How Long Does It Take to Decay in League of Legends?
If you’re an avid League of Legends player wondering how long it takes to decay in the game, you’re in the right place! Decay is a system that starts to kick in when you haven’t played ranked games for a while. It affects your rank, and can ultimately make you lose your hard-earned rating. Here we’ll dive into everything you need to know about decay in League of Legends.
What is Decay in League of Legends?
Decay is the system in League of Legends that lowers your rank if you haven’t played ranked games for a while. If you don’t keep up with your ranked games, or you stop playing for a significant time, your rank will begin to decay. This system is in place to ensure players are actively playing the game and engaging in ranked matches to keep their skills sharp.
How Long Does It Take to Decay in League of Legends?
The time it takes to decay in League of Legends depends on your current rank, and how many ranked games you’ve played. If you’re in Bronze, Silver, or Gold, you’ll only decay if you don’t play ranked for 28 days. In Platinum, Diamond, Master, and Challenger, decay starts at 14 days of inactivity.
After this initial grace period, the decay starts to compound. For each day you remain inactive, you’ll lose LP (League Points), which can result in your demotion. The number of LP you lose increases every seven days, and is as follows:
- Bronze and Silver: 50 LP per 7 days
- Gold: 75 LP per 7 days
- Platinum: 35 LP per 7 days
- Diamond: 50 LP per 7 days
- Master and Challenger: 250 LP per 7 days
How Do I Avoid Decay in League of Legends?
The easiest way to avoid decay is to play regular ranked games. Try to play at least one ranked game every few weeks to keep your rank active. Alternatively, if you know you’re going to be away from the game for a while, you can use a “rank protection” token. This token stops decay for seven days, and you can stack up to ten of them. You can earn them by winning ranked games – one token per win.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens when I decay in League of Legends?
When you decay, your LP drops to zero, and your rank is demoted by one tier. For example, if you’re in Gold 4 and let your rank decay, you’ll end up in Silver 1 after the decay process.
Does my MMR decay in League of Legends?
No, your MMR (Matchmaking Rating) doesn’t decay. This rating is used by the matchmaking system to calculate your skill level and to match you with players of equal skill.
Can I decay from Bronze to Silver in League of Legends?
No, you can’t decay from Bronze, Silver, or Gold. Once you hit these tiers, you’ll stay there until the end of the season, even if you don’t play ranked games.
Conclusion
Knowing how long it takes to decay in League of Legends is crucial if you want to maintain your hard-earned rank. Making sure you log in and play ranked games every few weeks will keep your rank active and prevent decay from occurring. Or, alternatively, stacking up “rank protection” tokens will buy you some time away from the game. Either way, understanding the system behind decay is essential for any avid League of Legends player.