Riot Finally Cracks Down on Smurfing in League of Legends in 2026

If you’ve spent any amount of time in League of Legends, you’ve probably run into a smurf. They’re the mysterious level‑20‑something account that somehow plays like they’ve been grinding Challenger since Season 3. For years, smurfing has been one of the most aggravating problems in League of Legends, and the community has begged Riot Games to finally do something meaningful about it. Now, after what feels like a decade of “we’re looking into it,” Riot is officially cracking down, and the reaction is a chaotic mix of celebration, skepticism, and pure League‑flavored salt.

Smurfing Is Now a Punishable Offense in League of Legends

Riot’s new stance is clear: smurfing is no longer just “frowned upon,” it’s officially categorized as rank manipulation. That means intentionally playing on a lower‑ranked account to stomp weaker players is now treated the same way as boosting or sabotaging competitive integrity. The report menu even includes smurfing as its own option, which is Riot’s way of saying, “We know what you’re doing, and we’re not pretending anymore.”

This shift matters because smurfing has warped the ranked experience for years. New players get crushed, mid‑rank players get tilted into oblivion, and high‑rank players use alts to experiment without consequences. Riot finally decided enough is enough, and League of Legends players are watching closely.

Vanguard Makes Smurfing Harder to Hide

The introduction of Riot Vanguard, the same anti‑cheat system used in Valorant, is a major reason this crackdown is possible. Vanguard gives Riot deeper insight into player behavior, making it easier to detect suspicious patterns. If your “brand‑new” account suddenly plays like a pro who just inhaled a gallon of caffeine, the system notices.

Vanguard tracks MMR spikes, unusual performance jumps, and duo‑queue patterns that don’t make sense. In short, if you’re smurfing in League of Legends, you’re going to have a much harder time hiding it.

Penalties Hit Harder Than a Darius Dunk

Riot isn’t pulling punches with punishments. The new penalty system includes escalating bans, starting with a three‑day suspension, then a two‑week ban, and eventually a permanent ban for repeat offenders. But the real game‑changer is account linking. If Riot determines multiple accounts belong to the same player, penalties apply to all of them.

Yes, that means if you get caught smurfing on your alt, your main account might get slapped too. It’s the League of Legends equivalent of getting grounded and your siblings also getting grounded just for being in the same house.

Not Every Alt Account Is Evil

Riot clarified that not all secondary accounts are at risk. If you legitimately leveled your alt, didn’t buy it, didn’t share it, and didn’t intentionally manipulate rank, you’re safe. Riot isn’t trying to stop players from experimenting or learning new champions, they’re trying to stop players from ruining matches for others.

If you’re a Diamond player who made a new account and got placed in Gold while genuinely trying, Riot says that’s on them, not you. But if you intentionally tank placements to stomp Bronze players, that’s where the hammer drops.

The Community Reacts, and It’s Peak League Energy

The League of Legends community is, predictably, split. Some players are celebrating like Riot just deleted Yasuo from the game. Others are convinced the new report option is just another placebo button. And then there are the content creators, many of whom built entire series around “Unranked to Challenger” runs. Let’s just say they’re sweating a little.

Riot insists there are no exceptions for streamers or pros. Everyone plays by the same rules now, which is either refreshing or terrifying depending on how many alts you have.

A New Era for Competitive Integrity

Whether Riot’s crackdown will completely eliminate smurfing is still up in the air, but it’s clear the company is taking the issue more seriously than ever. With Vanguard, account linking, and stricter penalties, League of Legends is entering a new era where competitive integrity actually matters.

After nearly two decades, players deserve matches that feel fair, balanced, and free of undercover Challenger assassins pretending to be Bronze. If Riot sticks to this plan, the ranked ladder might finally feel like a ladder instead of a roller coaster.