Riot Games is making another major ranked change in League of Legends, and this time, Apex-tier players are directly in the spotlight. As part of the upcoming Apex ranked reset, Riot plans to disable duo queue for Master, Grandmaster, and Challenger players for at least the first patch after the reset. The goal is simple: let MMR settle without extra duo queue volatility, making the top of the ladder even messier.
Riot dev Phroxzon clarified that the change will apply alongside the Apex reset coming in Patch 26.9, affecting NA, EUW, EUNE, TR, LAN, and BR. These are the regions Riot says experienced enough ranked instability to impact competitive integrity. Other regions were not included because the instability was not considered severe enough.
Riot Is Disabling Master+ Duo Queue After the Apex Reset
According to Riot Phroxzon, Riot is planning to disallow Apex+ duoing for at least the first patch after the reset. In other words, players in Master and above will need to queue solo while the ranked system recalibrates.
This is not meant to be a permanent punishment for high-ranking players. Riot’s reasoning is that duo queue can create extra matchmaking pressure, especially in the most competitive ranks where small MMR differences matter a lot. By forcing solo queue temporarily, Riot wants the ladder to stabilize faster and give players a cleaner start after the reset.
The timing makes sense. Riot is already resetting affected Master, Grandmaster, and Challenger players to Master 0 LP in Patch 26.9. Adding duo queue to that early climb could make the first few days of the ladder even more chaotic.
Riot Is Resetting Master, Grandmaster, and Challenger
Riot’s official dev blog explains that the team has been monitoring Apex-tier ranked instability since January. Because of the volatility, all current Master, Grandmaster, and Challenger players in NA, EUW, EUNE, BR, LAN, and TR will have their visible rank and MMR reset to Master 0 LP when Patch 26.9 goes live at the start of Season 2.
That means there should be no accounts sitting above Master 0 LP in either visible rank or MMR immediately after the reset. Riot also clarified that making a fresh account or playing on a smurf will not give players an advantage over using their existing account.
Riot Wants MMR to Settle Before Duo Queue Returns
The biggest reason behind the temporary duo queue removal is MMR stability. At the highest ranks, duo queue is always controversial because coordinated pairs can have a real advantage over solo players. Even when the matchmaking system tries to account for that, the results can still feel uneven.
Earlier this year, Riot had already made changes around high-rank duo queue restrictions and penalties after concerns about abuse and unfair matchmaking. Riot was trying to crack down on Apex duo queue issues, including cases where players could manipulate the system through ranked behavior or account usage.
With Patch 26.9 resetting the ladder, Riot appears to be taking a safer approach. Let everyone climb solo first, let the system gather cleaner data, then decide when duo queue can return.
Is This a Good Change for Ranked?
Honestly, it is probably the right call, even if it feels harsh. Apex-tier ranked has been a constant talking point this season, and when the ladder gets inflated or unstable, every win and loss starts feeling less meaningful.
Removing the duo queue for at least one patch gives Riot a cleaner environment to rebuild the ladder. It also removes one of the biggest arguments players usually have when matchmaking feels unfair. If everyone is climbing solo from Master 0 LP, the early Season 2 race should be easier to judge.
That does not mean every match will suddenly feel perfect. A reset this big will always create weird games at first. But if Riot’s goal is to restore trust in the ranked ladder, temporarily removing duo queue is one of the more logical moves.
League of Legends Patch 26.9 Could Be a Major Ranked Turning Point
Patch 26.9 is shaping up to be one of the most important ranked updates League of Legends has had in a while. Riot is not just tweaking LP gains or adjusting matchmaking behind the scenes. It is actively resetting the top of the ladder in several major regions and removing Master+ duo queue long enough for MMR to settle.
