LP Allocation Changes
The first innovation is the climb indicator on the loading screen. If a player has a high MMR but a low visible rank (for example, bronze at the start of the season), the system will show that they are actively climbing, reducing distrust in the lobby. At the same time, Riot will synchronize MMR between Flex and Solo/Duo to eliminate situations where players with a low Flex rank but a high real skill level dominate matches.
Autofill and Aegis of Valor Rework
Significant changes will also affect autofill. The system will try to place two autofill players in the same roles on opposite teams. If that's not possible, it will at least ensure an equal number of them. To compensate for the inconvenience, the Aegis of Valor is introduced: if a player is forced to play a non-primary role and receives a grade of C or higher, no LP is deducted upon defeat, and double LP is awarded upon victory. This bonus will occasionally be given to those playing rare roles, even if they weren't selected for their primary role—as a reward for contributing to queue health.
New Measures Against Game Dodging
- Banning a champion selected by a teammate is prohibited.
- Leaving the lobby no longer removes autofill—it carries over to the next queue.
- Starting from Master, dodging the lobby while in autofill is considered a full loss.
Champion Selection Changes and Duo Return in High Ranks
Additionally, Riot is reducing champion selection time during the pick stage by about half a minute by eliminating unnecessary animations. Most importantly, the duo queue is returning in high Elo, including Challenger, thanks to improved anti-boosting systems and manipulation detection.
Swift Play Update
Besides ranked play, Riot is also updating the Swift Play mode: accelerated early level (starting at 3), faster deaths, frequent minion waves, new Minion Frenzy mechanics, no Grumps and Rift Scuttlers, early Baron and Elder spawns, simplified jungling, and fewer objectives. All of this makes the mode faster, more dynamic, and closer to the intended format of a short, active match.
All these changes show that Riot is striving to address the main issues of the ranked mode—long queues, match imbalance, autofill problems, and toxic behavior in the lobby.
