The Price of Abandonment: What Happens When You Leave a League of Legends Game Mid-Match?
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So, you’re in a League of Legends game. The pressure’s mounting, maybe you’re losing badly, or maybe real life just called. You’re thinking about leaving. But what happens if you actually leave mid-game? The short answer is: it’s going to cost you. League of Legends has a system in place to discourage players from abandoning matches, and the consequences can range from minor inconveniences to significant penalties impacting your account. Let’s dive into the details.
The immediate consequence is that your champion becomes AFK (Away From Keyboard), controlled (poorly) by the game’s AI. This almost always puts your team at a significant disadvantage, effectively making it a 4v5. This is why leaving a game is so heavily penalized. The system detects your inactivity, and this triggers a series of escalating penalties. The first, and most immediate, is often the activation of the Leaver Buster system.
The Leaver Buster is Riot Games’ automated system designed to punish players who frequently leave or disconnect from games. It’s not a perfect system, and occasional disconnects due to internet problems can happen, but repeated offenses will definitely trigger it.
Here’s a breakdown of the potential consequences:
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Low Priority Queue: This is the most common penalty. You’ll be placed in a low priority queue for a set number of games (usually 5). Before you can queue up for any match, you’ll have to wait an additional 5, 10, or even 20 minutes. This delay is designed to make you think twice before leaving another game. The length of the wait time increases with each subsequent offense.
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LP (League Points) Loss in Ranked: If you leave a Ranked game, the consequences are even more severe. Not only will you lose LP as if you had lost the game, but the system also flags you as a leaver. This means that for your next several games, you’ll earn less LP for wins. This penalty applies to both wins and losses. Your teammates will also be notified that you, as the flagged AFK/Leaver player, will receive less LP over your next few games.
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Potential Account Suspension: While less common for a single offense, repeated and egregious leaving can result in temporary or even permanent account suspension. Riot takes persistent disruptive behavior seriously, and excessive leaving falls squarely into that category.
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Team Impact: The effect on your team can’t be understated. Leaving a game often leads to a loss for your teammates, which can be incredibly frustrating. They lose LP, waste their time, and have a generally unpleasant experience due to your actions. It’s not just a penalty on your account; it’s a penalty for your teammates.
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Remake Opportunity (Early Game): If a player disconnects or is AFK from the very beginning of the game and doesn’t reconnect within a few minutes (around 3 minutes), the game will provide the other players on the team a chance to remake the game by typing /remake in chat. If the remake vote passes, the game ends with no penalty for those who voted to remake, and the AFK player receives the standard leaver penalty. Remake helps avoid situations where a 4v5 game starts from the beginning.
Why are these penalties so harsh?
League of Legends is a team-based game. Its competitiveness and strategy hinges on the cooperation of five players. When someone leaves, it severely damages the integrity of the match and diminishes the experience for everyone else involved. Riot’s penalties are designed to maintain a fair and enjoyable environment for the vast majority of players. The Games Learning Society and similar organizations understand the importance of positive social interaction in online gaming and how disruptive behavior can negatively impact the learning environment. This is why rules and consequences like these are critical for maintaining order and promoting positive interaction.
Avoiding Penalties: What You Can Do
The best way to avoid leaver penalties is, obviously, to not leave games. However, life happens. Here are some tips:
- Check Your Connection: Before starting a game, ensure you have a stable internet connection. If you’re prone to disconnects, consider troubleshooting your network or contacting your ISP.
- Manage Your Time: Don’t start a game if you know you might be interrupted. League games can last anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes (or longer!), so make sure you have enough time to commit.
- Communicate: If you do need to step away briefly, let your team know in chat. They might be understanding, and it’s certainly better than disappearing without a word.
- Don’t Rage Quit: Losing is part of the game. Don’t let frustration lead you to abandon your team. Take a break if you need to, but don’t leave mid-match.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How long does it take for Leaver Buster to kick in?
The timing varies depending on your past history. A single disconnect might not trigger it, but frequent leaving will activate it quickly.
2. Can I appeal a Leaver Buster penalty?
You can try to contact Riot Support, but appeals are rarely successful unless you have a truly compelling reason and proof (e.g., a widespread internet outage). Claiming “my cat unplugged the router” usually won’t cut it.
3. Does leaving a custom game result in a penalty?
Generally, no. Custom games are less formal and don’t usually trigger Leaver Buster penalties. However, consistently leaving custom games with the same group of people could lead to them not wanting to play with you.
4. What is the difference between AFK and dodging?
AFK refers to being away from your keyboard during a match. Dodging is leaving during champion select. Both result in penalties, but the penalties for dodging are usually less severe than for abandoning a game in progress.
5. Can I get banned for being reported for AFK even if I didn’t leave?
It’s unlikely to result in a ban unless it’s a pattern of behavior. False reports are investigated by Riot, but consistently being reported for AFK could trigger scrutiny.
6. Does the penalty for leaving increase over time?
Yes, the penalties escalate with each subsequent offense. The wait time in low priority queue increases, and repeated offenses can lead to account suspension.
7. If my internet cuts out, will I get penalized?
A single instance of disconnection due to internet issues is unlikely to result in a significant penalty. However, recurring connection problems can trigger the Leaver Buster.
8. How long does a low priority queue last?
You’ll be placed in low priority queue for a set number of games, usually 5.
9. What happens if I leave during placements?
Leaving during placement matches is especially detrimental. You’ll lose LP, negatively impact your MMR (Matchmaking Rating), and likely start your ranked season at a lower rank.
10. If I’m losing badly, can I just leave and take the penalty?
While you can leave, it’s generally considered unsportsmanlike and unfair to your teammates. It’s better to try your best, even if you’re losing, or to surrender if your team agrees.
11. Does surrendering count as leaving?
No, surrendering is a legitimate way to end a game and does not result in leaver penalties.
12. How do I surrender in League of Legends?
You can initiate a surrender vote by typing /surrender, /ff, /concede, or /forfeit in chat, or by pressing the “Surrender” button in the options menu. A majority of your team must vote yes for the surrender to pass.
13. Will my teammates also be penalized if I leave?
Your teammates won’t receive a leaver penalty, but they will likely lose the game and associated LP (in Ranked).
14. How do I check how many hours I’ve played of League of Legends?
The Riot client only shows the time spent on League of Legends in the current season. To see this, navigate to your Profile, then Stats.
15. Where can I learn more about the rules and guidelines of League of Legends?
Riot Games provides comprehensive information on their official website. Websites such as GamesLearningSociety.org also provide useful insights into the social and ethical aspects of gaming.