How to Reach Master in LoL: LP, Cutoffs, Decay and Duo Rules (2026)

Master is where League of Legends stops being a ladder of divisions and becomes a ladder of LP. It's the first apex tier — no divisions, a fixed number of places above it, faster decay and stricter rules on dodging and duo. This guide explains how promotion from Diamond works, what Grandmaster and Challenger ask for, the apex rules that change how you climb, and a realistic plan for the last tier.

How promotion to Master works

Riot removed tier promotion series in patch 13.14: when your LP reaches 100 in Diamond I, you're promoted to Master on the spot and start counting LP from 0. There are no divisions above Diamond — Master, Grandmaster and Challenger are one long LP ladder. A new Master gets 3 games of demotion protection; drop to 0 LP after that and you fall back to Diamond I.

Grandmaster and Challenger cutoffs

Riot gives each server a fixed number of Grandmaster and Challenger places in Solo/Duo. To get in you need at least 400 LP (Grandmaster) or 800 LP (Challenger) and more LP than the lowest player already in the tier. The apex ladder updates every 24 hours, at midnight local server time.

Riot Support's table of apex places. The 400 / 800 LP minimums arrived with the patch 26.9 apex reset (NA, EUW, EUNE, BR, LAN, TR).

The apex rules that change the climb

How long Diamond takes

Diamond is the slowest tier on the way up: our boosters average about 0.4 of a division a day there, so Diamond IV → Master takes about 10 days at our pace and Diamond IV → Diamond I 7–8 days. On your own it depends on your LP per win: if your gains are smaller than your losses, your MMR sits below your rank and the climb stalls — the LP gain checker shows where you stand.

A realistic plan for the last tier

1. Two or three champions, one role.

   At this level every opponent knows the matchups; mastery of a small pool beats flexibility.

2. Track your LP split.

   Bigger gains than losses mean your MMR is ahead of your rank — keep queuing. Smaller gains mean stop and fix the streak first.

3. Never dodge casually.

   From Master up a dodge costs a whole loss of LP. Settle champ-select issues by talking, not leaving.

4. Keep the decay bank full.

   One ranked game banks a day; a week off can cost LP the moment the bank runs dry.

5. Review the games you lose.

   Riot's replays expire when the next patch lands — watch them the same week. A coaching session speeds that up.

Help for the last step

• Up to Diamond I: a Solo/Duo boost covers every division to Diamond I — the last step before Master.
• Stuck below a promotion: net wins add wins over losses at your tier.
• To hold Master yourself: 1-on-1 coaching with a Master+ player for your role.
• Master and above: custom orders, priced by LP, server and the stage of the season — ask us for a quote.