Does Duoing Affect Your MMR in League of Legends? A Deep Dive

Yes, duoing affects your MMR (Matchmaking Rating) in League of Legends. When you queue with a partner, the matchmaking system takes into account that you have a pre-established level of coordination and communication that solo players may lack. To compensate for this inherent advantage, the system subtly adjusts your team’s effective MMR, generally treating it as slightly higher than the simple average of your individual MMRs. This means you’ll likely face slightly tougher opponents compared to solo queuing, but it doesn’t guarantee this outcome.

The way duoing affects MMR is multifaceted and depends on the relative MMR difference between you and your duo partner. It also changes based on the elo where you duo. If there is a significant gap, the system faces more challenges in creating balanced matches. Furthermore, your individual performance still plays a crucial role in the long-term evolution of your MMR. Wins still increase it, and losses still decrease it, but the impact of each match can be subtle and influenced by your duo partner’s performance as well.

MMR is a hidden number used by Riot Games to ensure fair matches. You cannot see it directly, but you can infer whether your MMR is higher or lower than the average player in your rank by the amount of LP (League Points) you gain or lose per match. The system aims to place you in a tier that accurately reflects your skill level. Duoing introduces a variable that the system attempts to balance, but ultimately your consistency and improvement as a player are the biggest factors affecting your MMR.

Understanding MMR and Duo Queue Dynamics

The intricacies of MMR and duo queue interaction involve several key components.

Compensation for Coordination: The most important aspect is the system’s attempt to offset the inherent advantage duos possess. This is not a static adjustment; it fluctuates based on factors such as the historical performance of duos with similar MMR combinations and the server population at the time of queuing.
MMR Disparity Impact: The MMR difference between duo partners drastically changes how the system handles matchmaking. A smaller gap leads to a more predictable MMR calculation for the team, while a substantial gap introduces greater variability and potential for matchmaking imbalances.
Long-Term Impact: While individual games may feel subject to uneven matchmaking, it’s important to consider the long-term effects. Consistently performing well with your duo partner will eventually lead to your MMR reflecting your combined strength. However, conversely, consistent losses will lower your MMR, regardless of the initial advantage compensation.

The MMR Landscape in Different Ranks

The effect of duoing on MMR varies significantly depending on your rank.

Lower Ranks (Bronze to Gold): In lower ranks, the effect of duoing on MMR is usually less pronounced. Skill discrepancies between individual players are more common, and consistent coordination can provide a significant edge that outweighs the MMR adjustment.
Mid Ranks (Platinum to Diamond): At these ranks, the system starts to penalize duos more aggressively because players are more skilled and the system attempts to prevent duos from gaining a significant edge over solo players.
High Ranks (Master+): In Master and above, duo queueing is often restricted to prevent boosting and maintain competitive integrity. Grandmaster and Challenger players can only queue solo for Ranked Solo/Duo Queue.

Practical Implications for Ranked Climbing

Knowing how duoing affects your MMR can help you strategize your ranked climbs.

Choose Your Duo Wisely: Duo with someone whose playstyle complements yours and who is around the same skill level. A big skill difference may lead to matchmaking imbalances and frustration.
Focus on Improving Together: Use duoing as an opportunity to learn and improve together. Coordinate your strategies, communicate effectively, and analyze your mistakes together.
Don’t Rely Solely on Duoing: While duoing can offer advantages, developing your individual skills is essential for sustained ranked progress. Focus on your own gameplay and learn to carry games, both solo and with your duo partner.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is DuoQ harder than solo?

The matches are literally made harder for duo queues because the matchmaking system treats your MMR as being higher than it is to compensate for you getting to choose one of your allies and, in turn, put you in tougher matches.

2. Can you duo with Master MMR?

Master, Grandmaster, and Challenger players can only queue up alone for ranked solo/duo queue.

3. Do you get less LP for duo?

No, your LP gain is based only on your own hidden MMR. That said, if you frequently queue with someone lower than you, your MMR may decrease quite a bit (depending on how often you win/lose games), so it’s likely your LP gain will slow down faster than if you were solo queuing.

4. What affects my MMR?

Several things can affect your MMR, such as: Whether you win or lose a match, the skill difference between teams during a match, and exiting a Ranked Match early.

5. How do I regain my MMR?

Building a winning streak is essential to improve your MMR as the more wins you have in a row, the more likely your MMR will improve.

6. How does duo affect MMR?

When you duo, the matchmaking system determines the average MMR of you and your premade, and adjusts it to account for the coordinated advantage of being in a premade, putting you up against slightly tougher opponents on average.

7. What is the duo MMR in League of Legends?

Teams are matched up by each player’s individual MMR and then combined to create a team MMR. If you duo queue with someone you are putting two players who might have MMR’s too far away from one another, which the system accounts for.

8. Why am I gaining so little LP?

You have a 47% win ratio, i.e. you’re losing more on average than you’re winning. This means the game thinks you belong at the MMR where you are currently, or even possibly lower than where you are currently, which is why your lp gains are smaller than your lp losses.

9. Does co op vs AI affect MMR?

Matchmaking for Co-op vs. AI depends only by summoner level and not on any form of elo/MMR.

10. Does Flex MMR affect solo MMR?

Your rank in Flex queue is totally independent of your rank in Solo, and you’ll earn rewards unique to your Flex tier at the end of the season.

11. Who can Diamond 4 duo with?

Diamond IV can queue with Plat I, II, and Diamond II, III, etc..

12. Is it easier to climb with a duo?

Duo queueing increases the chances of climbing the ladder, as long as the duo partner is not significantly below your skill level.

13. Can a gold 1 play with a plat 2?

Gold can play with up to Platinum.

14. Does losing decrease MMR?

Yes, it goes down by losing.

15. How does MMR change?

MMR goes up when you win and it goes down when you lose.

Ultimately, while duoing introduces complexities to the MMR system, the fundamental principles remain the same: consistent performance, continuous improvement, and a strategic approach to the game are the keys to climbing the ranked ladder. By understanding how duoing affects your MMR, you can make informed decisions about your queueing strategy and maximize your chances of success. And remember, the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ offers a great resource for understanding the broader implications of games and learning.

Does Duoing affect MMR?