In League of Legends, LP—short for League Points—is the ranking system used to track your progress in competitive play. It works similarly to ELO or MMR and determines whether you move up or down in divisions. Usually, you’ll need to hit 100 LP in your current division to qualify for a promotion series, where you’ll have to win the majority of a set number of games—often three out of five—to climb to the next rank or division.

On the flip side, if you’re sitting at 0 LP and lose a match, you’re likely to drop to a lower division. For example, being at Gold IV and losing while at 0 LP could demote you to Silver I, meaning you’ll have to climb back up by earning LP all over again.

How Do You Earn LP?

The concept is simple: win games to gain LP. But the amount you earn—or lose—depends on your hidden Matchmaking Rating (MMR). If your MMR is higher than average for your rank, you’ll gain more LP per win and lose less when you’re defeated. If it’s lower, the opposite happens.

Can You Have Unlimited LP?

There’s no set cap on how much LP you can have within a division, but you can’t keep earning LP forever in one rank. Once you reach 100 LP, you must pass a promotion series to move up. After reaching the highest division in your league, like Challenger, further LP gains reflect your standing within that top-tier ladder rather than progress toward a new rank.

What Affects LP Gains?

• MMR Difference: Beating higher-ranked opponents usually rewards more LP, while losing to lower-ranked ones will cost more.
• Win Streaks: Going on a win streak can give you a bump in LP gain, especially if your MMR is trending upward.
• KDA and Match Impact: Performance matters less than win/loss, but consistent high impact can help raise your MMR, indirectly improving LP gains.
• Activity: Inactive players may experience LP decay (more common in higher ranks), where your LP slowly decreases over time if you’re not playing.

What If You’re Gaining Only +2 LP Per Win?

Consistently gaining very little LP—like +2 per win—usually means your MMR is significantly lower than your current rank. It could also be due to LP decay if you’ve been inactive, especially in higher tiers. To improve this, you’ll need to win consistently to bring your MMR back up. Playing regularly and avoiding long breaks will also help prevent LP decay from kicking in.

How Fast Does LP Decay?

Decay mostly affects players in Diamond and above and varies based on your region and rank. In most cases, if you don’t play for a set number of days (often 10–28, depending on rank), you’ll start losing LP daily until you become active again. Always check Riot’s official guidelines for your specific region and rank.

Can You Game the LP System?

Not really. The system is designed to match you with similarly skilled players and to reward performance fairly. Attempts to “game” the system—like smurfing or account boosting—violate the rules and can lead to penalties, including suspensions or bans. The best way to climb is to play consistently, improve your mechanics, communicate well, and adapt to the meta.

In Summary

LP tracks your progress in ranked games and reflects both your performance and matchmaking strength. Winning games, maintaining a strong MMR, and staying active are the keys to climbing. While low LP gains can feel discouraging, they usually signal a mismatch between your rank and MMR—something that consistent performance can fix over time.

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