Can You Dodge Placement Games Lol

Can You Dodge Placement Games LOL?

Okay, so you’re diving into the ranked world of League of Legends, huh? You’ve probably heard whispers about placement matches – those first ten games that decide where you land on the ladder. They can feel super important, like a big test. And maybe you’re wondering, is there a way to, well, kinda avoid a bad start? Can you dodge placement games in LOL? Let’s break it all down.

Understanding League of Legends Placement Matches

First, let’s talk about what placement matches are all about. When you start playing ranked for the first time, or at the beginning of a new season, the game needs to figure out how good you are. These ten placement games are how it does that. The system looks at how well you do in these matches – wins, losses, your individual performance – and then places you in a starting rank. This rank is super important, because it’s where you begin your climb up the ranked ladder.

Think of it like this: you’re starting a new school year. The placement games are like the first few quizzes. They help your teacher figure out what class level is right for you. They aren’t a perfect indicator, but they give a pretty good starting point. You’re not stuck there, though! You can climb higher if you play well.

Here’s a basic outline of what the placement system does:

• It uses a hidden MMR (Matchmaking Rating) that starts at a certain point.
• Your wins and losses directly affect your MMR.
• The system also considers your past rank (if you played ranked before) as a seed for your new MMR.
• After your ten placement games, your MMR converts to a visible rank (Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Master, Grandmaster, Challenger).

What Does “Dodging” Mean in League?

Before we talk about dodging placements, we need to be clear on what dodging means in League of Legends. Dodging is when you leave the champion select screen before the game starts. You do this by closing the client or by simply letting the timer expire. You don’t actually enter the game, and this avoids going into a match you don’t want to play. This is a totally different situation than rage quitting in game! You can dodge before a match starts, but if you leave mid game that’s a whole different thing and it gets you a penalty.

There are many reasons why players might dodge. Here are some examples:

• They have teammates who are fighting in the chat before the game even begins.
• They see a teammate pick a champion they don’t like.
• They have to deal with a player who is clearly playing a champion for the first time in ranked.
• They have real life issues that prevent them from playing right away, like their pizza delivery just arrived.
• Their internet is acting up.

When you dodge, you receive a penalty, usually a small wait time before you can queue again and a small loss of LP, but you do not lose MMR, which is the crucial thing when talking about placements.

The Big Question: Can You Dodge Placement Games?

Now, let’s get to the heart of it – can you dodge your placement games in League of Legends? Yes, you absolutely can. The dodging rules are the same for placement games as they are for any other ranked game. You can dodge in champ select just like you normally would. It will cause the lobby to close and you’ll have to requeue. So, if you see a bad team composition, someone being rude, or you suddenly realize you’re in the middle of a thunderstorm and your internet is going in and out, dodging is a way out.

However, just because you can dodge, doesn’t mean you should do it all the time. We will discuss this in the next section.

The Pros and Cons of Dodging Placement Games

Why Dodging Might Seem Like a Good Idea

The main appeal of dodging a placement game is to avoid a potential loss. If you see a team composition that is not working at all, you might believe a loss is unavoidable. Dodging can feel like a way to control the outcome, and to start your placements with a lower possibility of losing, which is understandable. This is a big topic because some players want to start their placements with all wins, so dodging a match they feel they will lose, seems to be the best option.

Here are some common reasons why players consider dodging:

• Avoid Unfavorable Team Comps: If your team has no tank, or if someone picks an uncommon champion for the first time in ranked, you might want to avoid a potentially bad game.
• Reduce Tilt: Sometimes, you can feel like the game is stacked against you. Dodging is one way to avoid potential tilt and start on a new game with better morale.
• Bad Teammates: If your team starts fighting in champion select, it is very possible you will have a bad game.
• Internet Problems: If your internet is acting up, you can always dodge instead of ruining the game for your team.
• Personal Issues: Real life always comes first! If you have a sudden issue to deal with, you can always dodge and focus on that.

Why Dodging Placement Games Isn’t Always the Best Strategy

While it can be tempting to dodge bad lobbies to avoid a loss, there are several drawbacks of dodging your placement matches:

• Time Penalties: Dodging carries a time penalty. The first dodge of the day has a small penalty, but it will grow with every dodge.
• Reduced LP Gain: While dodging doesn’t affect your MMR, you will lose a small amount of League Points (LP) that will prevent your climb, and make it longer.
• It Doesn’t Guarantee Better Games: The system will try to find a new match for you quickly, and there is no assurance that your next team will be better than the last one.
• Missed Opportunities for Improvement: Even in games that seem impossible, you can always improve your gameplay, and sometimes you even win!
• It might stress you more: If you dodge a lot, instead of focusing on playing well, you might spend the time worrying about the next team and comp.

So, while dodging can sometimes be a quick fix, it’s not a long-term strategy for ranking up. You have to remember that League of Legends is a team game and sometimes you have to play with the team you are given. Some of those games that might seem impossible, are in reality, winnable.

Dodging, MMR, and Your Placement Games

Let’s talk about a crucial concept: MMR. Your MMR (Matchmaking Rating) is a hidden number that represents your skill level. This number is what the system uses to find players with similar skill for your matches. If you win matches, your MMR goes up, and if you lose, it goes down.

Here’s the important part: Dodging does not affect your MMR. When you dodge, the system doesn’t see it as a loss. It just registers that you left the champion select screen. Because it does not affect your MMR, if you dodge your whole placements, you can still go to a higher rank than you thought by just playing the first 10 games.

This means you can dodge a bunch, but the moment you play your first game, your MMR will be your real rank, and dodging placements won’t change that.

When Is Dodging Acceptable?

Okay, so we’ve established that dodging placement matches is possible, but maybe not the best strategy. So, when is it okay to dodge?

• Unplayable Team Compositions: Sometimes, you really do see a composition that makes no sense, with only carries or too many assassins, for example. In these situations, a dodge can save you from a very hard time.
• Extremely Toxic Teammates: If there is a player being extremely toxic, racist, or homophobic, that is a clear sign that you are entering a very bad experience, and dodging can help your mental.
• Internet Issues: If your internet is clearly not working well, you can help your team by dodging and solving your internet problem.
• Real Life Situations: Real life always comes first. If you have something to deal with that will take your attention, you can always dodge.

Tips for Approaching Your Placement Games

Instead of focusing on dodging, try these tips to make the most of your placement games:

• Play Your Best Champions: Don’t try to play a new champion in placement games. Use champions you know how to play, and where you feel comfortable.
• Focus on Improving Your Gameplay: Focus on your own game and try to learn something new every match.
• Be Positive: Try to keep a good attitude, even when things seem difficult.
• Don’t Worry Too Much: Placement games are just a starting point. You can climb from any rank as long as you focus on getting better.
• Communicate with Your Team: Communicate with your team! Try to create a strategy and work together to win the game.
• Take Breaks: If you’re feeling stressed, take a break. You’ll play better if you’re relaxed.

Remember, your placement games are just the start of your ranked journey. They might feel important, but they’re not the end-all be-all of your climb. You can climb from any rank as long as you focus on getting better and working hard.

So, while you can dodge those placement games, it’s not a magic trick to get a super high rank. Focus on playing well, learning from each match, and you’ll get to where you need to be.