Boards›Player Behavior

Is smurfing allowed and is it healthy ?

Wąr·10/16/2016, 1:58:41 AM·8 votes·10,260 views

Just played a ranked game where there was clearly someone who was mechanically way better than everyone else on our team . Later admitted to smurfing. These people completely ruin the ranked experience , here I am actually trying to climb by playing people who are supposed to be around as good as I am, but instead I'm matched with someone whose skill is actually that of a diamond player. What is riot's view on smurfing exactly ? I've seen it mentioned once or twice but it doesn't seem to be taken seriously. I feel like this ruins a lot of games. Keep smurfing out of ranked.

And then as a side note, I've also played with people who intentionally TANKED their MMRs on their smurf accounts after they got too high so that they could play with worse people just so they can dominate in ranked games. THIS IS UNHEALTHY ALL THE WAY AROUND.

Sorry it probably sounds like I'm angry/tilted, but because I am a little.

25 Comments

GaleWinUnleashed10/16/2016, 2:24:23 AM5 votes

Allowed? Yes.

Healthy? Very very questionable.

MohawkBird10/16/2016, 2:04:59 AM3 votes

[deleted]

Mister Punches10/16/2016, 3:34:47 AM2 votes

Smurfing is not only allowed, but encouraged.

Edit: I say this because I do have a smurf account that I use to practice my weak lanes and characters with. I also found that a recent survey sent to me by Riot also asks about this.

Awkward Couch10/16/2016, 2:14:51 AM2 votes

Smurfing is allowed, because there is no way to really stop it.

Is it healthy? No.

Nosnide10/16/2016, 2:23:09 AM2 votes

Yea I just lost to a smurf top lane. It was a Riven and even though he/she didn't admit to smurfing (or talk at all), I know that's what it was. Riven had 86 farm at 10 minutes and 188 at 20 minutes. No one in my S1-G3 elo is getting that. It is very unfortunate to have to play against those people, especially when your team is already losing lanes. I would say it has happened about 4 or 5 times in my last 40-50 ranked games. Somewhat about 10% of the time. Nothing too serious, but it gets frustrating when it serves as a follow up to an already bad streak or bad loss, where you were slightly tilted as it was and now your just mad because you have to go against someone who is not even supposed to be in your elo.

EDIT: I didn't do too bad I was 10/11/14 with 49 cs at 10 minutes and 97 at 20 minutes. I know that is low, but wukong into riven is already sort of difficult. I tried my best.

Ruin Lance10/16/2016, 10:10:25 AM1 votes

it's allowed yeah

ModUlanopo10/16/2016, 6:55:20 PM1 votes

Riot's position on smurfing is that it's permitted as long as no toxic activity occurs on the account (artificially lowering MMR, etc.).

Breaku10/16/2016, 6:57:49 PM1 votes

Yes to both questions

EL HAMSTERO10/5/2017, 4:06:40 PM1 votes

its allowed only because its impossible to stop.

even if they could somehow prove its a smurf account there are legitimate reasons to make a new account - you moved, you wanted to play with a friend who is new, you forgot your account name, you got banned, etc.

lost in oblivion5/4/2019, 3:01:05 AM1 votes

allowed by RIOT? - read the statement statement Healthy? - Hell NO .. this is an example, with Ahri writting in chat personally that he smurfs from diamond: example

Maybe you want to help your friend to level up and go to higher ELO .. but by ruining game of others who want to learn the game by themselfs and get to higher ELO by self? Smurfing is not a correct thing at all and you can not me prove the other way.

Spiçy5/27/2019, 3:28:06 AM1 votes

Then every high Elo and people like Faker, 3 time world champion, would get banned. You have just as much of a chance of having them on your team then not. They won't be sticking around your rank anyways, because you gain 40+ a game till they catch up to their main

Dealth10/16/2016, 2:03:02 AM1 votes

Is it allowed? Yes

Is it healthy? No, not at all.

ModPeriscope5/27/2019, 3:40:16 AM1 votes

What is dead may never die...is something no one ever said about old threads. Since this thread's been White Walker'd, I'm locking it (due to it's old age).

If you have any questions about this moderation action, don't hesitate to reach out to the Boards Moderation Team via:

NiamhNyx10/16/2016, 2:19:19 AM1 votes

But you just gave me an Idea, Im going to level up one of my club smurfs, play them in ranked till they are higher than my main in ranked, and when people ask my main they will be so confused to see a smurf in silver/gold with ummm, what ever tier of bronze my season 7 placements decide to soft reset my main to.

ZedNationz10/16/2016, 2:20:17 AM1 votes

TRUE. you know those who do smurfs and when you r low elo and they r destroying u cuz ur a smurf lvl 30 plauing in a lvl 15 accoutn and u r really lvl 15 and they re making the game bad.

ModPrandine10/16/2016, 2:52:34 AM1 votes

Allowed? Yes, so long as you're not doing it to be a jerk to other people. Healthy? Debatable.

President Swa1n10/16/2016, 10:05:33 AM1 votes

The reason why they're allowed is because as far as I know, you can't practically so people from doing it.