and Clarity (why remove clarity Riot?), and managed roughly a 4.4kda and Diamond 3. I never once have used any excuse when I hit a wall. If you stop climbing it is only because you are missing a fundamental requirement to continue climbing. These req's range from personality, game knowledge, not adapting to the meta, refusal to learn multiple roles, or other (like not running flash even though I think it's useless but my 300 friends tell me I'm bad).
If you hit a wall, be proud you got to that elo, and admit that you suck at one of those requisites. Identify which of those req's you're weak on, and improve on it, you will climb, it has been proven since the very first season when pros were tanking to 0 elo and climbing out of every elo to 2k+. Think critically of yourself and eliminate any thoughts of your teammates because you cannot change them.
Please do not listen to any of this
I have some money riding on 99% of GD crying foul for season 6 chalk full of old AND new excuses. Please keep the tears flowing, daddy wants a new Soraka skin.
~ I'm out Yungest pony going flashless
Soraka Heal Clar
EDIT: Amazing warding information provided by Riot http://na.leagueoflegends.com/en/page/escape-darkness-low-elo-warding-and-you You all need to read that and take it allllll in. Close your eyes and breath.
