If you just got hit with Low Priority Queue, here's the short version: it doesn't lower your rank directly, it's temporary, and the fastest way through it is to just play the game normally. Here's the full breakdown of what's actually happening and how to handle it.
What Triggers Low Priority Queue
Low Priority Queue is triggered by leaving matches early, going AFK during a game, or repeatedly declining ready checks before a match even starts. It's an escalating penalty — a first offense typically results in a short queue restriction, while repeated offenses extend the penalty duration significantly.
What Low Priority Queue Actually Does
Once you're in Low Priority Queue, you're forced into a longer matchmaking queue and required to complete a match without dodging or leaving before you're released back into normal queue.
Here's the part that trips a lot of players up: Low Priority Queue does not directly lower your rank or MMR. It's a queue-access penalty, not a ranked penalty. That misconception causes some players to panic more than the situation actually calls for, or to make decisions in the penalty game itself that end up doing more damage than the penalty ever would have.
How It Indirectly Affects Your Climb
While LP Queue doesn't touch your rank directly, it can still hurt your climb indirectly in two ways.
First, there's a time cost — if it happens repeatedly during an active climbing session, the extended queue times add up and can meaningfully cut into how many games you're able to play.
Second, and more importantly, there's a mindset risk. Going into a mandatory "punishment game" with frustration already built up is a common way for one avoidable penalty to snowball into an actual ranked loss — the LP Queue game itself doesn't cost you rank, but playing it poorly or tilted absolutely can.
How to Clear It Safely
The single most important thing to know here: play the Low Priority Queue game normally. Intentionally throwing or playing poorly to "get it over with" doesn't actually speed anything up, and in some cases can compound penalties further if the system reads it as intentional sabotage.
Treating the punishment game like any other normal game — full effort, no shortcuts — is consistently the fastest and safest way to clear it and get back to your regular queue.
How to Avoid It Going Forward
A few practical habits prevent most Low Priority Queue penalties before they happen:
- Don't queue up if you know you'll need to leave early — wait until you have the time to finish a full game.
- Accept ready checks promptly rather than letting them time out, even if you're briefly away from your screen.
- If you're feeling tilted enough that leaving early feels tempting, that's usually a sign worth listening to before you queue, not after.
That last point connects to a broader pattern worth watching for in your own play: a lot of early leaves are tilt-driven rather than genuinely accidental, which is something we cover in more depth in our upcoming piece on the mental side of ranked climbing.
FAQ
Does Low Priority Queue lower your MMR? No — Low Priority Queue restricts your matchmaking queue access but does not directly reduce your rank or MMR.
How long does Low Priority Queue last? Duration escalates with repeated offenses, starting relatively short for a first offense and extending further with repeated triggers — the exact timing can vary based on your penalty history.
Can boosting services play through a Low Priority penalty? This depends on the specific service and situation — if your account currently has a Low Priority penalty active, it's worth discussing that directly with your provider before starting any service.
Getting back into a clean ranked climb? Visit our Rank Boosting pillar page, or check out our Season Reset post if you're planning around a new season.