If you’ve ever spent weeks grinding solo queue to hit Gold or higher, you’ve probably wondered at some point when does ranked reset in League of Legends, and what that means for all the LP you worked so hard to earn. Ranked resets are one of the most anticipated events in the LoL calendar, because they give every player a fresh start to climb higher, earn exclusive rewards, and fix any bad MMR habits from the previous split. I’ve been playing ranked for 7 years, and I’ve seen everything from full season resets to smaller mid-year split changes, so I’m breaking down everything you need to know to be prepared for the next reset.
When Does Ranked Reset in League of Legends? Official Timelines
Riot switched to a two-split ranked system a few years back, so you can expect two separate ranked resets every year, no matter what region you play in. Two ranked resets happen per year, one between the first and second split, and one full reset at the end of the entire season. The first split usually runs from early January to late May, with a short 2-3 day reset period before the second split launches in early June. The second split runs from early June to mid-November, with a longer 1-2 week off-season period before the full season reset and the start of the next year’s first split. Full season resets only happen at the end of the second split, and they come with the biggest rewards, including the annual Victorious skin for players who hit Gold or higher in either split. Riot always announces exact reset dates at least two weeks in advance on their official social media channels and in-game client notifications, so you never have to guess when the next reset is coming. I always mark the end of split date in my calendar, because the last 3 days of queue are full of players either throwing to get lower MMR for the next split or grinding for last-minute rewards, so I avoid playing ranked then unless I’m already happy with my rank. If you’re still pushing for a higher rank to unlock rewards, try to hit your goal at least a week before the split ends to avoid the chaos of end-of-split queue.
What Changes Actually Happen During a Ranked Reset?
A lot of new players assume a ranked reset wipes all their progress, but that’s not the case at all. Riot uses a soft reset system, which means your progress is adjusted, not erased entirely. First, all your LP gets reset to 0, and you’ll be required to play 5 placement matches before you get your official rank for the new split. Your hidden MMR (matchmaking rating) is adjusted using a simple formula that pulls all players closer to the median rank of 1200 MMR, which is roughly Silver 2 to Gold 4 rank depending on the region. Your MMR is never fully erased during a reset, so if you had high MMR in the previous split, you’ll still get matched with higher skilled players in your placements, and you’ll gain more LP per win after you get your new rank. Placement match performance carries more weight than normal queue games, so a win in placements will move your adjusted MMR up far more than a win in a regular ranked game would. You also don’t lose any of the rewards you earned in the previous split, even if you place lower than you were before. The only things that change are your active rank, your LP, and your adjusted MMR for the new split. Here’s a full breakdown of what carries over after a ranked reset:
- Your hidden MMR score, adjusted slightly to pull all players closer to the median rank
- All permanent ranked rewards you earned in previous splits, including skins, emotes, and profile banners
- Your ranked match history and peak rank badges for every past season
- Your champion mastery scores and loot you’ve collected from ranked rewards
It’s also worth noting that your rank from the previous split will show up on your profile for the first few weeks of the new split, so other players can see what you peaked at even if you haven’t finished your placements yet. Riot added this feature a few years back to stop smurfs from trolling lower rank lobbies in their placement matches, and it’s worked pretty well from what I’ve seen.
Pro Tips to Prepare for a Ranked Reset Before It Hits
A little preparation before a ranked reset can make a huge difference in how high you place, and how fast you climb once the new split starts. I’ve tested these tips over 7 years of ranked play, and they’ve helped me place at least one tier higher than my previous split end rank 6 years in a row. First, if you’re dealing with bad MMR in the current split, don’t waste dozens of games grinding to fix it right before the reset. The soft reset will already pull your MMR closer to the median, so you’re better off saving that energy for the new split, and spending the last week of the current split practicing new mechanics or off-meta picks in normal games. Second, lock in 2-3 main champions you want to play for the first month of the new split, and practice them as much as possible in the weeks leading up to the reset. Don’t test new champions or builds in your placement matches – I made this mistake back a few years ago when I tried a new AP Yasuo build in my placements, and I went 1-4, placing two full tiers lower than I deserved. I never make that mistake now, and I only play champions I have at least 50 games on in placements. Third, if you usually play solo queue, find a trusted duo partner with a similar skill level to play your placement matches with. Playing with a consistent duo can boost your placement rank by up to 1 full tier, because you eliminate the risk of getting a trolling or AFK teammate in at least one role every game. Fourth, make sure you’ve claimed all your rewards from the current split before the reset hits. A lot of players forget to claim their split rewards from the mission tab, and they expire once the reset happens, so you don’t want to lose out on free emotes, chromas, or blue essence. If you’re aiming for a high rank in the new split, you can also spend some time watching pro player streams or guide videos for your main champions in the off-season to pick up new tips and tricks you can use in your games.
Common Ranked Reset Myths You Should Ignore
There’s a lot of misinformation floating around Reddit and Discord servers about ranked resets, and a lot of it leads to players making bad decisions that hurt their climb. Let’s debunk some of the most common myths I see every split. First, the myth that if you go 5-0 in your placement matches, you’ll jump 3 or 4 tiers above your previous rank. That’s not true, because your placement rank is mostly based on your adjusted MMR from the previous split. A 5-0 placement run will get you higher than a 3-2 run, but you won’t jump from Gold to Challenger just because you won 5 games in a row. I’ve had 5-0 placement runs before, and I usually place around half a tier higher than my previous split end rank, which is exactly what Riot’s system is designed to do. Second, the myth that Riot fully resets MMR, so you can finally climb out of Bronze or Silver easily in the new split. Again, the soft reset only adjusts your MMR, it doesn’t erase it. If you were Bronze in the previous split, you’ll probably place around Bronze 1 to Silver 4 in the new split, depending on your placement performance. If you want to climb higher, you’ll need to actually improve your skills, not just wait for a reset. Third, the most harmful myth I see: that you should intentionally lose as many games as possible before the reset to get easier placement matches. This is so stupid, for two reasons. First, Riot’s soft reset formula takes your current MMR into account, so if you lower your MMR by inting games before the reset, your adjusted MMR will be lower too, so you’ll get matched with worse players and gain less LP per win in the new split. Second, Riot actively bans players for intentional feeding, even at the end of the split, so you could lose access to your account entirely just for a dumb trick that doesn’t even work. Intentionally losing games before a reset will always hurt your next split climb, so don’t listen to anyone who tells you to do it. One last myth I see a lot: that you have to play your placement matches the first day the new split launches. That’s not true at all. The first week of a new split is full of smurfs, pro players, and tryhards, so you’re actually better off waiting 1-2 weeks to play your placements if you want easier lobbies. I usually wait 10 days after the reset to play my placements, and I consistently place higher than friends who play theirs the first day.
At the end of the day, knowing when does ranked reset in League of Legends helps you plan your grind, make the most of your playtime, and set realistic goals for your next climb. You don't have to stress too much about the reset – it's designed to keep the game fun and fair for everyone, not to take away all your hard work. If you follow the tips we covered, avoid the common myths, and focus on improving your skills instead of blaming the system, you'll be ready to hit the ground running and hit your new rank goals faster than ever before. The next reset will be here before you know it, so take a little time now to prepare, and you'll be set up for success.