League of Legends has maintained various competitive tiers since 2010, including Bronze, Silver, Gold, Iron, Platinum, Diamond, and the elite Apex ranks—Master, Grandmaster, and Challenger. This ranking system has remained consistent and recognizable for over ten years.
For the current season, Riot Games has implemented changes beginning with Split Two. The updates include eliminating promotion series and decreasing placement matches from 10 to five, aiming to streamline the ranked experience.
Additionally, League introduces its first new rank in six years: Emerald.
The removal of promotions appears logical, particularly considering how many players (myself included) have struggled with this system repeatedly over the years. The reduction in placement matches should expedite our entry into ranked competition, but inserting an additional tier into the established competitive hierarchy has caused some concern among players.
While Emerald’s introduction raises several concerns, League developers remain confident about its positive impact.
League’s new Emerald rank, explained
The newly implemented Emerald rank positions between Platinum and Diamond. It was created to address what Riot identifies as a “very bottom-heavy distribution of rankings.” Recent seasonal data indicates over 60 percent of players cluster in Bronze and Silver brackets, a distribution Riot seeks to adjust.
Riot’s vision involves repositioning players from Iron (the lowest tier) through Silver as below-average competitors.
Emerald’s introduction serves to redistribute player rankings without disrupting Diamond-tier players. Starting July 2023, this new rank will occupy the space between Platinum and Diamond, likely maintaining a player distribution similar to previous Platinum levels.
For those who prefer visual representation, the provided graph should clarify this concept.
As someone who has personally climbed from initial Bronze placement through Silver and Gold, finally reaching Platinum last season, I’m curious to witness these changes unfold, particularly with Emerald presenting a fresh competitive milestone.
This redistribution aims to create better balance between Silver and Platinum ranks. Additionally, it will establish Bronze as the below-average tier that Riot developers suggest it was originally designed to be.
The Iron rank is expected to remain unchanged at the lowest tier.