Dodging means leaving champion select before the game starts. You lose LP and get a temporary queue lockout, but dodging a game you were likely to lose is often cheaper than playing it out.
How to Dodge
There are two ways:
- Close the client (Alt+F4, Task Manager, or force-quit) before champion select ends. The most reliable method.
- Let your pick/ban timer expire without locking in a champion or ban. The lobby cancels automatically.
Both methods trigger the same penalty. You cannot dodge after champion select ends. Once the loading screen starts, you're in the game.
Dodge Penalties
Penalties escalate based on how many times you've dodged within the last 24 hours. The tier increases with each dodge and drops by 1 every 24 hours since your last dodge. Timers block all queues, not just the one you dodged from. Dodge stacks also carry across queue types: a Normal dodge followed by a Ranked dodge puts you at Tier 2 for that Ranked dodge.
| Tier | Ranked LP | Normal | Ranked | ARAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 (1st dodge) | −5 LP | 6 min | 6 min | 15 min |
| Tier 2 (2nd within 24h) | −15 LP | 30 min | 30 min | 30 min |
| Tier 3+ (each after) | −15 LP | 720 min | 720 min | 720 min |
LP penalties from dodging cannot cause a demotion and are hard-capped at −100 LP total.
Apex Tier (Master / Grandmaster / Challenger)
If you're in Master, Grandmaster, or Challenger, dodging carries a heavier cost. As of Patch 26.1, Apex tier dodges apply −20 LP (instead of −5 LP for the first dodge) plus an impact on your MMR scoring. Queue timer penalties are the same as standard ranked.
ARAM Dodging
Dodging an ARAM removes your third champion card option until you complete a game. Your reroll charges are not affected.
Ready Check Failures
Missing the ready check repeatedly also triggers dodge penalties:
- 1st failure: Warning only, no LP or timer penalty
- 2nd failure in a row: Tier 1 penalty (−5 LP in ranked + 6-min lockout)
- 3rd failure in a row: Tier 2 penalty (−15 LP in ranked + 30-min lockout)
- 4th+ failures: 720-min lockout; LP penalty is modified to −10 LP (not the standard −15 LP)
Since Patch V14.18, repeated ready check abuse at very high frequency can result in a temporary suspension, escalating to permanent.
Does Dodging Affect Your MMR?
For standard ranked tiers, dodging only costs LP and queue time. Your MMR is unchanged, which is why a first dodge at 5 LP is almost always better than playing out a game you're likely to lose (which costs LP and MMR both). The exception is Apex tier, where dodging carries an MMR scoring impact in addition to the −20 LP.
Note: as of 2026, dodging no longer resets your autofill status. If you were autofilled before the dodge, you'll remain autofill-eligible on re-queue.
Is Dodging Bannable?
No, at normal rates. Riot's penalty system is designed to allow occasional dodges; the escalating timer and LP loss are the intended deterrent. Accounts are not banned for dodging 1–2 games per session.
At extreme volume, Riot's escalation path does exist. The V14.18 update added a path from repeated ready check failures to temporary and permanent suspension. This threshold is not published, but standard in-game dodging doesn't approach it.
When to Dodge
The first dodge of the day costs 5 LP and 6 minutes. If you'd have lost that game, you're net positive: you saved the ~15–20 LP loss and kept your MMR intact. Use that budget deliberately:
- A teammate has declared they're trolling or not playing seriously before the game starts
- Your team comp has a fundamental problem (no engage, no frontline) that your champion can't fix
- You were autofilled into a role with no champion ready and a weak backup
- The enemy team has a hard counter to your champion and you have no backup plan
When Not to Dodge
The second dodge within 24 hours costs −15 LP, roughly the same as losing a game. At that point you're not saving anything; you're just delaying. A bad lobby at Tier 2 dodge cost is usually better played than skipped.
Other situations where dodging costs more than it saves:
- Near demotion: Every LP matters. A dodge at 5 LP puts you that much closer to losing your tier.
- Close to promos: You're delaying, not avoiding anything. One dodge buys you a requeue into a potentially worse lobby.
- The "bad" game might not be: Predicted stomps don't always go as expected. If there's no concrete reason to dodge (clear troll, obvious tilt), play it out.
