Boards›Player Behavior

Etiquette of smurfing

DeathBurst·6/27/2016, 4:16:26 PM·98 votes·7,617 views

Even if smurfing could technically be punishable, Riot themselves acknowledged there was legitimate reasons to smurf and decided to tolerate the practice. On the other hand, there are clearly some abuse cases. So in order to promote positivity and sportsmanship, here are the rules I try to adhere to myself when I'm playing much below my real MMR. I'd be interested in other people opinions, and I think giving them more visibility is a good thing overall.

  • First and foremost, don't be an ass. If you normally play at a much higher level, have hundreds or thousands of game of experience, of course you'll stomp your opponents. Don't brag, it's not extraordinary, it's just logical.
  • Be open about it. Honestly tell your real level, so that your opponent doesn't feel too bad. And explain why you are doing it (to play with a friend, to train a new champ, etc.), so that they don't get angry.
  • If you can, try to teach a little, both to your own team and to the opponent. For instance, make a dragon call, and explain why now is a good time, or ping back when someone else makes a bad call, but also explain why it's too dangerous right now. And if an opponent is making an obvious mistake and you kill them for it, tell them what was the mistake. And as per the first point, don't be condescending or bragging while doing it. Builds are also an easy thing to constructively comment upon.
  • Try to show some mercy. Don't actively try to make someone life miserable or don't blow everything you have just to get that 15th kill just for the glory of it, if it's obviously not worth it. Obvious example that comes to mind is: if you play Rengar, don't always use your ult on cooldown to kill the same guy over and over again, even if you can.
  • On the other hand, do play seriously, don't just fool around. Purposefully going in 1v3 is still stupid, don't do it just because you can get away with it at this MMR. On the flip-side, if you made an honest mistake and suddenly find yourself 1v3, don't let yourself die just because you don't care about the outcome of this game, and do your best to get away alive. In a nutshell, do your best, just as if it was a Ranked game.
  • EDIT: as per popular request, I'll add another point. Don't Ranked on your smurf if it is below your real MMR. That should be obvious. It's not fun for the people you're stomping, and it devalues the achievement of your team-mates. It's not fun for anyone.

So that's it, people. What do you think about it, and what do you do when you're smurfing yourself?

147 Comments

KuroTheHero6/27/2016, 5:32:51 PM41 votes

I smurf a lot and I make a point of defending my lane opponent if I win. Sadly there are 3 things I hear in about 75% of my smurf games

  1. You're not a smurf, you just got lucky because your opponent is trash
  2. Report "x" he's intentionally trolling/feeding
  3. If I was vsing you, I woulda won lane

I make a point of hunting those people down

Mistress Shyvana6/27/2016, 5:18:59 PM21 votes

I love this. This is amazing and is absolutely right. This needs to be stickied and endorsed. It's okay to smurf for whatever your reason is. Just be helpful and don't be an ass. Remember, not everyone smurfs. There are actual new players that need to be taught.

Upvote this for DAYSSSSSSS http://m.imgur.com/gallery/gdAqzdU

MrPharmD6/27/2016, 7:41:07 PM7 votes

Couple things:

First and foremost, don't be an ass. If you normally play at a much higher level, have hundreds or thousands of game of experience, of course you'll stomp your opponents. Don't brag, it's not extraordinary, it's just logical.

One of the most annoying things is when 'smurfs' rage at teammates for "being bad". Like, obviously I'm bad sometimes. Are you really that unintelligent that you can't grasp the concept of new players not playing well?

Be open about it. Honestly tell your real level, so that your opponent doesn't feel too bad. And explain why you are doing it (to play with a friend, to train a new champ, etc.), so that they don't get angry.

Personally, I don't care about this. If my enemy kicks my ass there is a 95% chance he is smurfing. I don't need him to "/all just smurfing" me. Secondly, he doesn't have to explain shit as to why he is doing it. And so your opponent doesn't feel too bad? I'm sorry but people need to just not be so sensitive with regards to that.

If you can, try to teach a little, both to your own team and to the opponent. For instance, make a dragon call, and explain why now is a good time, or ping back when someone else makes a bad call, but also explain why it's too dangerous right now. And if an opponent is making an obvious mistake and you kill them for it, tell them what was the mistake. And as per the first point, don't be condescending or bragging while doing it. Builds are also an easy thing to constructively comment upon.

Having played this game for a decent amount of time, I can absolutely say not to do this. Most of your teammates will ignore you anyway. The other ones will cry that you're "being toxic" when you ask them nicely not to chase the enemy tank into an unwarded jungle. This isn't even a smurfing issue. That vast majority of players take criticism as "toxic", regardless of whether or not it is right or who it is coming from. It's just how the community that plays this game acts.

Try to show some mercy. Don't actively try to make someone life miserable or don't blow everything you have just to get that 15th kill just for the glory of it, if it's obviously not worth it. Obvious example that comes to mind is: if you play Rengar, don't always use your ult on cooldown to kill the same guy over and over again, even if you can.

I don't agree with this one either. Sure, it sucks ass when someone repeatedly rekts me. But, they are probably testing the limits of their champion. It also has taught me how to be better. Like, if the enemy is that much better than you, just tower farm as safely as possible. Losing 3 cs isn't as bad as dying and then losing 10 cs while you're dead. I mean, do you also tell new players not to do so well? You have to learn. Eventually you will be playing these guys in ranked matches. I'll be playing them in like 10 levels. It goes quickly.

On the other hand, do play seriously, don't just fool around. Purposefully going in 1v3 is still stupid, don't do it just because you can get away with it at this MMR. On the flip-side, if you made an honest mistake and suddenly find yourself 1v3, don't let yourself die just because you don't care about the outcome of this game, and do your best to get away alive. In a nutshell, do your best, just as if it was a Ranked game.

I wish this were specific to smurfs...but sadly it's not. There are so many people that just fuck around and lose on purpose for shits and giggles. Makes no difference to me whether it's the new player or the smurf doing it.

Just wanted to add some heresy to your thread :)

S H A Y C 06/28/2016, 1:47:58 PM5 votes

Interesting related factoid

I was recently sent a short 2 question survey from riot on a new level 6 smurf.

1.) how long since you played league of legends

2.) we see you are in the process of making a smurf account and would like to know the reasons why.

I thought this was interesting.

Baunjo6/28/2016, 2:09:31 PM4 votes

I played on a level 11 acount to about level 18 because I had received a 2 week ban ( well deserved )

My most memorable experience where it was actually necessary to say I was smurfing was when I played Poppy against Irelia , never missed a wall stun, abused bushes which is something I didn't think was uncommon in that level and proxy farmed with Q and item 3025 .

I even added the guy afterwards and explained the situation, I taught him how and when to proxy farm and better laning techniques to not let that happen to him.

Sypher The Poro6/28/2016, 5:02:49 PM4 votes

It's not just smurfing, but I feel these rules apply when playing against a champion you know the instructions and outs of.

For example, I play Riven far more than is healthy. My mastery score is 330K, and play her several times a day.

The other day I was doing a normal with some friends and got matched up against a Riven top as Nasus. Now, normally this lane is heavily in Riven's favor, but I was able to predict the combos she used, and ended the game 10/0.

I will admit, everyone stopped taking the game seriously when someone on their team AFK'ed so my score is slightly inflated because Draven was curious to see how much damage my Question did to him.

Anyway, I spent the entire game coaching the Riven on the proper play style and build path vs Nasus. She was receptive, and thanked me for the tips. It made the game a lot more enjoyable for both of us.

VoidStaresBack6/28/2016, 2:23:21 AM4 votes

I approve of all these rules. It's just unfortunate that I've never encountered a smurf like this, who actually gives allies and enemies alike positive feedback. I think the biggest issue a smurf can run across trying to live out these rules of etiquette is that it's very hard to frame advice in such a way that it won't anger the other team (or your allies, if you're giving them advice). People who are losing their lanes tend to be on edge already, and in many cases could perceive friendly advice as a personal attack and respond accordingly.

I'd actually add one rule of my own to this: Don't play carry champions unless you're smurfing specifically to learn a new champion. It's more fun for allies and gives the enemy a fighting chance if you play a champion who mainly serves as an enabler for your allies, like a tank or classic support, while you can still play seriously and affect the outcome of the game without being overpowering.

VanixAtTheDisco6/28/2016, 1:55:41 AM3 votes

I recently made an Azir only account, because I wanted to play a one trick pony account. This was also before I noticed all this hatred for Azir on the boards, but nevertheless I didn't play him much on my main but I adore his playstyle and theme. This is my first smurf account, and I can truly say that I feel terrible for any new players. I don't brag when I get fed, I hardly ever talk in all chat, but not even because I'm fighting new players. It's because 90% of my games consist of 8+ smurfs of varying skill levels. Some are silvers, some are diamonds, you can tell from their mechanics or their summoner names. Maybe it's because I was placed in a smurf-only queue and Riot is able to know who is too skilled for the early levels. Needless to say, if that's not the case, new players are going to struggle to even make it to lv30 dealing with so many skilled players. I just want to get my smurf to lv30 and play Legitimate ranked games but unfortunately I have to level up the same way all people do.

Edit: Also... the amount of Blood Moon Yasuo's I've seen from level 1 to 13 is absurd.

Elikain6/28/2016, 12:01:00 AM3 votes

I don't get your etiquette. You're smurfing for a specific reason (to learn someone i presume) and if you're not taking this "seriously" because you're taking it easy on someone, what's the point? I know this sounds dickish but taking it easy on someone serves what purpose? You're robbing them of the actual experience they need to deal with a player like you and you're robbing yourself from practicing with a champion, like you wanted in the first place.

If you're feeling sorry for the people you're stomping, why are you smurfing in the first place? You can't do this in Normal games on your main? Playing someone new in ranked for the purpose of practicing is disrespectful towards the people in that ELO, regardless if your intentions are good or not.

ModDesonance6/27/2016, 11:38:39 PM3 votes

These are actually pretty great ideas being thrown around here. You've earned my upvote op! ^_^

Catastrop6/28/2016, 2:29:12 PM3 votes

{quoted}

  • First and foremost, don't be an ass. If you normally play at a much higher level, have hundreds or thousands of game of experience, of course you'll stomp your opponents. Don't brag, it's not extraordinary, it's just logical.

I love this point, so many smurfs brag about being able to climb ELO's with some strange pick and lord it over the lower ELO players as if that's supposed to be some great achievement.

DREADN0UGHT7/1/2016, 2:11:37 PM2 votes

Whenever I try giving advice to other players on my silver 4 smurf, people tell me to ''stfu'' and ''kys''

So idk what I should be saying tbh.

Solari Fortune6/28/2016, 4:46:35 AM2 votes

I just want to say one thing about Smurfs They were happening in the old system of Solo/Duo Queue, yet some people on the boards seem completely blind to that fact and only think smurfs have been happening because of Dynamic Queue

Bagguette6/28/2016, 5:21:55 AM2 votes

Well if you put EXPERT on your smurf, you should be placed with other smurfs.

DarkRitual6/28/2016, 9:01:22 PM2 votes

Don't play ranked grouped with people who belong in lower divisions.

TwinkiePro6/29/2016, 6:49:54 AM2 votes

Unfortunately, if you smurf, I'm going to be angry at you. It doesn't matter what your reasons are, you are still unfairly tilting the game in your favor. I'm not upset that you are better than me (I'm silver, I'm on the bottom of the barrel, so most people are better than me), I'm upset because you are not playing with your own skill level, basically lying to the game that you belong in a game with me.

Sugar coat it all you want, it doesn't make you any less of an asshole.

DemonofDota6/28/2016, 12:57:38 PM1 votes

Smurfing is a problem created by banning people for being mean. this is why you should ban the truly toxic people rather than those who get mad at them.

Zer0Honor6/29/2016, 2:05:04 AM1 votes

Honestly for those of us that don't smurf or have reason to since we are silver/bronze its very very rude that riot allows it. We don't want to fight a diamond player on a silver smurf account in ranked. If you feel you need a 2nd account then that 2nd account should be lumped with everyone else playing a 2nd account. Its not fair or fun for those of use who want to be casuals or even work on climbing...Either climbing skill in normal or rank in ranked. Smurfs have no place in this game other then ruinning the game for lower elo players they know aren't on the same level as them and is something riot needs to reconsider as "acceptable".