1. Introduction

League of Legends (LoL) is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game developed by Riot Games. In competitive play, two teams of five players each compete on the Summoner's Rift map. The objective is to destroy the opposing team's Nexus, a structure located in their base.

This ruleset governs professional and organized competitive play under Riot Games' esports ecosystem, including leagues such as the LCK, LEC, LCS, LPL, and the World Championship.

League of Legends esports is one of the largest competitive gaming ecosystems in the world, with millions of viewers and professional players competing across multiple regional leagues.

Which document governs what. Riot publishes the League of Legends Esports: Global Policies (2026 Edition, v20251210) covering player eligibility, residency, roster construction, contracts, sponsorship and the Disciplinary Code — the sections cited below by rule number. In-game mechanics, champion select, match format, Chronobreak and series scoring are not in that document; they are set by each regional league's own rulebook (LEC, LTA, LCK, LPL) and by the game client itself, so those sections are deliberately left uncited here rather than attributed to a rule that does not cover them.

2. Equipment & Technical Requirements

Hardware

Gaming PC meeting minimum tournament specifications (set by tournament organizer)
Monitor: minimum 144Hz refresh rate, 24-27 inch display
Mouse and keyboard (players may bring their own peripherals)
Headset with noise isolation for team communication

Software

Official League of Legends tournament client (provided by Riot Games)
All players must use the current tournament patch version
No unauthorized third-party software, overlays, or macros permitted

Network

Tournament realm servers provided by Riot Games
Minimum network requirements: <10ms ping to tournament server
Backup internet connections required for official events

3. Playing Area (Summoner's Rift)

All competitive matches are played on the Summoner's Rift map.

Map Structure

Three lanes: Top, Mid, and Bot — each connecting the two bases
Jungle: Area between lanes containing neutral monsters
Bases: Each team's base contains the Nexus, two Nexus turrets, and an inhibitor per lane
Turrets: Defensive structures along each lane (outer, inner, inhibitor, Nexus)

Key Objectives

Baron Nashor: Powerful neutral monster granting team-wide combat buff
Elemental Drakes: Four dragon types granting permanent stat bonuses
Elder Dragon: Late-game objective with execute threshold
Rift Herald: Summonable siege creature

4. Players & Officials

Team Composition

Each team consists of 5 active players and up to 2 substitutes (Global Policies rules 55–62)
Standard roles: Top Laner, Jungler, Mid Laner, Bot Laner (ADC), Support (Global Policies rules 55–62)
Coaching staff may communicate with players only during designated breaks (Global Policies rules 55–62)

Officials

Referees: Monitor gameplay integrity, enforce rules, manage pauses
Tournament administrators: Handle scheduling, disputes, and rule interpretations
Technical staff: Manage hardware, network, and client issues

Player Eligibility

Minimum age: set by the League a player registers with; for International Events a player must be at least 17 by the event's start date, and must also meet the minimum age of the League their team qualified through (Global Policies rule 46)
Must hold valid residency for their competitive region (Global Policies rules 50–54) (Global Policies rules 46–49)
Must not be under any active competitive suspension (Global Policies rules 46–49)
Must sign the official player agreement for the league (Global Policies rules 96–99). Players must also hold a passport valid for at least twelve months at all times, and may not be registered to more than one team simultaneously (Global Policies rules 47–48)

5. Rules of Play

Champion Select (Draft Phase)

Teams alternate banning champions (5 bans per team, 10 total)
Ban phase: 3 bans each → 3 picks each → 2 bans each → 2 picks each
No champion may be picked or banned by both teams
Teams must lock in their selection within the allotted time
Newly released or reworked champions may be disabled for competitive play

Match Format

Regular season: Best-of-1 (BO1) or Best-of-3 (BO3) depending on region
Playoffs: Best-of-5 (BO5)
World Championship: Group stage BO1, knockout stage BO5

In-Game Rules

No deliberate exploitation of bugs or unintended game mechanics
Intentional disconnection or game-disrupting behavior is prohibited
Communication: team voice chat only; no external communication during live play
Pauses allowed for technical issues (must be approved by referee)

Chronobreak (Game Remake)

If a critical bug occurs, referees may rewind the game to a previous state
Full game remakes are ordered for severe technical failures
Referee's decision on remakes is final

6. Scoring & Victory Conditions

Win Condition

A team wins by destroying the enemy Nexus. There is no time limit; games continue until one Nexus is destroyed or a team surrenders.

Surrender

Teams may surrender after 15 minutes with unanimous vote (all 5 players)
After 20 minutes, surrender requires 4 out of 5 votes
In tournament play, coaches may also request a team surrender during pauses

Series Scoring

BO1: Single game determines the winner
BO3: First to 2 game wins
BO5: First to 3 game wins
Side selection alternates between games (higher seed chooses first game)

League Standings

Win = 1 point (BO1) or full series win recorded
Tiebreakers: head-to-head record → game differential → tiebreaker match

7. Violations & Penalties

Competitive Integrity Violations

Match fixing: Arranging or attempting to influence match outcomes — permanent ban (Global Policies rules 14–17)
Cheating: Using unauthorized software, exploits, or information — suspension to permanent ban (Global Policies rules 14–17)
Account sharing: Playing on another player's account — suspension (Global Policies rules 14–17)
Collusion: Coordinating with opposing teams — suspension to permanent ban (Global Policies rules 14–17)

Behavioral Violations

Unsportsmanlike conduct: Taunting, BM (bad manners), or disruptive behavior — warning to fine (Global Policies rules 14–17)
Harassment: Directed abuse toward players, officials, or fans — fine to suspension (Global Policies rules 14–17)
Social media violations: Leaking confidential information, hate speech — fine to suspension (Global Policies rules 14–17)

Penalty Scale

Verbal warning (Global Policies rules 15–16)
Written warning (Global Policies rules 15–16)
Fine (varies by offense severity and league) (Global Policies rules 15–16)
Game suspension (1-10 games)
Season suspension (Global Policies rules 15–16)
Permanent ban from competitive play (Global Policies rules 15–16)

8. Safety & Integrity

Player Welfare

Maximum daily practice hours may be mandated by regional league regulations
Teams must provide adequate rest periods during multi-day events
Players have access to sports psychologists and support services
Anti-harassment policies protect players from abuse by fans, staff, or other players

Anti-Doping

Performance-enhancing substances (e.g., Adderall without prescription) are prohibited
Random drug testing may be conducted at major events
Violations result in suspension and potential prize money forfeiture

Data Integrity

All competitive games are played on isolated tournament realm servers
Server logs are recorded and archived for dispute resolution
Replay files are available for review by teams and officials
Riot Games reserves the right to review any competitive match for integrity violations

🚨 Cardinal Rule— Serious violation — may trigger retaliation or social exclusion

Intentional feeding (inting) is the cardinal gameplay taboo
— Deliberately dying to give the enemy gold and experience — known as 'inting' — is the most severe cultural violation in LoL, beyond its status as a bannable offense. Players who int betray the social contract of cooperative play. 'Running it down mid' is a notorious specific variant where a player walks directly into enemies repeatedly.(The term 'inting' has become standard vocabulary across multiplayer gaming, originating from LoL's community. Riot's Player Behavior team has written extensively about it.)[1]
Don't go AFK to punish your team — even when losing badly
— Going AFK mid-game as protest after a fight with teammates, or because the game is going poorly, is considered one of the most selfish acts in LoL. It leaves four players at a numerical disadvantage through no fault of their own. The cultural stigma rivals the official ban consequences.(Distinct from genuine disconnects due to technical failure. Punitive AFK is typically preceded by visible cues — announcing departure in chat, stopping to move while remaining online.)[1]

⚠️ Strong Expectation— Most experienced players will take notice and be upset

Don't intentionally 'KS' (kill steal) the carry's kill⚡ Contested
— Taking a kill from an ally who set it up — especially from the carry who needs gold to scale — is called 'kill stealing.' Deliberately doing so habitually, without acknowledgment, is a serious etiquette violation. The norm is strongest around ADC and mid-lane carries whose power spikes depend on gold accumulation.(The term 'KS' originated in LoL culture and spread to other multiplayer games, reflecting how central this norm became to the community.)[1]
Never say 'GG EZ' — the cardinal sin of post-game trash talk
— Typing 'GG EZ' (good game, easy) in chat after winning is the most universally condemned act of poor sportsmanship in LoL. It dismisses opponents' effort. Riot Games built an auto-replacement into the client that converts 'GG EZ' into self-deprecating messages, cementing its status as an official-but-unwritten cultural rule.(Riot's auto-conversion of 'GG EZ' is one of the most widely cited examples of a developer codifying a community taboo into the client itself.)[1]
Pro players shake hands (or bow) after matchesProfessional play
— In organized competitive play, players from both teams are expected to shake hands or bow after a match. Declining, giving a dismissive handshake, or leaving the stage without acknowledgment is noted as disrespectful. This has been observed and commented upon at LCS, LCK, and World Championship events.(The post-game bow is deeply formalized in LCK (Korean league) due to Korean sports culture. LCS and LEC follow looser handshake conventions. Post-COVID adaptations (fist bumps, waves) are accepted.)

📋 General Expectation— Generally expected; soft social enforcement among regulars

Jungle camps belong to the jungler — don't take without permission⚡ Contested
— Taking jungle camps — especially Red/Blue Buff early game — without the jungler's consent is considered theft of their primary resource. Habitually farming the jungler's camps as a laner is a well-known breach of team trust, even when the jungler is on the opposite side of the map.(The expectation varies by camp type and game state. 'Taxing' Scuttle Crab or minor camps is more accepted than taking power-spike buffs. Context matters.)[1]

🤝 Etiquette— Nice to follow; low consequence if ignored by newcomers

Type 'GG' at the end of every match
— Regardless of outcome, typing 'GG' (good game) in all-chat at match end is a courtesy that acknowledges all players' effort — the digital equivalent of a post-game handshake. Typing nothing, 'EZ,' or inflammatory comments instead is considered poor sportsmanship.(The GG convention predates LoL, originating in early online gaming (Starcraft, Quake era). In LoL, it has been the expected closing ritual since beta.)[1]

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