Are smurfs good or bad for overall game health?

PeelDpotato·2/13/2017, 7:31:11 AM·2 votes·1,539 views

Just had a opposing jungler playing zac that did moderately well but wound up losing and trashing his teammates in all chat and the "low elo trash" that he was playing with and against. It made me realize that I don't think I've seen a smurf ever be positive towards their team or advise them on how to play better or smarter. They usually abuse game knowledge or champion mechanics to hard carry and/or act pretty toxic while they do it. And if you think they are bad for game health is there any way to effectively moderate them? Thoughts appreciated either way.

11 Comments

KVbqbFsC8e2/13/2017, 8:05:50 AM4 votes

Absolutely not. I can't see any legitimate argument for them being a good thing. I don't think any new player enjoys being stomped by people who have been playing the game for years in their low level games where they are supposed to be matched with other new players. I don't think anything can realistically be done about it though.

Mariel1412/13/2017, 8:42:47 AM3 votes

The only legit reason to Smurf, imo, is if you're trying to help a friend learn to play the game and you don't want to get queued way above their ELO and have them up against people on your level where they are just going to get turned into a pancake.

That said, there's absolutely no excuse for rudeness or flaming at the lower levels... or at the higher levels, for that matter. People who have to squish players who are much less experienced than they are in order to feel good about themselves are pretty much the jock bullies of the MOBA world. Pity them, for they are sad.

Sinserta2/13/2017, 8:20:16 AM3 votes

No. They aren't. At all. Nobody enjoys trying your best, and seeing a random high elo player come out of nowhere and completely stomp them.

MrHaZeYo2/13/2017, 7:45:21 AM3 votes

Me personally, if I make a new account or play on a low level account I don't flame the new people lol, if anything I stick up for them. I'll try to give them advice and tell em to add me if they got questions and shit.

Overall though I don't think smurfs are healthy.

Elisheva2/13/2017, 6:24:51 PM2 votes

How would they be good for overall game health? I don't complain about them because there is absolutely nothing riot can do about them, but they have no positive impact, except for the rare occasion when players can learn to outsmart them, then forget everything they learned the next game.

Ward Baron2/13/2017, 8:35:15 AM2 votes

They are bad because of the massive pool of accounts that WANT to be low bronze to boost. Not only do they throw games to dump an account they then ruin games to boost others. This is why SOLOQ needs to and always should be soloQ.

MUSHROOM MIDGET2/13/2017, 8:34:06 AM1 votes

they are bad for the game 100%. but there is no way to stop them so might as well just accept it

Baka Red2/13/2017, 11:41:44 AM1 votes

Two sides to this story. From player perspective most smurfs are not nice. High ranked people playing against much weaker opposition often results insults and worse. And of course troll accounts result in other kinds of negativity. From Riot perspective smurf accounts are really nice; they get more money. And more money for Riot means more longevity to League of Legends. Thus smurf accounts will continue to exist for as long as League exists.

grug2/13/2017, 12:21:35 PM1 votes

i've seen many more bronze and silver players 'smurf' in pre-level 30 games than I have actual high ELO players.

the power trip of the bronze and silver smurfs is hilarious.

most high ELO players that i've actually seen, say very little if anything at all and are usually boosters.

Overall i think smurfs are very detrimental to the ranking system but are a very good learning experience for crappy players such as myself.

Back after Ban2/13/2017, 6:20:54 PM1 votes

I started playing League in season 3, the friends that introduced me to the game had all been playing since BETA so they were far better at the game than I was. The point is that I learned faster because I got stomped every game. You're much better of playing two tiers above your skill level than two tiers below (if the point is progress) so I'd say it's fine, the only people they're hurting are themselves.

GigglesO2/13/2017, 8:21:28 AM1 votes

Smurfs are unhealthy for the game.