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Do You Need S+ for Mastery 7? Debunking the League of Legends Ranking Myth

The quest for Mastery 7 in League of Legends is a badge of honor, a testament to your dedication and skill with a particular champion. But amidst the summoner’s rift, whispers persist: “Do you need an S+ to achieve it?” Let’s cut through the noise and set the record straight.

No, you do not need an S+ to get Mastery 7. The requirement is an S-, S, or S+ grade on a champion you have already achieved Mastery Level 6 with. Earning one of these grades will award you a Mastery 7 Token. Collect three Mastery 7 tokens, and then combine them with either that champion’s Hextech shard, champion permanent, or 2950 Blue Essence to unlock Mastery Level 7. Therefore, aiming specifically for an S+ offers no additional advantage over simply achieving an S or S-. It’s about consistency in achieving at least an S- grade, not necessarily peaking with an S+.

The focus should be on improving your gameplay, understanding your champion’s role, and consistently performing well. That’s how you’ll consistently earn those coveted S grades.

The Path to Champion Mastery: A Deep Dive

The champion mastery system encourages players to deeply understand and excel with specific characters. It is divided into 7 levels, with level 7 being the highest. To advance through the levels, you need to earn champion points (CP) by playing games. The circular progress bar around your post-game grade visually represents the mastery points you have earned.

Mastery levels are not only about skill but also about dedication. The higher you climb, the more challenging it becomes to progress. This makes the final level, Mastery 7, a symbol of true expertise.

Achieving the Elusive S Rank: Core Strategies

While an S+ isn’t mandatory, you do need to reliably earn S ranks to progress. Here’s a breakdown of key strategies:

KDA (Kill/Death/Assist Ratio): A high KDA demonstrates strong participation in kills and a limited number of deaths. Aim for a positive KDA by making smart decisions and avoiding unnecessary risks.
Farming (CS – Creep Score): Consistently last-hitting minions is crucial for gold income and scaling. Strive for a high CS per minute, especially in the early to mid game.
Vision Score: Vision control is paramount. Place and destroy wards to provide map awareness and deny enemy vision. Utilize control wards and your trinket effectively.
Objective Control: Contributing to securing objectives like turrets, dragons, and Baron Nashor significantly impacts your grade. Participate in team fights around these objectives and prioritize taking them down.
Damage Output: Deal substantial damage to champions. This demonstrates your impact in team fights and your ability to carry your weight.
Healing and Shielding (for Support Champions): If you are playing a support, efficiently heal and shield your allies. This significantly contributes to your grade.
Crowd Control (CC) Score: Landing crucial crowd control abilities on enemy champions also increases your score.

Ultimately, an S rank is about overall contribution to your team’s victory.

Debunking Common Misconceptions

There are many misconceptions about earning S ranks and progressing through Mastery levels. Let’s address some common ones:

“I need to carry every game to get an S.” While carrying can help, consistent performance and contribution are more important. Even in a losing game, a strong performance can earn you an S.
“Only kills matter.” As mentioned before, KDA, farming, vision control, and objective participation are equally important. Focusing solely on kills will often lead to a lower grade.
“Supports can’t get S ranks.” Support players can absolutely earn S ranks by excelling in vision control, healing, shielding, and providing crowd control.

Understanding the holistic evaluation criteria is vital for optimizing your gameplay and maximizing your chances of earning those valuable S ranks.

Leveling Up Your Game Through Learning

Ultimately, consistent improvement is the key to achieving your League of Legends goals. Engaging with educational resources like the Games Learning Society website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ can provide you with valuable insights into game mechanics, strategies, and team dynamics. Learning from experienced players and analyzing your own gameplay will significantly accelerate your progress. Exploring how games are educational is paramount.

FAQs: Your Questions Answered

1. What exactly is Champion Mastery?

Champion Mastery is a system in League of Legends that tracks and rewards your skill and dedication with a specific champion. It ranges from levels 1 to 7, with level 7 being the highest attainable level.

2. How do I earn Champion Mastery points?

You earn Champion Mastery points by playing games with a champion. The better you perform in a match, the more points you receive. Factors such as KDA, farming, vision control, and objective participation influence the number of points awarded.

3. What are Mastery Tokens and how do I get them?

Mastery Tokens are special items required to upgrade your Champion Mastery level beyond level 5. You earn Mastery 6 Tokens when you reach Mastery Level 5 and achieve an S-, S, or S+ grade. Similarly, you earn Mastery 7 Tokens when you reach Mastery Level 6 and achieve an S-, S, or S+ grade.

4. How many Mastery Tokens do I need for Mastery 6 and Mastery 7?

You need two Mastery 6 Tokens to upgrade to Mastery Level 6 and three Mastery 7 Tokens to upgrade to Mastery Level 7.

5. What do I do with Mastery Tokens once I have them?

Once you have the required number of Mastery Tokens, you must combine them with either the champion’s Hextech shard, champion permanent, or a specified amount of Blue Essence (1700 for Mastery 6 and 2950 for Mastery 7) to unlock the next Mastery level.

6. Can I earn Mastery Tokens in all game modes?

No. Mastery Tokens can only be earned in Summoner’s Rift Normal or Ranked games. ARAMs do not qualify.

7. Do bot games give Mastery points or Tokens?

No, bot games, including Co-op vs. AI, do not give Champion Mastery points or tokens.

8. Does my role affect the criteria for earning an S rank?

Yes, the criteria for earning an S rank are adjusted based on the champion you are playing and their intended role. For example, a support champion will be evaluated differently than a damage-dealing champion.

9. What is the best way to improve my KDA?

Improve your KDA by focusing on making smart decisions, avoiding unnecessary risks, and prioritizing survival. Focus on farming well in lane, and don’t engage if you think you will die.

10. How important is vision control for earning an S rank?

Vision control is extremely important, especially for support players. Place and destroy wards to provide map awareness, deny enemy vision, and protect your team from ganks.

11. Does the game take into account my champion’s difficulty level when calculating my grade?

The game does not explicitly consider a champion’s perceived difficulty level. Instead, it compares your performance to other players playing the same champion in the same role.

12. Can I still earn Mastery points if I lose the game?

Yes, you can still earn Mastery points even if you lose the game. The amount of points you receive depends on your individual performance, regardless of the game’s outcome.

13. What is the maximum Champion Mastery level?

The maximum Champion Mastery level is 7.

14. Is there a level cap in League of Legends?

No, there is no level cap in League of Legends. You can level up indefinitely.

15. How does MMR affect who I play against in ARAM?

ARAM has its own separate MMR (Matchmaking Rating) that determines the opponents you play against. This MMR is unique to the ARAM game mode.

Mastery 7 isn’t about the flashiness of an S+, it is about consistent high performance to get an S-, S, or S+. Focus on improving the holistic game, and the tokens will come to you.

Do you need S+ for mastery 7?