Achieving the Apex: What It Takes to Earn an S+ in League of Legends

Earning an S+ rank in League of Legends signifies exceptional performance in a match, placing you among the top players in that game using a particular champion. It’s not solely about winning; it’s about dominating. Achieving an S+ requires a masterful blend of near-flawless KDA (Kills, Deaths, Assists), efficient farming (CS – Creep Score), strategic objective control (turrets, dragons, Baron), effective vision control (warding), and impactful contribution to team fights. In essence, you need to outshine the average player on that champion in your role across a multitude of performance metrics. This guide will delve into the specific factors Riot Games considers and how you can optimize your gameplay to consistently achieve that coveted S+ rank.

Understanding the Grading System

League of Legends utilizes a grading system ranging from D- to S+, similar to many grading scales or tier lists in gaming. Each letter grade has three degrees: minus, neutral, and plus, reflecting the level of performance within that grade. An S+ is the highest achievable rank and demonstrates outstanding performance.

Key Performance Indicators for an S+

While Riot Games doesn’t explicitly reveal the exact formula for grading, several key performance indicators (KPIs) are known to significantly influence your rank:

• KDA (Kill/Death/Assist Ratio): This is perhaps the most obvious and crucial factor. A high KDA demonstrates strong engagement in fights and minimizes deaths, showing you’re both dealing damage and playing safely. Aim for a KDA significantly above the average for your champion in your role. Deaths severely impact your grade.
• CS (Creep Score): Farming effectively is critical for accumulating gold and scaling into the mid and late game. A high CS per minute (CSM) indicates strong laning phase and efficient resource gathering. Strive for 8-10 CSM, especially in the mid to late game.
• Objective Control: Contributing to securing objectives such as turrets, dragons, Rift Herald, and Baron Nashor demonstrates a strong understanding of macro play and significantly impacts your grade. Actively participate in objective fights and prioritize taking down enemy structures.
• Vision Score: Effective warding is crucial for controlling the map and preventing ganks. A high vision score demonstrates your ability to provide vision for your team and deny vision from the enemy. Place wards strategically in key locations and clear enemy wards.
• Damage Dealt to Champions: This metric reflects your contribution to team fights and your ability to deal damage to enemy champions. Aim to consistently deal a high amount of damage relative to your role and the game length.
• Damage Taken: A high damage taken number might indicate a strong tank presence, but it can also show that you are getting caught out. Balance damage taken and damage dealt.
• Healing & Shielding: If playing a support champion, high healing and shielding numbers are obviously important.
• Kill Participation: This reflects your involvement in team fights and your ability to contribute to kills. A high kill participation percentage indicates you are actively engaging in fights and helping your team secure kills.
• Gold Earned: Overall gold generation, not just from CS, also matters. This includes kill gold, assist gold, and objective gold.

Champion-Specific Performance

The grading system also considers the average performance of other players using the same champion in the same role. This means that the requirements for an S+ will vary depending on the champion and role. For example, earning an S+ on a support champion will likely require a higher vision score and lower damage dealt compared to an S+ on a damage-dealing carry.

How to Improve Your Chances of Getting an S+

• Master a Champion: Focus on mastering a few champions in your preferred role(s). Understanding a champion’s strengths, weaknesses, and optimal playstyle will help you perform consistently well.
• Optimize Your Farming: Practice your last-hitting skills in custom games to improve your CS. Learn efficient farming patterns and prioritize farming over unnecessary skirmishes.
• Strategic Warding: Learn where to place wards effectively to provide vision for your team and deny vision from the enemy. Use control wards to clear enemy vision in key locations.
• Prioritize Objectives: Focus on securing objectives such as turrets, dragons, and Baron Nashor. Communicate with your team to coordinate objective pushes.
• Improve Your Map Awareness: Pay attention to the minimap and track the enemy jungler’s movements. This will help you avoid ganks and make informed decisions.
• Learn Macro Play: Develop a strong understanding of macro play, including wave management, rotations, and objective control. This will help you make strategic decisions that contribute to your team’s success.
• Minimize Deaths: Playing safely and avoiding unnecessary risks will significantly improve your KDA. Focus on positioning correctly in team fights and avoid getting caught out.
• Communicate with Your Team: Communicate effectively with your team to coordinate plays and make informed decisions. Use pings and chat to communicate your intentions and share information.
• Review Your Replays: Watch your replays to identify areas where you can improve your gameplay. Analyze your mistakes and learn from them.
• Practice: Consistent practice is key to improving your skills and consistently achieving high grades. Play regularly and focus on improving your gameplay.

Remember: Winning Isn’t Everything (But it Helps)

While exceptional individual performance is the primary driver for an S+ rank, winning the game certainly increases your chances. A victory suggests your contributions were impactful and led to success. However, it’s entirely possible to receive an S+ on a losing team if your individual performance was significantly above average.

The grading system considers your performance compared to other players using the same champion and role. While the grading algorithm may fluctuate, try to perform better than most players who play that same champion in the same role.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the minimum requirements to play Ranked League of Legends?

   You need to be at least level 30 and own at least 20 champions to play ranked. This ensures players have a reasonable understanding of the game and a diverse champion pool.

2. Does my MMR (Matchmaking Rating) affect my chances of getting an S+?

   Indirectly, yes. Your MMR determines the skill level of your opponents. Performing well against higher-skilled opponents can lead to a better grade.

3. Is it easier to get an S+ on certain champions?

   Potentially. Champions with lower average statistics in certain roles might have a lower performance bar to clear. However, popular champions are often played more efficiently.

4. Does playing with friends increase my chances of getting an S+?

   Playing with a coordinated team can improve your overall performance, but it also raises the expectation for a higher grade.

5. How important is warding for getting an S+?

   Very important, especially for support and jungle roles. A high vision score demonstrates map awareness and strategic vision control, contributing significantly to your grade.

6. Does the length of the game affect the grading system?

   Yes. Longer games mean higher potential for CS, damage, and vision score. The system likely adjusts for game length.

7. Can I get an S+ in every game?

   While theoretically possible, it’s highly unlikely. Consistent S+ ranks require near-flawless performance and a degree of luck.

8. What’s more important: KDA or CS?

   Both are crucial, but they have different impacts depending on the role. Carries typically need high CS and a decent KDA, while supports can prioritize vision and assists with a less-than-stellar KDA.

9. Does the game consider my item build when calculating my grade?

   There’s no definitive confirmation, but it’s plausible the system analyzes your item build’s effectiveness based on the game state and compares it to optimal builds.

10. Is it harder to get an S+ in higher elo?

    Generally, yes. Higher elo players are more skilled and make fewer mistakes, making it harder to outperform them.

11. How much does kill participation matter?

    It matters significantly, especially for roles that are expected to be involved in fights. A high kill participation indicates your contribution to securing kills for your team.

12. What happens if multiple players on the same team have exceptional games?

    The system likely prioritizes the player with the most outstanding overall performance across various metrics.

13. Where can I learn more about advanced League of Legends strategies?

    Websites like Mobafire and ProGuides, as well as resources like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org, offer in-depth guides, champion builds, and strategic analysis.

14. Is it possible to get an S+ as a jungler even with low kills?

    Yes. Junglers are often graded on objective control, gank success, and vision control, in addition to KDA.

15. Does the system penalize me for dying to a turret?

    Yes, any death negatively impacts your KDA and, consequently, your grade.

Final Thoughts

Achieving an S+ in League of Legends requires a comprehensive understanding of the game, mastery of your chosen champion, and consistent execution of optimal strategies. Focus on improving your key performance indicators, adapting to different game situations, and working with your team to secure objectives. While it may seem challenging, consistent effort and a focus on improvement will increase your chances of earning that coveted S+ rank and solidifying your status as a top-tier player. Good luck on the Rift!