A new account makes sense if you want to hide your rank from other players or practice in a lower division without affecting your main account's rating
Creating a second League of Legends account for ranked play is a personal choice, not a requirement. The decision depends on what you want to accomplish: if you're learning a new role, testing a different playstyle, or keeping your competitive progress separate from casual play, a new account serves that purpose. If you're trying to hide a low rank or reset your visible history, understand that Riot Games can see all your accounts linked to your email, and the account will still climb or fall based on actual skill—you won't bypass the ranking system itself.
The main trade-off is time. A new account starts at level 1 and must reach level 30 before ranked queues open. This takes roughly 100 to 150 hours of normal games, depending on how much you play and whether you use experience boosts. Your main account's rank stays exactly where it is; creating a second account doesn't change it.
Key Takeaways
- A new account must reach level 30 before you can play ranked, which typically takes 100 to 150 hours of normal games.
- Riot Games links all accounts to your email address and can see your play history across them, so a new account doesn't hide your skill level from the system.
- Your main account's rank is unaffected by creating a second account; they climb and fall independently.
- A second account is useful for learning new roles, testing strategies, or keeping ranked and casual play separate—not for bypassing the ranking system.
- You can own multiple accounts, but using them to artificially boost another player's rank or to evade bans violates Riot's terms of service.
How long it takes to unlock ranked on a new account
Before you can enter ranked queues, your new account must reach summoner level 30. Riot removed the old level cap and now uses a continuous progression system, but level 30 is still the gate for ranked access. Most players reach this in 100 to 150 hours of normal draft or blind pick games, though the exact time depends on how much you play per session and whether you purchase experience boosts.
Experience boosts cut the grind by roughly 25 percent, but they cost Riot Points (the premium currency). If you don't buy boosts, expect to spend two to three months playing casually on the new account before ranked opens. If you play several hours daily and use boosts, you might reach level 30 in four to six weeks.
During this leveling period, you're playing against other low-level accounts and new players. The matchmaking is separate from ranked, so you won't face your main account's opponents. Once you hit level 30, you'll place into a starting rank based on your first 10 ranked games, and from there the account climbs or falls like any other.
What happens to your main account when you create a second one
Your main account's rank, LP (League Points), and match history remain completely unchanged. Creating a new account is a separate entity—it doesn't reset, hide, or affect your primary account in any way. Both accounts exist independently in the ranked system and will have their own separate ratings.
Riot Games does link all accounts to your email address and can see that they belong to the same person. This is normal and allowed. However, using multiple accounts to artificially boost another player's rank—such as intentionally losing games on one account to help a friend climb on another—violates Riot's terms of service and can result in bans on both accounts.
Reasons players create second accounts for ranked
Learning a new role is the most common reason. If you main ADC but want to seriously learn mid lane, a second account lets you practice without tanking your main account's LP. You'll play against players at a similar skill level to your new account's rank, which is often lower than your main, giving you room to make mistakes and improve without the pressure of protecting a higher rating.
Testing a different playstyle or champion pool works the same way. Some players create accounts to experiment with off-meta strategies or champions they don't play on their main, then bring successful strategies back once they're confident.
Separating ranked and casual play is another reason. If you want to play ranked seriously on one account and use another purely for fun with friends, a second account keeps those experiences distinct. Your main account's rank won't fluctuate because you played a relaxed game with lower-skilled friends.
Some players also create second accounts to avoid playing against people they know or to keep their rank hidden from specific people—though Riot can see all your accounts, and the ranking system itself doesn't care how many accounts you own.
The ranked placement process on a new account
Once your new account reaches level 30, you enter ranked by choosing a queue (Solo/Duo, Flex, or both). You'll play 10 placement games in each queue you enter. During these 10 games, the system watches your performance, CS (creep score), kill participation, and win rate to estimate your skill level.
After the 10 placements, you'll receive a starting rank. Most new accounts place in Iron, Bronze, or Silver, regardless of how well you performed, because the system is conservative with new accounts. From there, you gain or lose LP based on wins and losses, and you'll climb or fall like any ranked player. If you're significantly better than your starting rank, you'll climb quickly; if you're at the right level, you'll stabilize.
The placement rank is not permanent. You can climb out of it or fall further depending on your actual performance. There's no special reset or soft reset for new accounts—they follow the same ranked rules as any other account.
Account security and managing multiple League accounts
If you create a second account, use a different password than your main account. If someone gains access to one account, a unique password prevents them from accessing the other. Enable two-factor authentication on both accounts for additional security.
Keep your email address the same across both accounts if you want Riot's support to help you recover either one. If you use different emails, recovery is still possible but requires more verification. Riot can see that both accounts belong to you, so there's no penalty for linking them to the same email—it's actually safer for account recovery purposes.
If you forget the password to your second account, use Riot's account recovery page with the email address associated with that account. The process is the same as recovering your main account and typically takes a few hours to a few days depending on how much verification Riot needs.
When a new account is not the right choice
If your goal is to hide a low rank from other players, a new account won't accomplish that. Riot Games can see all your accounts, and anyone with access to your profile or who plays with you can look up your main account. The ranking system also doesn't care how many accounts you own—your skill level is your skill level, and a new account will eventually reach a similar rank to your main if you play the same roles and champions.
If you're trying to avoid a ban or suspension, creating a new account to bypass it violates Riot's terms of service. Accounts created to evade bans can themselves be banned, and Riot may extend the original suspension to any new accounts you create.
If you don't have time to grind 100+ hours to level 30, a second account isn't practical. The leveling phase is mandatory and can't be skipped, even with boosts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my rank from my main account to a new account?
No. Rank is tied to the account itself and cannot be transferred. You start fresh on a new account, and your main account's rank stays where it is. Both accounts have completely separate rankings.
Will playing on a second account affect my main account's matchmaking?
No. Matchmaking is based on each account's individual rank and rating. Playing on your second account doesn't change who you face on your main account.
Is it against the rules to own multiple League accounts?
Owning multiple accounts is allowed. Using them to boost another player's rank, intentionally lose games to help someone else climb, or evade a ban is against the rules and can result in bans on all your accounts.
How do I switch between my two League accounts?
Log out of the League client and log in with the username and password for your second account. If both accounts use the same email, you'll need to use the username or a different email associated with the second account to log in.
Can I play ranked on my new account before level 30?
No. Ranked queues are locked until you reach level 30. You must play normal games, ARAM, or other modes to level up first.