Promo Games: What are promo games in League of Legends?
Back in the day, when players in League of Legends were close to ranking up, they had to go through something called “promotion games”—a set of three (sometimes five) matches that determined whether they’d move up to the next rank. That system’s been removed now, but it used to be a big part of climbing the ladder.
Why Did Promotion Games Exist?
Earning 100 LP wasn’t enough on its own to guarantee a rank-up. You also had to win a promotion series—usually two out of three, or three out of five matches. If you lost too many, you’d drop back down to 100 LP and have to try again. Riot likely wanted to make sure players really earned their spot in the next rank by proving themselves under pressure.
How Promotion Games Used to Work
Promotion series would only kick in once you hit 100 LP and were in the highest division of your current rank. For example, if you were in Gold 2 and reached 100 LP, you’d automatically move up to Gold 1. No promo needed. But if you were in Gold 1 trying to reach Platinum 4, that’s when you’d be put into a promotion series. If you won, you’d land in the next tier with 1 LP. If not, it was back to grinding.
While the promotion system added an extra challenge, it also caused frustration for a lot of players. These days, promotions between tiers are gone, making the ranked experience a little smoother and more focused on consistency over a handful of make-or-break games.