LoL Demotion Explained: Shields, 0 LP and Decay (2026)

Few things in League feel worse than the demotion screen — a whole division of LP gone in one loss. The rules behind it changed a lot over the years (promotion series and their "demotion shields" are long gone) and they're different for divisions, tiers, Diamond and Master. This guide explains each one with Riot's own examples: what happens at 0 LP, how much protection you get after a tier promotion, where you land after a demotion, how decay can demote you from Diamond, and the habits that keep you above the line. Checked 2026-10-25.

Division demotion: what happens at 0 LP

A division is 100 LP. When you're at 0 LP and lose, you drop to the division below with a chunk of LP back — Riot Support's example is Silver III at 5 LP: lose 20 LP and you're on Silver IV with 85 LP. There's no protection between divisions of the same tier, so a bad streak at the bottom of a division moves you down quickly — and a few wins move you straight back, because there's no promotion series either (removed for divisions in V10.23 and for tiers in V13.14).

Tier demotion and promotion protection

Dropping out of a tier (Platinum IV to Gold I, say) is protected. Riot Support says only that tier demotions "still have protection"; the official wiki gives the number — 10 games after a tier promotion, from Bronze to Diamond. Once you do demote a tier, you land on 25, 50, 75 LP in the top division of the tier below rather than at 0, so the way back is short.

• 100 LPper division
• 10protected games after a tier promotion (wiki)
• 25/50/75LP you land on after a tier demotion
• 3protected games after reaching Master

Emerald, Diamond and the promotion line

Emerald arrived in patch 13.14 (July 2023) between Platinum and Diamond, at the same time as promotion series were removed. Today 100 LP in Emerald I takes you straight to Diamond IV — no promotion series. Placements can't put you above Diamond III, and the start of each year usually drops you about a tier, with Emerald I as the highest starting point — see the placements guide.

Demotion by decay (Diamond and up)

Emerald and below never decay. From Diamond up, each ranked game banks 7 days (up to 28 in Diamond); when the bank runs out you lose 50 LP a day, and decaying out of Diamond IV drops you to Emerald I. Master and above bank less and lose more — the rank decay guide has the full table and the decay calculator works out your dates.

Master, Grandmaster and Challenger

Master has no divisions — Master has no divisions — drop below 0 LP and you're back in Diamond I. Riot Support gives Master 3 protected games after promotion. Grandmaster and Challenger aren't fixed ranks at all: they need 400 and 800 LP plus a place above the lowest player in that tier in your region, so you can drop out of them without losing a game when others pass you. See how to reach Master.

Dodging, LP and demotion

Dodging champion select costs LP too — −5 LP for the first, −15 LP for the second, −15 LP for the third dodge within 24 hours — but below Master those penalties never demote you (they cap at −100 LP). At Master and above a dodge now counts as a full loss. The dodge guide covers when dodging is worth it.

How to avoid demoting

1. Stop at 0 LP after a loss.

   The next game is the one that demotes; play it fresh, not tilted.

2. Use the tier protection well.

   The games after a tier promotion are the time to play your best champions, not to experiment.

3. Play enough in Diamond+.

   One game banks 7 days — keep a buffer before a trip.

4. Check your LP gains.

   If losses cost far more than wins give, your MMR is below your rank — the LP gain checker shows it.

Help climbing back

• Get clear of 0 LP: ranked net wins — orders from $4.80.
• Back to your division: a Solo/Duo boost.
• Read next: how LoL ranked works.