Riot Pls: Ranked Pls - 2017 Season Ranked Changes

Riot·Oct 4, 2016·18 votes·414,616 views

New001 and ScuttleChris - leads on League of Legends - back again.

A little over a month ago, we announced a number of improvements to ranked while acknowledging that Dynamic Queue hasn't met the needs of many players. Today, we’re ready to talk about what we’re planning for the 2017 season.

Let's start with the biggest news: We're bringing back Solo/Duo Queue for all players.

Solo/Duo Queue

Remember Season 2015's ranked system? It's a lot like that. Queue up alone or with one trusted friend and aim for Gold (or higher). The major differences from 2015 are that you'll be able to select two preferred positions and veto your least favorite (when autofill is enabled or if you choose fill). Challenger tier will also remain solo-only.

Ranked Flex

The Ranked Flex Queue allows up to five players to queue up and compete—a lot like 2016's DQ—and those who climb here will earn unique rewards (and additional flair on their border) at the end of the season. If your premade squad wants a serious, competitive game, this is where you play. Or, if you're a solo player who wants to get good in an environment that rewards more team-oriented skills, the Flex Queue is also there for you. Ranked fives will naturally be merged with this queue, and as a result they'll be available 24/7.

Those who climb to Gold in both Solo/Duo Queue and the Flex Queue will unlock an extra-special end-of-season reward.

How We Got Here

Anyone who followed our ranked changes this year is now probably thinking "so what changed?" For months, we resisted calls to re-release Solo/Duo Queue alongside Dynamic Queue because we believed queue health for both queues would suffer. We also thought we could improve Dynamic Queue enough to satisfy those who feel left out by its design—specifically, those players who really hate playing against premades (or who think premades destroy the integrity of the ranked ladder).

But over the course of the 2016 season, we developed matchmaking and design improvements to Dynamic Queue that have increased our confidence in our ability to support two ranked queues. So now we want to try it out.

Ultimately, there are fundamental, irreconcilable differences between Flex and Solo/Duo Queue beyond their varying rules on premades. Our hope is both queues will thrive by leveraging those differences to attract different types of players. For example, there are certain competencies that Solo/Duo Queue will reward more:

The ability to "solo carry" games is rewarded more highly in solo/duo queue. Since far fewer premade players are coming in with coordinated strategies they've practiced ahead of time, there's a bigger emphasis on your ability to win lane and leverage your power across the map.
You may be on your own, but you've got to be able to become a leader for a group of strangers. You can't tilt, and you have to be able to adapt on the fly to the idiosyncrasies of your teammates.

The Flex Queue also tests all the skills you've developed while playing solo, but additionally rewards a different set of competencies:

In champ select, you've got to focus more on cohesive team comps, and late game communication strategies will likely make the biggest difference between winning and losing teams—a well-coordinated crew with a solid game plan will shine brightest here.
This queue will likely develop its own meta that's more focused on early game invades and unexpected, tightly-coordinated rotations.

We think that with unique rewards and a different-feeling environment, players will see the value of the Flex and Solo/Duo Queue, and both will thrive.

But what if we're wrong?

It may be the case that solo or duo players aren't interested in the Flex Queue, and its population—and thus queue times—could suffer as a result. All queues need solo players to survive. It may work in some regions, but not others. If that's the case, we'll turn the Flex Queue into a strict five-man queue, effectively converting it into the old ranked fives queue (minus the roster management restrictions and plus all the algorithmic improvements we developed during the 2016 season).

We always want players to have the ability to play competitively as a group, but we'll give up our dream of a competitive "dynamic" queue if players don't think it's worth their time.

The 2016 ranked season taught us a lot about our game, players, and how Riot can do better. Thanks for sticking with us.

Q&A

Will these changes ship only on the client update, or for the legacy client as well?

These changes will ship to both clients.
What about ranked emblems?

They're gone. Emblems were a band-aid solution, not a permanent fix.
What about a way for friends with vastly different ratings play together competitively? Last season's Ranked Teams let us do that.

Ultimately, we're making a trade-off here, but it's one we're okay with for a few reasons. If you're letting Bronze players queue up alongside Diamond friends, it's nearly impossible for us to create a well-matched game. We've tried it in the past with the Ranked Teams queue, and some players liked it, but queue populations were always incredibly small and match quality was inconsistent. Since we're supporting ranked five-on-five games in the Flex queue, we've got to draw a line here: in our new system, Normals are the best place for low-ranked players to queue up with their highly-ranked friends.

1,138 Comments

z0402581Oct 5, 2016410 votes

Just so I have this correct, Flex Queue can hold any number of people (premade 1 to 5), but Solo/Duo can only have 1 or 2?

If this is the case, can you add an option for those soloers/duoers that don't care which queue they're in? Kind of like how we have primary/secondary role, but give us the option of choosing between Flex Queue, Solo/Duo Queue, and either. I think if you guys did this, queue times would drop for solo/duo queuers.

EeveonOct 6, 201644 votes

Everyone upvote this so riot can see. This NEEDS to happen.

Crysi102Oct 6, 2016109 votes

This is actually a spectacular idea, like a fill queue for solo players. People who don't care one way or another can be tossed from one queue to the next to fill holes as needed. It could help bring down queue times in both solo/duo and flex queue if done right, so long as there are solo players to jump in the fill queue.

A really great idea, though I'm curious as to how that would be implemented/communicated. Probably with lots of big golden words that warn you "you can be placed in either queue with this option" or somethin, idk. One way or another, this should happen. I like this idea. This would be good.

AtanchanOct 6, 201612 votes

I think the queues'll have separate ladders, so it'd be kind of weird to be able to just queue for whatever and have the possibility of either getting into a Bronze 4 game or a Diamond 2 game

z0402581Oct 6, 20169 votes

The way I see it, if a person was in both Bronze 4 (let's say for Flex Queue) and Diamond 2 (for Solo/Duo Q), then the person would know completely well which one he'd go into if he chose either Solo or Flex. If the person really cared about having a Bronze game or a Diamond game, he could just choose which one he wants; if he doesn't care, then having him pick the fill option would fill in any needed holes in either queue, allowing for shorter queue times.

CaughtOct 5, 2016364 votes

Holy Moly Thank you Riot

RiotRiot CactopusOct 5, 2016465 votes

NP BB

IOffMeta GtOvrItOct 5, 201685 votes

thank you doubly for allowing players to keep their two best roles instead of that order priority from the original queues.

WornheavenOct 6, 201620 votes

[deleted]

JahkavimOct 6, 201611 votes

Despite what other people claim this is an original page and really gives a supply of these codes. Also to believe something is 'Phishing' when they don't ask for any login information is just naive, maybe these guys should first google how that works.

The website is clean I tested it myself and it really works. We should be happy that something like this exists and actually gather real information before spreading bullshit

DeathBurstOct 6, 201641 votes

That's still spam and absolutely irrelevant on this thread, so that alone is worth a down vote.

Moreover, rule of thumb on the internet, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. I didn't look into this one specifically, but even if it's not phishing, there is probably some other trap somewhere. And I won't take the risk to find which one exactly...

EdenwainOct 5, 2016321 votes

Am I seriously the only one who's fine solo queuing in dynamic queue? Call me old fashioned, but I don't mind "socializing" with other people who play together haha. One of my main buds that I queue with these days is actually from a quad-premade that I randomly queued with once. I really hope flex queue does indeed stay haha.

RiotRiot CactopusOct 5, 2016353 votes

WE KNEW YOU WERE OUT THERE

o Green Sage oOct 5, 201698 votes

Seriously though, I also love DQ. I really hope this works out because with the 5 man system I would join a team and inevitably we would end up rarely playing.

Solo/Duo splits up my group of friends.

But with DQ I can play in 3s or 4s.

I really, really hope we don't go back to just having 5-mans and solo/duo.

phyrramOct 5, 201624 votes

I 100% agree. I always play as a group of 3 so this could screw everything up.

Brave Her0Oct 5, 201628 votes

We are out there! I feel the same way. I actually really liked dynamic queue! I've been able to meet a lot of really fun people through it, and it feels nice knowing I can queue up with 2 or 3 friends if that's all I've got online. I also feel like solo/duo was/will be really toxic, like it used to be. You know, people freaking if they don't get their one specific role, mid always being contested for, etc. Idk. I liked dyna-Q, but I must be a minority.

ValiantDogFoodOct 5, 201641 votes

Is it your job to make legendary comments on the website for PR? If so, you my friend deserve a raise.

NalisaiOct 5, 2016154 votes

Ranked ARAMs next pls thx.

Foxy WeeabooOct 5, 2016301 votes

[slayer-jinx-unamused]

Monkey D PuffyOct 5, 201651 votes

If Riot made a ranked ARAM, then if one team got really lucky and got like an amazing wombo combo team, then that game would be really easy to win, so it would be kinda unfair

fVI0pfUK36Oct 5, 20169 votes

And you think it's fair now when people constantly troll in ARAM because it's well.. ARAM? They think it's just a fun game mode to relieve stress when there are just as many people playing it seriously as there are ranked players.

All they need to do is allow bans; not only would that cut down the "amazing wombo combo teams" but also would ensure people wouldn't get stuck with useless picks. Also make it a requirement to own all champions to allow people to swap.

It's a far fetch, but if 3v3 could have ranked. Why shouldn't ARAM?

KüramaOct 6, 201640 votes

Because Twisted Treeline requires strategy and objective in order to win. Howling Abyss does not.

LoveBubbleButtsOct 5, 2016112 votes

Did riot just admit to there mistakes and are willing to listen? This is the first time in a while I am actually glad of one of your big choices for the ranked system. Thank you Riot! ^_^

parma jon cheeseOct 5, 201624 votes

They just admitted their mistake two patches ago with the Kog'Maw rework revert.

KSHarrisonOct 5, 201634 votes

They do it regularly but somehow most people's eyes don't register those particular words in a sentence.

OkamiRyu92Oct 5, 201686 votes

BRING BACK TEAM BUILDER!!!!

Dark Star ChoOct 5, 201687 votes

Replace normal blind with team builder, people can pick the champs they want without being banned yet no arguing over roles.

aspects1Oct 5, 201625 votes

a lot of people choose blind cause it has short queue times.

JustínOct 5, 201667 votes

Rank 1 3v3 NA player here.. Is this the end of 3s?

I am MadlifeOct 5, 201610 votes

Curious on this as well. It seems as if they didn't mention that much on the if it will stay or not

NokutomiOct 5, 201643 votes

rito i thank you for bringing solo/duo back <3

RiotGhostcrawlerOct 5, 201683 votes

You are welcome.

BopnOct 5, 201636 votes

Honestly guys the reason I dislike dynamic que is not because of ladder integrity or that I feel disadvantaged.

I dislike dynamic que becuase when you get that 1/20 chance of playing against a 3 man premade, the game is just straight up not fun.

I'm talking about the mid jungle and support camping your blue buff in the bush. Teams camping in the river bush. Friends flaming when they get kills because they are more confident with their buddies. Having 0 communication directed at you when you are the solo with a group of 4.

The problem with dynamic que is that people can be scumbags when they are trying to impress their friends and I quite frankly think they can just all play their ego game in a pen together.

Deep Terror NamiOct 5, 201625 votes

I never minded premades on either team even as a solo-only player, but I'm glad they are doing what Lyte said they were going to do in the first place.

Emblems were a band-aid solution

Eh, what exactly did they solve? They did nothing.

YamanokiOct 5, 201613 votes

Exactly - just like a band-aid.

They're just a cover-up of the real problem, in hopes it'll not get worse, while something else does the actual fixing.

I'm wary, but optimistic, of the new system.

Deep Terror NamiOct 5, 201634 votes

Band-aids actually serve a purpose. They hold a small wound together and help stop the blood so it can start healing, and helps prevent it from getting dirty. Calling the emblems a band-aid is only appropriate if you put the band-aid next to the wound as a reminder that it's there, but not actually on it to help.

ModAcademy KaynOct 5, 20168 votes

The "Band-Aid" was an attempt to make players feel that they earned their spot compared to the boosted animals. You see a Plat/Diamond player with a SoloQ Badge, and you'd Supposedly respect them more than someone with a DynamicQ badge.

At least, that's how i reason it.

Rengar the PandaOct 5, 201622 votes

And this, folks, is as close as we'll ever get to riot admitting they were wrong (or could have been wrong). TY Riot for finally listening.

AeszarckOct 5, 201642 votes

[{quoted}](name=NEON Brute,realm=NA,application-id=Ag8jgd8Q,discussion-id=ozloAIxn,comment-id=0085,timestamp=2016-10-05T21:52:16.241+0000)

And this, folks, is as close as we'll ever get to riot admitting they were wrong (or could have been wrong). TY Riot for finally listening.

It is Riot admitting that they were wrong, so yeah, that's as close to admitting wrong as Riot can get.

RiotGhostcrawlerOct 5, 2016180 votes

We were wrong

AeszarckOct 5, 201639 votes

{quoted}

We were wrong

I was not expecting Ghostcrawler to comment on this.

Keep up the great work Ghostcrawler! You're doing a wonderful job keeping up relations with the community and I think we're very lucky to have you designing League as well as interacting with us on the Boards (and reddit, but I don't participate in discussion there).

Rabid SquirtleOct 5, 201615 votes

This is nice....but it stil doesn't make up for Championship Maokai.....

WendígoOct 5, 2016183 votes

*Victorious

If you are gonna whine, do it properly

emernicOct 5, 201611 votes

Maybe stop complaining that they are giving us a skin for a s*%& champion and start complaining that they allow champions to be garbage for extended periods of time.

Urgot Galio Karthus

X Anivia XOct 5, 201670 votes

HEY DONT HATE Urgot JUST BECAUSE HES BEAUTIFUL!

Mushroom3691Oct 5, 201610 votes

Here is something I don't understand. In the recent dev blog (http://na.leagueoflegends.com/en/news/riot-games/editorial/dev-new001-competition-beyond-ranked) by New001, they state that Riot wants a more competitive atmosphere akin to that of the Riot Rumble. However now you're splitting the player population by setting out two sets of queues with two separate ladders. How can Solo/Duo queue ever achieve this level of competitiveness? And without voice comms, how can flex queue ever attempt to do so if you have 3-2 mans in game or 4-1s? Another point for concern, if up and coming Challenger teams want to practice, but all of the challenger players are playing solo/duo queue, how could they hope to compete?

WendígoOct 5, 20169 votes

Solo Q will never achieve this. It was only brought back because people bitched.

Voice com will not be a thing while the client is being rebuilt.

Mushroom3691Oct 5, 20164 votes

Oh I know that comms and anything cant really be introduced until the new client comes out. This just feels like Riot is now turning its back on those who like DQ. They didn't provide adequate tools for DQ to be successful, and now they said that they are willing to abandon it all together and make it 5s only. Honestly, the dev blog I linked just makes it seems like they will never bridge the gap. It feels like a pipe dream that can't come true. This announcement feels that while yes Riot is willing to look out for 1 group of players they will easily abandon another to do so.

WendígoOct 5, 201618 votes

Flex Q is launching in a very similar state to current DQ. It's up to the DQ community to keep it around. If not enough people play it, Riot will cater to the majority opinion. I think that's fair

RiotGhostcrawlerOct 5, 201628 votes

Frankly speaking, solo / duo can't recreate the experience that New001 was talking about. That would have to be an entirely new feature, probably built only for premade 5s.