MMR in League of Legends: How the Rating, Ranks, and League System Work
MMR is the rating system that Riot Games uses to match players in games. MMR determines the strength of your opponents and teammates, and it also affects the number of LP you gain for a win and lose after a loss. In this article, we’ll break down what League of Legends MMR is, how it relates to ranks, what leagues exist, and whether you can find out your hidden rating.
What Is MMR in League of Legends
MMR (matchmaking rating) is an internal measure of a player’s skill. Riot Games uses it to create matches that are as balanced as possible. The higher your MMR, the stronger the opponents and allies the system matches you with.
The main feature of MMR is that it’s hidden. Players can only see their rank and LP total, while the actual rating value remains unknown. This allows Riot to adjust matchmaking algorithms and combat boosters.
It’s important to understand that MMR isn’t limited to ranked games. Regular matches also have their own hidden rating, although it isn’t displayed anywhere in the game client.
How MMR Differs from LP and Rank
The League of Legends ranking system uses three different metrics.
- MMR is a player’s hidden rating used for matchmaking.
- LP—points earned for wins and losses. These are used to advance through divisions and ranks.
- Rank is a player’s position in the ranking system, such as Gold, Platinum, or Diamond.
If your MMR is higher than your current rank, the system typically awards more LP for a win and deducts less for a loss. If your hidden rating is lower than your displayed rank, the situation is reversed: wins earn you less LP, while losses cost you more.
How MMR Affects Player Matchmaking
During matchmaking, the system primarily uses MMR as a reference rather than the displayed rank. Therefore, players in the same division may be matched against opponents of different skill levels if their hidden ratings differ.
For example, two players might both be ranked Gold II, but one will face Platinum-level opponents, while the other will face players closer to Silver. This means their hidden MMR differs, despite having the same rank.
What Ranks Are There in League of Legends?
The ranking system divides players into ten ranks. Most of these are further divided into four divisions—from IV to I, with I being the highest. The exceptions are the Master, Grandmaster, and Challenger ranks.
| Rank | Number of Divisions |
| Iron | 4–1 |
| Bronze | 4–1 |
| Silver | 4–1 |
| Gold | 4–1 |
| Platinum | 4–1 |
| Emerald | 4–1 |
| Diamond | 4–1 |
| Master | No divisions |
| Grandmaster | No divisions |
| Challenger | No divisions |
Promotion through the League of Legends tier system is based on LP. Players earn LP for wins and lose LP for losses. Once a player reaches 100 LP, they are promoted to the next division or rank.
According to Riot, most players are in Silver and Gold. Here is the approximate distribution by rank.
| Rank | Approximate Number of Players |
| Iron | 4% |
| Bronze | 17% |
| Silver | 22% |
| Gold | 22% |
| Platinum | 17% |
| Diamond | 9% |
| Master and above | 2% |
Can I view my MMR?
Riot Games does not show players their exact MMR value and does not provide a way to view it within the game client. This is done intentionally: matchmaking is based on a hidden rating system, not an open ELO system.
You can find services online that claim to reveal your League of Legends MMR, but they do not have access to Riot Games’ internal data. These sites merely calculate an approximate rating based on match history, rank, and other publicly available data, so their estimates may differ from your actual MMR.
Why do you get so few LP for a win?
The amount of LP you earn depends not only on the match result but also on the ratio of your MMR to your current rank. If the system determines that your displayed rank is higher than your hidden rating, you’ll earn fewer LP for wins and lose more for losses.
If your MMR is higher than your current rank, the situation is reversed: wins earn you more LP, allowing you to climb faster to the level the system considers appropriate for your skill. This is why two players of the same rank may earn different amounts of rating points after identical matches.
Additionally, at higher ranks, there is a penalty system for inactivity. If you don’t log into the game for a couple of weeks, you’ll lose rank and earn fewer LP.
