Does Dodging Help Your MMR? The Truth Behind Ranked Queue Strategy
The short answer: dodging a game does not directly affect your MMR (Matchmaking Rating). Dodging impacts your LP (League Points) and can have ripple effects on your climb, but it doesn’t alter the hidden number that the system uses to determine your skill level and who you’re matched with. Let’s dive deep into the nuances of dodging, MMR, and how to best navigate the ranked ladder.
Understanding MMR, LP, and Dodging
MMR is the hidden ranking system used by many competitive games, including League of Legends and Valorant. It’s a numerical value that represents your skill level, and the game uses it to match you with and against players of similar skill. LP, on the other hand, is your visible ranking within a tier and division. It determines your position on the ladder and whether you’re eligible for promotion or demotion.
Dodging, in essence, is a strategic move to avoid playing a game that you believe has a low chance of success. This could be due to a toxic team composition, a known troll in champion select, or simply a bad feeling about the lobby. When you dodge, you incur an LP penalty and a temporary queue lock-out, but your MMR remains untouched.
The misconception that dodging affects MMR arises from the interconnectedness of the ranking systems. While dodging itself doesn’t change your MMR, the decisions behind when you dodge can indirectly influence your long-term MMR trajectory.
The Strategic Implications of Dodging
Since dodging doesn’t directly affect your MMR, it can be seen as a tool to optimize your LP gains. Imagine a scenario where you’re placed in a lobby with four players arguing vehemently in chat and one player announcing they’ll be running it down mid. Playing that game out is likely to result in a loss, which would negatively impact both your LP and MMR. In this instance, dodging would save you from the potential MMR decrease and LP loss associated with a likely defeat.
However, constantly dodging to avoid slightly unfavorable matchups isn’t necessarily a winning strategy. While you avoid LP losses in the short term, the cumulative LP penalties and queue lock-outs can slow down your climb. The key is to dodge strategically, focusing on situations where the odds are significantly stacked against you.
Dodging in Promotional Series
A critical consideration is dodging within a promotional series. Dodging a promotional game automatically counts as a loss, which can be devastating if you’re close to ranking up. In these situations, you need to weigh the potential risk of losing the promo game versus the guaranteed setback of a dodge. If the lobby is only slightly unfavorable, it might be better to play it out and see if you can pull off a win. If it is overwhelmingly bad, dodging may be your only option, and a loss in the promotional series is much better than lowering your MMR.
Negative LP Trick
The article you provided also mentioned a “Negative LP Trick”. This refers to the fact that you can dodge even when you’re below 0 LP without immediately demoting. While this allows you to further delay a demotion, it’s generally not advisable. Consistently dodging to remain at negative LP indicates that your visible rank is inflated relative to your MMR, which will result in clamping – reduced LP gains and increased LP losses.
Improving Your MMR: The Real Path to Ranking Up
Instead of focusing solely on dodging, the most effective way to improve your MMR is to consistently win games. A winning streak is the fastest way to boost your MMR, as the system recognizes your consistent performance and adjusts your rating accordingly. Focus on improving your gameplay, mastering your champion pool, and effectively communicating with your team. The more you win, the higher your MMR will climb, leading to more favorable matchmaking and ultimately, a higher rank.
Remember, MMR is designed to accurately reflect your skill level. While dodging can provide short-term LP gains, it won’t fundamentally change your MMR. Focus on improving your core skills and consistently winning games, and your MMR will naturally rise.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Dodging and MMR
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the relationship between dodging and MMR:
1. Does dodging affect my MMR in any way?
No, dodging does not directly affect your MMR. The only thing that changes is your LP.
2. Does dodging promos increase MMR Reddit?
Dodging will lower your LP, but not your MMR. This might seem like it will result in more LP after dodging because you’ll be lowering your visible rank.
3. Do you lose MMR for dodging promos?
No, you do not lose MMR for dodging promos. However, dodging in a promotional series counts as an automatic loss of a promo game.
4. What affects MMR in League of Legends?
Your MMR is primarily influenced by your win-loss ratio and the MMR of the players you face.
5. How can I improve my MMR in League of Legends?
Consistently winning games, especially going on win streaks, is the most effective way to improve your MMR.
6. Can I demote if I dodge?
You can dodge at below 0 LP, which can delay a demotion, but ultimately, consistently dodging to avoid demotion isn’t recommended.
7. Does AFK reduce MMR?
Everyone’s MMR goes down on a loss due to an AFK, but it affects all players in that match.
8. Does leaving games drop MMR?
Yes, leaving games drops your MMR.
9. Does normal MMR affect ranked placement?
Yes, if you’ve never played Ranked before, your normal MMR will be considered for your initial placement matches.
10. What is the maximum RR I can lose?
The maximum RR (Ranked Rating) loss varies depending on your rank. Lower ranks generally lose less RR than higher ranks.
11. Why am I losing more RR than I gain?
If your MMR is lower than your rank, you’ll lose more RR on losses than you gain on wins, because it is trying to lower your visible rank.
12. Does dodging reduce RR?
Dodging in competitive lobbies with Ranked Rating will punish the player with a small RR loss.
13. Does dodging affect MMR 2023?
Dodging does not affect your MMR. It allows you to dodge bad drafts, people who troll and autofilled players.
14. How to fix MMR 2023?
The only ways to stabilize your MMR is to keep losing until the system thinks your league fits your MMR, and your LP losses match your gains, or keep winning until the system thinks your MMR fits your league, and your LP gains match your losses.
15. What is the MMR system?
The MMR system determines a player’s skill level based on their performance, win-loss ratio and the skill level of their opponents. Better individual performance, a higher win-loss ratio and defeating skilled opponents increases a player’s MMR, while the opposite will decrease it.
Beyond the Game: Learning and Growth
While optimizing your in-game strategy is crucial for climbing, understanding the broader context of gaming and learning is also valuable. Organizations like the Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) explore the intersection of games and education, providing insights into how games can be used to foster learning, problem-solving, and collaboration.
Ultimately, climbing the ranked ladder is about more than just dodging and optimizing LP gains. It’s about continuous learning, adapting to new challenges, and improving your skills. By focusing on these aspects, you’ll not only improve your MMR but also develop valuable skills that can be applied to other areas of your life.