Faker, one of the world-renowned League of Legends (LoL) professionals, recently expressed his exasperation with the current state of the Korean solo queue ladder system. Let’s delve deeper into this issue and explore the reasons behind Faker’s concerns and potential solutions.
The Current State of Korean Solo Queue Ladder
- The solo queue ladder in Korea is infamous for its unpredictability and inconsistency, with players frequently experiencing significant rank fluctuations.
- This volatility can be frustrating for dedicated and skilled players like Faker who aim for consistent growth and improvement.
Reasons Behind Rank Instability
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**Mismatched Games:**
The current system often pairs players of varying skill levels in games, leading to unbalanced matches and potentially skewed rankings.
* **Queue Times:**
Long queue times can force players into accepting less favorable matchups or skipping ranked games altogether, negatively affecting their rank progression.
Possible Solutions
- Ranked Flex Queue: Riot Games has already implemented a Ranked Flex Queue in other regions, which allows players to queue with friends and provides more balanced matchups. Bringing this feature to Korea could alleviate some of the rank instability issues.
- Skill-based Matchmaking (SBMM): SBMM is essential for ensuring fair and balanced games, as it matches players based on their individual skill levels rather than just their current ranks. Enhancing the SBMM system in Korean solo queue could help stabilize rank progression for players.
- Reducing Queue Times: Riot Games can explore solutions to reduce queue times, such as implementing a dynamic queue system that allows players to queue with friends but also places them in games with suitable opponents based on their individual skill levels.
Summary
Faker’s concerns about the current state of Korean solo queue ladder are valid and shared by many dedicated LoL players. By addressing the root causes of rank instability, such as mismatched games and long queue times, Riot Games can create a more stable and enjoyable experience for all players in Korea. The potential solutions, including Ranked Flex Queue, Skill-based Matchmaking, and reducing queue times, could significantly improve the overall solo queue ladder experience.