Is smurfing a bannable offense?

How would that work? "This guy made a new account, therefore let's ban him so he is forced to make another one, BRILLIANT!"

Lol no xDD

Explain to me how it is fair that people who are new to the game have to play against plat smurfs.

It is not, nor should it be.

Spoken as someone who has never made a smurf but played against many of them.

Quite frankly, a smurf is just an account whose player is significantly above their displayed level of skill. I know that when I first started playing ranked, I was already mid-Platinum skill level but I was still placed in Silver.

In that regard, I could be considered a smurf even though I just hadn't played enough games to get appropriately placed.

For smurfs created to play with new players, they will get sorted out pretty quickly by match-making. Their skill level will differ significantly than actual new players, so their early wins will result in them achieving a higher MMR. After a number of games, smurfs will primarily be matched with and against other smurfs (with exceptions made for when there are few players online at those levels).

The issue is what types of players are likely to make smurfs. There are four general types:

** [1] Low ranking players who want to "reset" their MMR so they can climb**.

These are generally the people who think matchmaking is weighted against them and their teammates are holding them back from climbing. These players are generally pretty bad and while they may beat new players for a little bit, there is generally a small enough skill difference that new players can hold their own after some practice.

** [2] High ranking players who want to smurf for lower queued times.**

These are generally high-Diamond or Master players. For the most part, they are fine and some type to help out newer players to ease their boredom when leveling to 30. While some can be jerks, that true at every skill level.

** [3] People creating a new account to play with friends just starting the game. **

Having a level 30 player can really mess with match-making, so creating a new account to play with new friends isn't really an issue. They are generally relaxed and teaching their friend how to play the game.

** [4] Banned players **

This is the real problem group and the one which gives smurfs a bad name. These are the players who have been banned for their toxicity but who still want to play the game, so they create a new account and get matched with new players. They are generally the types to rage, troll and/or insult new players.

No thanks. I would rather not have to have my friend play with ranked players as soon as they start when I want to play with them.

better idea: if you make a smurf you can link it via email with your main account. you can then use all the champs you have on your main. but if you play like an asshole on your smurf and he gets banned, your main gets banned aswell.

with matchmaking, after a smurfs first 3 or 4 games they will never see another new player

one thing about smurfs is that riot can't really catch and stop them even if they wanted to. the first time i heard of what a smurf was, was when i was accused of smurfing since i never played ranked yet and they were surprised they lost so badly to someone unranked (they were bronze 5 so not that surprising). just because someone is winning a lot or winning a game hard, doesn't always mean they are a smurf.

there is also the matter of people playing on the same ip so can't limit it to only one player.

As long as riot bans the players there will always be smurfs