MW4 & Warzone
League 
Your LP gains in League of Legends are low or high because of the gap between your visible rank and your hidden matchmaking rating (MMR). If your MMR is higher than your rank, you win more LP and lose less. If your MMR is lower than your rank, you win less and lose more. Riot states this directly on its support page. Fix the MMR gap and the gains fix themselves.
MMR vs LP: two numbers, one ladder
League tracks two separate things for every ranked queue.
- MMR is hidden. Riot uses it to decide who you get matched against and where you really belong on the ladder. Wins raise it, losses lower it.
- Rank and LP are what you see: your tier, your division and a 0 to 100 LP bar. Riot says you generally need 100 LP to move up a division.
LP is the visible bar that slowly chases your MMR. When the two agree, wins and losses roughly cancel out. When they disagree, the game changes your LP per game to pull your rank toward your MMR.
MMR is also tracked separately for Normal, Solo/Duo and Flex. A great run in Flex does not lift your Solo/Duo gains. Riot's 2026 ranked update also says Flex will never push your Solo/Duo rank up.
The three states your account can be in
| Situation | What Riot says happens | When it usually shows up |
|---|---|---|
| MMR about equal to rank | Gains and losses roughly even out | An account that has played a lot at the same rank |
| MMR higher than rank | Bigger gains, smaller losses | Start of a new season, or after a win streak |
| MMR lower than rank | Smaller gains, bigger losses | After a losing streak, or after a lucky climb past your MMR |
We are not quoting exact LP values here on purpose. Riot does not publish the formula, and the typical per-game numbers shifted several times during 2026 as Riot tuned the system. What stays constant is the direction: your LP always leans toward your MMR.
Why your gains are low right now
You lost more than you won lately
A losing streak drags your MMR down faster than your rank. You might still show Gold II, but the game now thinks you are a Gold IV player. Until you prove otherwise, every win is small and every loss hurts.
You climbed on a hot streak
The reverse can also cause trouble. If you rode a few lucky wins past where your MMR settled, the system slows you down near the top of that run. Gains shrink until your MMR catches up.
Your lobbies are weaker than your rank
Riot notes that rank differences between the two teams change your odds of winning, which changes your LP. If you are matched against lower-MMR players, a win is expected, so it pays less.
You are playing duo
Riot's support page says premade groups may face slightly tougher opponents or receive reduced LP gains. If your gains dropped when you started queuing with a friend, this is one reason.
Leaving or AFK penalties
An AFK or leaver penalty can reduce your LP in the following game as well, not just the game you left.
Things that raise LP that are not about MMR
- Aegis of Valor. Added for 2026. When you are autofilled and earn a mastery score of C or higher, Riot gives you either double LP or full protection from LP loss. Players who regularly queue as support or jungle get the same reward at a similar rate, but without the lobby notice.
- Consolation LP. If you lose and a teammate outside your premade is reported and verified for going AFK, leaving or intentionally feeding, you can get a full LP refund. There is a weekly cap, and it does not apply at 0 LP in Division IV.
- Cheater refunds. If you lose to a confirmed cheater, the LP you lost comes back when they are banned.
How to fix low LP gains
- Keep winning. There is no reset button. A winning record raises MMR faster than your rank climbs, and the gap closes. The bigger the gap, the more wins it takes.
- Stop when you tilt. Two losses in a row is a good stop point. Each extra loss widens the gap you then have to win back.
- Play solo for a while. If your duo is pulling harder lobbies or reduced gains, a few solo games give a cleaner read of your MMR.
- Play a small champion pool. Two or three champions in one main role give you the most consistent win rate, and win rate is the only input that moves MMR.
- Never dodge to protect LP at high rank. Since the 2026 changes, a dodge at Master and above counts as a full loss for LP and MMR.
If you want a second set of eyes on why your games slip, our League coaching sessions review your own replays and focus on the habits that cost games. Fixing those is the fastest way to raise MMR on your own.
Is low LP a sign of hidden MMR hell?
No. There is no "hell" state. Riot says MMR moves with wins and losses, and the game keeps adjusting your LP until rank and MMR match. A long stretch of +15 and -25 just means the game is waiting for a win rate above 50 percent before it trusts your rank. The 2026 update also added a Climb Indicator, which appears when your visible rank lags behind your MMR, so you can see when the system expects you to rise.
What about promos and placements?
Promotion series are gone. Riot removed them in 2023, and you now move straight into the next tier once you reach 100 LP. Placements were cut from 10 games to 5 at the same time. Your first ranked placement also takes your normal-game MMR into account, so a strong normal record can help your starting gains.
Getting help with the climb
Some players do not have the hours to grind out a bad MMR gap. A division boost has a pro from our team play the games on your account, appear offline, and log every match in the order chat. Note that account sharing breaks Riot's Terms of Service and Riot does penalise it, so read our duo boost page too: there you play your own account alongside the pro, which still carries some risk but keeps you in control of your games.
Quick answers
Why am I getting +15 and losing -25?
Your MMR is lower than your rank, usually after a losing streak. Win a few games in a row and the gains even out as your MMR catches up.
Does LP affect matchmaking?
No. Matchmaking uses your hidden MMR. LP only shows your progress through a division.
How much LP do I need to rank up?
Riot says you generally need 100 LP to move up a division. There are no promotion series any more.
Does playing duo lower my LP gains?
It can. Riot says premade groups may face slightly tougher opponents or receive reduced LP gains.
What is Aegis of Valor?
A 2026 ranked reward. In autofilled games, a mastery score of C or higher gives you double LP or full protection from LP loss.
When you are ready for a steady climb, see the full League division boost page for how orders work.