Understanding League’s new ranked split system and how to maximize your competitive performance in Season 13
Introduction: The Evolution of League’s Ranked System
Riot Games continues to experiment with League of Legends’ competitive structure, potentially expanding beyond the current two-split ranked framework after assessing Season 13’s performance metrics.
Season 13 marks another substantial overhaul of League’s ranked ecosystem, dividing the competitive year into two distinct segments separated by a comprehensive mid-season reset. This experimental approach reflects Riot’s ongoing commitment to refining the player progression experience as they search for the optimal competitive rhythm.
The ranked landscape in League of Legends receives significant modifications for Season 13. Beyond the introduction of dual splits, several core mechanics undergo transformation—including streamlined best-of-three promotion series and the elimination of visible rank influence on matchmaking algorithms.
Although ranked divisions have previously existed primarily for reward distribution purposes, the redesigned two-split framework introduces fresh competitive objectives for players to pursue during the latter half of the season following the mid-year ranking recalibration.
Key Changes in Season 13 Ranked System
When initially announcing these modifications in December 2022, Riot identified problematic player behaviors such as transitioning to alternate accounts after reaching perceived skill ceilings, which fundamentally conflicts with their central objectives for competitive gameplay integrity.
Preceding Season 13’s official deployment in LoL patch 13.1, product lead Chris ‘Auberaun’ Roberts explained to Dexerto that these adjustments should sustain player motivation for ranked advancement across the entire competitive year, preventing engagement drop-off after achieving peak rankings midway through the season.
“The overarching objective involves players engaging in more matches, driven by having additional meaningful targets to pursue,” Roberts stated. “This represents another chance to undergo ranked advancement experiences. Numerous participants who begin competing at the season’s commencement typically reach their approximate skill tier around the midpoint or slightly earlier. Beyond that point, gameplay often lacks directional purpose.
“We consistently aim to provide compelling objectives for pursuit alongside rewarding progression mechanisms, making this initiative a strategic movement toward that vision.
Player Strategies for the New Split System
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“When examining competitor titles, they typically implement substantially briefer seasonal cycles.”
Even with the implementation of a dual-split structure featuring roughly five-month intervals, League’s seasonal duration remains considerably extended compared to most rival competitive games. Valorant introduces new ranked Acts bimonthly, Teamfight Tactics refreshes competitive rankings with each quarterly Set update, and the majority of non-Riot competitive titles adhere to comparable scheduling patterns.
Strategic adaptation becomes essential in the new split system. Players should focus on pacing their ranked progression, avoiding the common mistake of burning out during the first split. Instead, consider treating the first split as a warm-up period to refine strategies and champion pools, then pushing aggressively in the second split when you’ve optimized your gameplay approach.
Advanced players can leverage the mid-season reset to analyze their first split performance data, identifying specific weaknesses to address during the second climb. This analytical approach transforms the reset from a frustration into a strategic advantage for continuous improvement.
Future Possibilities and Riot’s Vision
The question of whether League of Legends will maintain its two-split annual structure remains unanswered, with Riot considering all potential adjustments regarding possibly increasing split frequency following Season 13’s experimental phase.
“We’re not eliminating any possibilities from consideration,” Roberts elaborated. “This represents an experimental initiative we’re enthusiastic and confident about, though we’ll need to evaluate its performance metrics before determining subsequent directions.”
The redesigned League of Legends ranked framework becomes active when Season 13 commences on January 10, 2023.
Looking beyond Season 13, Riot’s willingness to adapt the split frequency indicates their commitment to data-driven design. Players should provide constructive feedback about their split experience, as this directly influences future ranked structure decisions. The potential for quarterly splits similar to Teamfight Tactics or even more frequent adjustments remains a realistic possibility based on player engagement metrics and competitive integrity outcomes.
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