If you’ve spent months grinding ranked queues, dodging trolls, and finally hitting that Gold rank for the Victorious skin, you’ve probably wondered when do ranks reset in League of Legends at least once. Rank resets are one of the most anticipated (and sometimes dreaded) events on the LoL calendar, because they wipe the slate clean for every player, no matter how high or low you finished the previous season. I’ve been playing ranked for 8 years now, and I still get a mix of excitement and anxiety every time a reset is on the horizon – it’s a chance to climb higher than you ever have before, but it also means you’ll have to fight through a ton of chaotic placement matches first. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about rank resets, from the typical timeline to how to make the most of the new season start.
When Do Ranks Reset in League of Legends, Exactly?
Full rank resets happen once per year, aligned with the official launch of each new ranked season. The exact date shifts slightly every year, but it almost always falls in the first two weeks of January for all regions globally. If you’re used to resets in other competitive games, you’ll be glad to know when do ranks reset in League of Legends is far more predictable than most, with no random mid-season full resets to throw off your grind.
Riot always gives players a 4 to 6 week pre-season period before the official reset, where all upcoming gameplay changes go live for testing. Pre-season doesn’t count toward your official seasonal rank, so you can mess around with new items or champion reworks without hurting your MMR. Full rank resets only happen once per year, at the official launch of a new ranked season. There are mid-season rank adjustments that tweak your MMR slightly to fix imbalances, but these never fully wipe your current rank.
Riot announces the exact reset date 2 to 3 weeks in advance across their official social channels, so you’ll have plenty of time to wrap up your end-of-season grind. Note that reset times roll out by time zone, so players in KR and OCE usually get access to the new season a few hours before players in NA or EUW.
What Actually Changes During a Rank Reset?
A lot of new players assume a rank reset means everyone starts at Iron 1, but that’s not how it works. Your previous season performance carries over via your hidden matchmaking rating, so you won’t be stuck playing against total newbies if you finished last season in Platinum or higher. When you understand exactly what shifts when do ranks reset in League of Legends, you won’t be caught off guard by your placement rank.
Your hidden matchmaking rating (MMR) is the biggest factor that determines where you land after placement matches. Riot uses a standard soft reset formula for MMR: new MMR = (your final previous season MMR + 1200) / 2. 1200 is the average MMR for Gold 4, so if you finished last season at 1800 MMR (Platinum 2), your reset MMR will land around 1500, which is Gold 1 level before you play any placements. You’ll have to play 10 placement matches to get your official starting rank for the new season.
The reset also brings all seasonal cosmetic resets: your ranked climb progress resets, you’ll lose access to any ranked rewards you earned that were exclusive to the previous season, and your ranked profile will show your new unranked status until you finish placements. Your previous season rank is still visible on your profile forever, so you don't lose that bragging rights for hitting Diamond or Challenger in past seasons. Most resets also come with big meta shifts, including new items, champion reworks, jungle changes, or even map updates to keep the game fresh.
How to Prepare for a Rank Reset Before It Happens
Once you know when do ranks reset in League of Legends, you can plan your prep schedule weeks in advance so you’re not scrambling at the last minute. I’ve made the mistake of jumping into placements day one without prepping before, and I ended up placing two divisions lower than I should have, so take these tips seriously. Prepping doesn’t require 8 hours a day of grind, just a few small steps to set yourself up for success.
- Finish your ranked grind for end-of-season rewards at least a week before pre-season ends: You don't want to miss out on the Victorious skin, chromas, or ranked icons because you waited until the last minute to climb. Riot cuts off ranked rewards the second pre-season ends, so there's no grace period for last-minute wins.
- Spend pre-season testing new builds and meta champions: Pre-season is the only time you can mess around with new items or off-meta picks without hurting your ranked MMR. Take notes on what feels strong, so you have a pool of 3-5 reliable champions to play in placements.
- Take a short break if you’re burnt out: Ranked grinds are exhausting, and you’ll play much better in placements if you’re rested. Even a 3-5 day break from the game before the reset can help you come back refreshed and focused.
A lot of players think they need to grind non-stop right up until the reset, but that's usually counterproductive. If you're already happy with your end-of-season rank, use the last few weeks of pre-season to have fun, not to stress about climbing an extra division that will get wiped anyway. You can even play normals or ARAM to stay loose without the pressure of ranked.
Tips to Climb Fast Right After a Rank Reset
The first two weeks after a rank reset are the most chaotic time to play ranked, but they're also the best time to climb fast, because MMR changes are more volatile early in the season. A single win in the first 20 games of the season can give you twice as much MMR as a win 3 months into the season, so every game counts extra here.
Avoid playing placements on the first day of the reset if you can. The first day queues are full of streamers, smurfs, and casual players who only log in for the new season launch, so you're much more likely to get unbalanced teams. The sweet spot to play placements is 3 to 4 days after the reset, when most smurfs have already climbed to their actual rank, and queues are far more balanced. I waited 5 days to play my placements last season and placed a full division higher than I did the year before when I played on launch day.
Stick to your small champion pool for the first 20-30 ranked games of the season. Don't try out new champions right after reset, when every win counts extra for your MMR. If you main a mid laner, stick to your top 2-3 mid picks until you've hit your expected rank. If you notice a champion is completely overpowered in the new meta, spend a few games practicing them in normals first before you bring them to ranked.
Also make sure to take breaks if you start tilting. A losing streak in the first few weeks of the season can tank your MMR for months, making it way harder to climb for the rest of the year. If you lose two games in a row, step away for 15 minutes, get a snack, or play a quick ARAM to reset your mood before you queue again.
At the end of the day, knowing when do ranks reset in League of Legends is only the first step to making the most of each new season. Resets aren't something to fear – they're a fresh chance to improve your skills, climb higher than you did last year, and experience all the new content Riot adds each season. Whether you're a casual player just chasing the Gold skin or a hardcore grinder aiming for Challenger, a little bit of prep before the reset and smart play in the first few weeks of the season will help you hit your ranked goals faster than you thought possible. Don't stress too much about your placement rank, either – it's just a starting point, and you have the entire rest of the season to climb.