Does Dodging Affect MMR in League of Legends 2023? The Ultimate Guide
The short answer is no, dodging does not directly affect your MMR (Matchmaking Rating) in League of Legends as of 2023. However, the nuances of dodging and its impact on your climb are more complex. While you won’t see your MMR change immediately after a dodge, the repercussions on your League Points (LP) and overall ranked experience can indirectly influence your MMR over time. This article will delve into the intricacies of dodging, explaining why it’s a crucial strategic tool, how it impacts LP, and answer your burning questions about the practice.
The Mechanics of Dodging in League of Legends
Dodging, in League of Legends, refers to leaving the champion select screen before the game officially begins. This action prevents the game from starting, essentially canceling the queue for all players involved. While it saves you from a potentially unfavorable match, it comes with a price: a time penalty and a loss of LP. The reason players dodge is multifaceted, ranging from unacceptable team compositions to dealing with toxic or uncooperative teammates.
Why Players Dodge: A Strategic Advantage
Dodging serves as a crucial strategic advantage in ranked play for several reasons:
- Avoiding Unfavorable Team Compositions: If your team lacks essential roles like a tank or proper damage, or if the enemy team has a significant counter-pick advantage, dodging can prevent a likely loss.
- Counteracting Trolls and Griefers: Encountering a player intentionally sabotaging the game during champion select is a common reason to dodge. Dodging spares you from spending 20-40 minutes in a frustrating and unwinnable scenario.
- Mitigating Autofill: When multiple players are autofilled into positions they are uncomfortable with, dodging can prevent a disadvantageous team composition and increase your chances of winning in the next game.
- Protecting LP and MMR (Indirectly): While dodging doesn’t directly reduce MMR, repeatedly losing LP due to bad games will eventually cause the system to lower your MMR to match your rank. Thus, selectively dodging can help maintain a higher MMR relative to your visible rank.
The LP Penalty and its Implications
While dodging preserves your MMR, it does impact your LP. The penalty for dodging typically involves a small LP loss and a time penalty before you can queue again.
- First Dodge: Usually results in a 3 LP loss and a 6-minute queue dodge penalty.
- Second Dodge: Incurs a steeper penalty of 10 LP and a 30-minute queue dodge penalty.
- Repeated Dodging: Continuously dodging within a short timeframe will result in even harsher penalties, including longer queue bans.
The LP penalty means that frequent dodging can lead to a lower visible rank than your MMR would otherwise suggest. However, many players find this acceptable as they believe the improved game quality resulting from selective dodging leads to a higher overall win rate, ultimately outweighing the LP loss.
MMR and LP: A Deeper Understanding
It’s important to understand the relationship between MMR and LP. MMR is a hidden number that the system uses to determine your skill level and match you with appropriate opponents. LP, on the other hand, is the visible representation of your rank and is used to track your progress through the various tiers and divisions.
Winning games increases both your MMR and LP. Losing games decreases both, although the amount of LP gained or lost can be affected by the difference between your MMR and your rank. If your MMR is significantly higher than your rank, you’ll gain more LP per win and lose less per loss, and vice versa.
Dodging affects your LP without affecting your MMR. This means that if you frequently dodge, you may have a lower rank than your MMR suggests. In the long run, this can result in larger LP gains per win, as the system tries to correct the discrepancy.
The Challenger Dodge Strategy
In the highest tiers of play (Challenger), dodging is a highly strategic and sometimes controversial practice. Players at this level often dodge frequently to avoid unfavorable matchups, maintain a high win rate, and protect their LP. The reasoning behind this is that even a single loss at Challenger can have a significant impact on their ranking, making dodging a worthwhile investment. This is also because at that skill level, even the smallest advantage is crucial.
Ethical Considerations
While dodging is a permitted game mechanic, excessive dodging can negatively impact the experience of other players. It can lead to longer queue times and frustration for those who are ready to play. It is recommended to use dodging strategically and responsibly, considering the impact on the community.
Stabilizing your MMR
If you believe your MMR is inaccurate or that it needs to be fixed, there are only a few paths you can take.
- Win Streak: Stringing together consecutive wins can significantly increase your MMR, signaling the system that you belong at a higher skill level.
- Loss Streak: Conversely, consistent losses can lower your MMR if the system thinks your current league does not fit your true skill level.
Recent Changes to Ranked
Riot has implemented several changes to the ranked system in recent years, including the introduction of split resets and adjustments to LP gains. These changes are aimed at improving the player experience and making the ranked climb more rewarding. Keep an eye on patch notes and announcements from Riot to stay up-to-date on the latest changes.
Conclusion: Dodging as a Tool, Not a Crutch
Dodging is a powerful tool in League of Legends, but it’s important to use it wisely. While it doesn’t directly impact your MMR, its effect on your LP and overall win rate can indirectly influence your matchmaking over time. Understanding the mechanics of dodging, its penalties, and its strategic applications can help you make informed decisions and climb the ranked ladder more effectively. By dodging strategically, you can increase your chances of entering a game where you can shine and enjoy the game. For more information on game strategy and learning, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does dodging affect MMR 2023?
No, dodging does not directly affect your MMR in League of Legends as of 2023. However, it impacts your LP, which can indirectly influence your MMR over time.
2. What happens to my LP when I dodge?
You lose LP when you dodge. The penalty increases with each consecutive dodge within a short timeframe. A first dodge usually results in a 3 LP loss and a short queue ban.
3. Will I demote if I dodge at 0 LP?
No, dodging alone won’t demote you, even if you go into negative LP. However, repeatedly dodging without winning games will eventually lead to a lower MMR, making demotion more likely.
4. Is it better to dodge a bad game or play it out?
That depends on your goals. Playing a bad game may give you a small chance of winning and gaining LP. Dodging guarantees a loss of LP but saves you time and mental energy. Many players prefer to dodge to protect their MMR and maintain a higher win rate.
5. How often can I dodge before getting a severe penalty?
The penalty for dodging increases with each consecutive dodge within a short timeframe. Avoid dodging multiple times in a row to avoid escalating queue bans.
6. Does my MMR affect my LP gains and losses?
Yes, your MMR significantly affects your LP gains and losses. If your MMR is higher than your rank, you’ll gain more LP per win and lose less per loss.
7. Why do Challenger players dodge so much?
Challenger players often dodge to avoid unfavorable matchups, protect their LP, and maintain a high win rate. Even a single loss at this level can have a significant impact on their ranking.
8. What’s the difference between MMR and LP?
MMR is a hidden rating that determines your skill level and matchmaking. LP is the visible representation of your rank and tracks your progress through the tiers and divisions.
9. How can I improve my MMR?
The best way to improve your MMR is to win games consistently. A long win streak will significantly increase your MMR.
10. Can I lose MMR on a win?
It’s theoretically possible to lose MMR even if you win, but this is rare. It typically happens when you are expected to win against significantly lower-ranked opponents.
11. Does AFK affect MMR?
Everyone’s MMR goes down on a loss due to an AFK, so while it pushes you down, it pushes everyone else down too, not having long-term effects.
12. Do I lose MMR in unranked?
Unranked has its own MMR system separate from ranked, but it does not affect your ranked MMR.
13. What affects my MMR?
Your MMR is primarily affected by whether you win or lose a match and the skill difference between teams. Exiting a Ranked Match early will also negatively affect your MMR.
14. How can I fix my MMR?
The only ways to stabilize your MMR are to keep winning until the system thinks your MMR fits your league, and your LP gains match your losses or to keep losing until the system thinks your league fits your MMR, and your LP losses match your gains.
15. Does win rate affect MMR?
Yes, your win rate significantly impacts your MMR. A higher win rate indicates that you are performing well and deserve a higher MMR.