In the competitive world of League of Legends, rank represents more than just a badge—it’s a statement of skill, dedication, and countless hours invested in mastering one of gaming’s most complex MOBAs.
Yet beneath the surface of Riot Games’ ranking system exists a thriving shadow economy: boosting services that promise to elevate players beyond their natural skill level.
This controversial practice has sparked ongoing debates about competitive integrity, player psychology, and the nature of achievement in modern esports.
Understanding the boosting phenomenon
Boosting refers to the practice where skilled players, often reaching Master tier or above, play on lower-ranked accounts to artificially inflate their ranking.
The service typically operates through two primary methods: account sharing, where the booster logs directly into the client’s account, and duo boosting, where the booster queues alongside the client to carry them through matches.
The demand for these services stems from various motivations. Some players seek the prestige of higher ranks without investing the necessary time and effort.
Others hit perceived skill ceilings and want rewards associated with ranks they believe they deserve. Season-end rewards, particularly exclusive skins and borders, create artificial deadlines that spike boosting demand as ranked seasons conclude.
The market dynamics
The boosting industry has evolved into a sophisticated marketplace with standardized pricing structures. Services typically charge based on current rank, desired rank, and turnaround speed.
A boost from Gold to Platinum might cost $50-100, while elevating an account from Diamond to Master can exceed several hundred dollars due to the increased difficulty and time investment required.
Platforms specializing in gaming services have emerged to facilitate these transactions. Sites like eldorado.gg offer league of legends boosting alongside other gaming services, implementing verification systems and buyer protections.
These marketplaces attempt to legitimize an inherently gray-market service, though the practice remains firmly against Riot Games’ Terms of Service.
Riot’s stance and enforcement
Riot Games explicitly prohibits boosting in their Terms of Service, classifying it as a form of account sharing that undermines competitive integrity.
The company employs detection systems analyzing play patterns, login locations, champion pools, and performance anomalies to identify boosted accounts. Penalties range from temporary suspensions to permanent bans, with repeat offenders facing increasingly severe consequences.
Despite these measures, enforcement remains inconsistent. The sheer volume of accounts and sophisticated methods employed by professional boosters make comprehensive detection challenging.
Many boosters use VPNs matching the account owner’s region, gradually adjust playstyles, and maintain champion preferences to avoid detection algorithms. This cat-and-mouse dynamic continues evolving as both sides refine their techniques.
Impact on competitive integrity
The presence of boosted accounts creates tangible negative effects on the ranked experience. Players who purchase boosts eventually return to playing their accounts, often performing significantly below their displayed rank.
This creates frustrating experiences for teammates who expect competent play based on rank indicators. The mismatch disrupts game balance and undermines the ranking system’s fundamental purpose: matching players of similar skill levels.
Professional boosters occupying lower ranks also distort competitive environments. Their smurfs create unbalanced matches where one player dominates, denying legitimate players fair competition and learning opportunities.
This particularly affects ranks where boosters operate most frequently, typically Gold through Diamond, where demand concentrates.
The psychology behind boosting
Understanding why players purchase boosts reveals insights into gaming psychology and social dynamics. Rank anxiety, the fear of losing accumulated progress, motivates many to secure their position through boosting rather than risk demotion.
Social pressure from peers also plays a role, as displaying high ranks in friend groups or online communities provides validation and status.
The disconnect between perceived skill and actual rank drives another segment of customers. Players who believe they’re “hardstuck” due to poor teammates rather than personal limitations see boosting as correcting an unjust system.
This victim mentality overlooks the statistical reality that individual skill ultimately determines long-term rank trajectory.
Alternative perspectives and coaching
Not all rank advancement services violate terms of service. Legitimate coaching, where experienced players provide guidance, analysis, and educational content without directly playing on accounts, offers an ethical alternative.
Professional coaches review gameplay footage, identify mistakes, explain macro concepts, and develop personalized improvement plans.
This educational approach addresses the root issue: skill development. While slower than boosting, coaching creates sustainable improvement and genuine skill acquisition.
Many former boosters have transitioned to coaching services, monetizing their expertise without compromising competitive integrity or risking account security.
The esports connection
Interestingly, some professional players and high-elo talents have participated in boosting, treating it as supplementary income during off-seasons or between competitive opportunities.
This creates ethical dilemmas within the esports community, as respected players engaging in boosting normalizes the practice despite its negative impacts.
Organizations increasingly include anti-boosting clauses in player contracts, recognizing the reputational risks and potential conflicts of interest. However, enforcement difficulties and the anonymous nature of most boosting operations make comprehensive prevention challenging.
