What is Rating Boosting/Rank Manipulation?
MMR Boosting (Match Making Rating, also known as Elo Boosting) or Rank Manipulation is an act where a player (The Booster) logs into another player's account (The Boostee) to play a ranked game. While it is generally accepted that the intent of this is to improve the Boostee's MMR, any ranked game played by someone that is not the original creator of the account may be considered Boosting and as a result may be eligible for punishment.
Rank Manipulation can also involve grouping up in Flex queue and intentionally losing games to reduce rank/MMR, or using one of these deranked accounts to queue with another account to artificially push it up the ladder.
Why is it considered bad?
MMR boosting may sound like a victimless crime, but it can have numerous negative effects on the game and other players.
- Our Leagues system has been carefully tuned so that players are placed in the proper tier with others who are within a similar skill level. If a player's MMR is boosted unnaturally they will most definitely falter when they begin to play ranked at their new tier. If a player is unable to keep up with the other higher MMR players in their match they will most certainly degrade the game experience for everyone involved.
- It takes hard work, commitment and buckets of blood, sweat and tears for players to earn a high ranking in League of Legends. MMR Boosting devalues the commitment that many of our players make to earn their rightful place among the world’s best League of Legends players.
- MMR Boosting endangers account security. One should never share their log-in information with another player, no exceptions. Many players have shared their information with a potential booster, hoping to get a higher MMR, only to find their account was stolen and sold/traded to another player instead.
How are we punishing MMR boosting?
Any account found participating in MMR Boosting (both Booster and Boostee) are subject to the following punishments:
- 14–180 day Account Suspension in League of Legends (depends on severity/frequency)
- 6 Month Account Suspension when duoing with confirmed scripter
- Your Honor will drop to level 0. Honor unlocks some time after your penalty as long as you're showing signs of progress
- Exclusion from receiving the current season's Ranked Rewards
- Second time offenders will be permanently banned from League of Legends