League of Legends (LoL) at times can be really tough if you are playing it seriously. Going up the competitive ladder can be really frustrating if you are doing all in your power, and still finding it hard to win games.

And while you are dying to make it to the diamond rank in LoL, keep in mind that this will be a tough journey for you. But there are quite a few things that can help you improve and make your way through a bit more smooth.

However, in the end, all comes down to the seriousness you put in the game and how devout you are to rank up in the LoL competitive ladder. Today, we have compiled up a few things that we think many mid-level players miss out on.

How Ranked Tiers Work?

Before you try to aim towards the top, it is important to know what you are aiming at and how will you get there. To go towards the diamond rank, you need to understand how the League of Legends ranked tiers work. You should focus on the leagues in place, namely; Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and finally Diamond. Other than the Master and Challenger Leagues – which are basically a way to say you have gone Pro – are divided into divisions.

The lowest you can be in a ranked tier is the Bronze Division V since V being the lowest rank in the division. This is a place that is more commonly known as the ELO hell since it is one of the toughest places to come out of.

Just like how you see your rank, there is also a ranking which is not seen by players, known as the MMR (matchmaking rating). This ranking decides where you should be placed. With every win, you receive MMR points – and with enough MMR points accumulated – you rank up from your current division.

However, each time the MMR increases, you tend to get tougher opponents. While not directly linked, both of these factors kind of work together, and a good understanding of this will better allow you to reach your goal.

Dodging Games

If you understand how the ranking and division system works, you can use it to your advantage to be more efficient in climbing the ladder. This is where the point dodging games come into play. Although you will lose league points in doing so, it won’t have any effect on your MMR. This way, your MMR remains intact, while you dodge a potential loss which might have cost you your MMR. This is basically a FREE LOSS where only LP points are lost while your position in the MMR ladder remains the same.

To make it simple, you will have to check if your teammates are capable enough to let you win the game. OP.GG and LOLKING.NET are good websites to let you do so. This way you will be able to get a good idea if you can win or lose the game.

Based on this information, you can leave the game. This will cost you a few League points, but since the MMR is intact, you will gain them back, if you win your next game.

Knowing the Meta

Meta plays a very important role in determining the win and loss for a game. Picking up champions who have been recently nerfed, or are not hot favorites in the current Meta, will lessen your chances of winning the game.

Meta is basically a way how Riot Games try to balance the game. And no matter how much you try, if you are not picking heroes according to the Meta, then you won’t even pass your current league. Having comfortable picks is good, but still, you need a good knowledge of the current Meta so that you can use it to your advantage.

If cores are being focused by players in the bottom lane, then taking them to the top lane simply doesn’t make sense. The most recent Patch 8.8 has brought changes to Varus and Tahm Kench, so you might want to know about it.

Playing according to the Meta can greatly increase your chances of winning the game. You can get an idea about this by watching how the professional players play each Meta. Just see their champion picks and play accordingly.

Don’t Grind if You Are Losing

Your way to the top won’t be without losses here and there. However, this doesn’t mean you cannot regain the lost MMR. Winning every game is impossible, and while at times you will enjoy a winning streak, there would be days where you will constantly lose out as well.

While a winning streak can give you a good momentum, a losing streak is the other way round. It can greatly reduce your motivation level. If you are going through such phase, then simply take a break. A single loss doesn’t mean much, but if you have lost three games in a row, then it’s best to call it a day and come back again with a fresh mind.

Warding is winning

Having a vision of the enemy team is key to victory. Imagine if you have map hack turned on in the game. You could literally avoid every team fight and catch enemies off guard. You could farm multiple levels of items on your champion without any threat and play in team fights like a boss.

All this can be possible if you have proper vision. And this can only be true if you are placing good wards across the map. No matter what role you are playing, warding for your team never hurts. And while at lower levels, you won’t see a single ward across the map, keep in mind that if you have to climb up the ladder, then this is by far the most important thing you have to do.

Watching professional games will give you the best idea of the places to ward, as well as the situations in which the wards are placed. This includes aggressive and defensive wards and objective-based wards such as tower / turret taking or maybe vision over Baron or dragons.

Important Points

Apart from the points mentioned above, there are a few points that you should not miss, if you want to play and rank up in League of Legends. These points are as follows:

Checking Your Hardware

Make sure your mouse and keyboard are functioning properly. While it’s a basic requirement, you won’t want to curse your hardware if anything goes wrong during a competitive game.

Checking Your Internet

Having a good internet connection is a must if you want to play smoothly, and not getting frustrated due to lag. You don’t want to be complaining about your connection after you join the game. If you are facing lag regularly, then you must use Kill Ping. Do check out League of Legends lag article for a better understanding of how the software works.

Closing Background Applications

Downloads, updates and just about anything that you are running in the background should be closed in order to experience a good League of Legends gaming session.

Having a Fresh Mind

Going into a game with a lack of sleep will greatly reduce your performance levels. Even feeling hungry or being dehydrated would mean you won’t be fully focused on the game. Be sure you are well prepared for your grind your way in competitive matchmaking.

Practicing Regularly

If you want to excel in the game, you must practice regularly with a few champions. This is where you will get to know more about your champions and how you can use them at an optimum level in competitive games.

Conclusion

That’s it on the guide to rank yourself up in League of Legends. But, this doesn’t end here, and there is more to come. As of now, it is better you focus on the points mentioned above before moving on to playing the game at an advanced level.

Was this guide helpful for you? Do provide your suggestions in the comments section below. Until then, you can work on the above-mentioned tips to become a more consistent LoL player, and climb smoothly on the competitive ladder.