LoL ranked system in 2026: Aegis of Valor, autofill, and more

Playing ranked in League of Legends can be tough, but in 2026, Riot Games is rolling out some updates to the ranked system along with new tools designed to make the experience better for everyone. Let's dive into it.

In League of Legends, certain roles tend to be more popular than others. In some regions, this disparity is even more noticeable, causing many players to be autofilled to fill those gaps. Not only that, but the queues can be overwhelming and take so long to find a match. Who wants to play after a 20-minute-long queue?

Riot recognizes that playing in a lane you didn't choose can be frustrating, so they want to ensure that your next ranked autofill matches will be better for your gaming experience in 2026. The first attempt will match an autofilled player with another in the same position. For example, top versus top. If that is not possible, the game will try to put the same number of autofilled players on each team. In the worst-case scenario, the team will have autofillers with slightly higher MMR.

Riot Games' goal is to make your experience better as someone who did not want to play in another role. But this is not everything Riot will bring to make you feel better and motivated to play the game.

Aegis of Valor will be the new ranked mechanic introduced in League of Legends in 2026 to reward you for your gameplay as an autofill player. As soon as you get into the lobby, you'll be notified that the Aegis is in effect, and you'll be protected or rewarded for your effort.

If you typically play in priority queues, you receive Aegis rewards at a similar rate as players who are auto-filed. As shown in the Aegis of Valor screenshots, you’ll sometimes be rewarded for earning a C or higher in a priority role. You can either not lose LP, or you can earn double LP for your effort.

If you are one of those who like to dodge games just because, we don't like you, and Riot Games will be punishing you for it. Dodging will no longer reset your autofill status. If you dodge, your autofill will carry over to your next match.

If you’re Master or higher, the penalties will be harsher. A dodge counts as a full loss, your autofill status carries over to the next match, and you’ll receive a dodge cooldown timer as well. Riot is expecting these changes to help decrease bigger queue times and allow a more stable champ-select environment.

On the other side, Riot wants to increase your way into the game. As it started to be implemented in some regions last patch notes, you are expected to see shorter queues and a shorter pick and base phase. You will no longer be able to ban your ally's hovered champion. This is one of the reasons some players dodge, because their mains were banned from them.

Riot knows that this might bring some trolls to your matches, like a Yummi jungle. However, they also recognize that those cases don't happen as much. To get you into the game as fast as possible, the animations and timers in the Champion Select will also be decreased by around 30 seconds. These changers will go worldwide in the LoL patch notes 26.01.

A Bronze player from 2015 is not the same as a Bronze player who started in 2025. Since the game’s launch in 2009, overall skill levels have risen for many reasons. Greater access to guides and coaching, improved online resources, and stronger connections within the community have all shaped how players grow in League of Legends.

The lower ranks will be recalibrated next year, so lower tiers will be aligned with their actual skill level. Riot Games will also add a Climb Indicator that appears when your visible rank is lagging behind your current MMR. This indicator will help you see that the Silver player in your Platinum lobby actually belongs to that rank, but started their ranked journey later.

In 2026, the Victorious skins will also be updated, but Riot has yet to share more information on this topic. The Flex and Solo MMR will also be updated, so you don't have to play against a Master Solo/Duo when you're a Gold player. The goal is to bring the Flex ranks more in line with your Solo/Duo ranks.

Finally, Riot is re-enabling duoing in Solo/Duo at all ranks. If you're a Challenger player, you'll be able to duo with your bestie in 2026 for the majority of the regions. We are all very excited for the upcoming season, so don't forget to keep giving your feedback and talk about your in-game experience.

That's all for now. Stick around for more League of Legends news, guides, and updates.