Smurfing

PwnKat·7/18/2016, 12:42:09 AM·1 votes·673 views

Smurfing is a very unhealthy existence in mid-levels. At least as a new player you won't notice the fact that you're being outplayed, but instead believe you're just doing poorly. However, there are some smurfs who while destroying their inexperienced opponents, proceed to have unsportsmanlike conduct and go into /all chat to "BM/Bad Manner" their enemies. This isn't acceptable. It's one thing to get bored of your ELO or become tired of losing on your main account, but then to start making new accounts, and harass new players, it isn't right.

Riot, do you have any future plans for smurfing, or will it remain?

8 Comments

xXRaichopXx7/18/2016, 1:10:55 AM3 votes

What did those little blue guys ever do to you??

Amak7/18/2016, 12:52:45 AM1 votes

What's the difference between reporting regular harassment and harassment from Smurfs? They'll get banned for it either way.

I don't like Smurfs, personally, but I try to learn from them whenever I lose to them, or when I win because of them. It's like a tutoring session.

Riot can ban an IP, so I see no reason they can't allow only one account per IP, but it's not really that big a deal, I think. I don't run across Smurfs that often in Silver, and many of the people who claim to be Smurfs certainly don't seem to have the skill to back it up.

LuluInWonderland7/18/2016, 12:57:07 AM1 votes

Smurfing isn't against the rules and, AFAIK, that's not going to change anytime soon. It does suck for new players and I'm not sure of the way to fix it. That said, if they're bm'ing, then report them after the game for doing so (not for smurfing as it's allowed).

On the plus side...smurfs don't last long as the system detects it fairly quickly and starts putting you up against other smurfs and ranked players to match your gameplay to your MMR faster. It appears to use more than just win/loss ratios (i.e. cs after 10/20 minutes and such). For instance, my smurf is lvl 20 and I play against gold & plat players now. And > 50% of the matches are just not fun as it comes down to what side has more/better smurfs versus legitimate new players. I only play with actual "newbie" players on it otherwise they end up playing by themselves against smurfs in the meantime, which isn't fun.

EVD Ghost7/18/2016, 12:43:56 AM1 votes

They've already made a system for that. If you just lose a lot of games then you'll be meeting other new players as well.

MaybeASmurf13377/18/2016, 1:36:16 AM1 votes

Do you have a problem with us?

Weathered7/18/2016, 1:37:38 AM1 votes

Not really a problem with smurfs, just a problem with people getting an extra opportunity to be an asshole. Those smurfs are still assholes on their mains, and will get punished equally if they are REALLY a jackass.

proud and bronze7/18/2016, 5:49:59 AM1 votes

what do you think a banned account does? they make a new account and the new players get to fight against skilled players who are also super toxic.