In League Patch 12.1, the ranked decay will be less harsh, which allow players at higher elo to take longer breaks.
The League Patch 12.1 notes were released in their entirety today, and one of the most noticeable changes that will accompany the new ranked season is an upgrade to the ranked decay system for players at the game’s highest levels.
Riot stated last year that League of Legends‘s developers were working hard to make the game more merciful to players at the top of the solo queue ladder, noting concerns with the rank decay mechanism that allowed players to slip into ranks that were not indicative of their overall skill level. As the 2022 ranked season approaches and League Patch 12.1 has been released, League’s creators have honored their pledge to make the game’s elite tier significantly less severe on players who take little pauses.
Riot is making significant changes to the way ranked decay functions in League this season, starting from League Patch 12.1, but only for the game’s highest-ranked players. To begin, players in the “apex ranks” (Challenger, Grandmaster, and Master) will be allowed to save up to 14 days of inactivity before ranked degradation begins. Furthermore, the rate of decay of their LP is being decreased from 250 LP every day of inactivity to 75 LP.
The ranking decay floor for apex levels is likewise being renamed Diamond II from Diamond I. If a high-tier player’s ranks completely deteriorate, they will have to resume their ascent from Diamond II. Keep in mind that, while ranked decay occurs across the Diamond tier, the new restrictions that will be implemented with the 2022 ranked season will only apply to players in the specified “apex tiers.” The regulations governing ranked decay for players in other divisions of the Diamond tier are considerably more lenient since League Patch 12.1.
According to Riot, the adjustments to the ranked decay system for the game’s top proficient players are “designed to address misplacements and enhance the matching experience.”
The 2022 League of Legends ranked season will begin on Friday, January 7.