LoL Queue Times Get Longer

Riot Extends LoL Queue Times to Improve Match Quality

League of Legends players are no strangers to long queue timers, especially at the top of the ranked ladder. Still, Riot Games has decided to push those wait times a little further in its latest patch, and the reason is simple: better matches. The developer believes that slightly longer queues can lead to fairer team compositions, cleaner balance between solo and duo players, and fewer games that feel decided before champion select even ends.

According to Riot’s gameplay lead Matt “Phroxzon” Leung-Harrison, the changes primarily affect Masters and above. In these tiers, matchmaking has to juggle a smaller player pool, skill gaps, and the natural advantage that duo players bring through coordination and communication. Rather than rushing players into uneven games, Riot is now allowing matchmaking more time to assemble teams that make sense on paper and in practice.

Duo queue has been under heavy scrutiny for months, particularly in high ELO. Playing with a trusted partner provides a clear edge in a MOBA, and Riot wants its systems to reflect that reality more accurately. With the new adjustments, Challenger duos are more likely to be balanced by slightly lower-ranked teammates, such as Masters players, which can be an advantage for players using LoL Duo Boosting. This approach aims to prevent extreme scenarios where one side feels overwhelmingly favoured from the outset.

Region size also plays a role. In larger regions, the impact should be minimal, with queues becoming only slightly longer. Smaller regions, however, may see more noticeable increases, as the system needs additional time to find appropriate combinations of players. Riot acknowledges that this trade-off is not ideal for everyone, but sees it as necessary to avoid strange matchups that undermine competitive integrity.

Some issues are still being worked on. Phroxzon has openly stated that games packed with multiple duos can still look “really weird,” citing examples like full Challenger teams facing Masters or Grandmasters lineups. Fixes for these edge cases are in development, but they are not expected to ship until at least the next patch. Riot is also refining how autofill and secondary role matchups are handled, aiming for symmetry so neither team feels shortchanged.

Beyond matchmaking, Riot is re-evaluating how player performance is scored, especially in high ranks. The goal is to reward actions that actually help win games rather than behaviours that merely look good on a scoreboard. Farming safely for a higher grade while the team loses is one example Riot wants to move away from.

High ELO scoring, in particular, is being reviewed for being overly harsh in certain areas. Riot admits that pursuing perfect accuracy in evaluations can sometimes clash with player perception, creating frustration when grades do not align with how a match felt. Finding the right balance between mathematical correctness and player sentiment remains an ongoing challenge.

Riot is actively asking the community for feedback. Players are encouraged to share unusually long queue times, lobby screenshots, or matches with odd rank distributions. This data helps fine-tune a system that is inherently complex and constantly evolving.

For players focused on steady improvement, whether through grinding or exploring options like LoL boosting, these changes signal Riot’s broader commitment to match quality over speed. The wait may be longer, but the hope is that each game feels worth it once the loading screen fades in.

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