LoL Toxicity Bans – All You Need to Know
Learn about LoL toxicity bans, how they work, what behaviors trigger them, and how to avoid penalties in League of Legends.
Tired of LoL Toxicity Bans? Learn about the ban system & how to stay safe. Toxic behavior has been present in almost every competitive online game and League of Legends (LoL) is no exception. In fact, toxicity bans are among the most frequent actions taken by Riot Games, often leading to account restrictions or suspensions.
We’ve all come across a toxic player while gaming. It’s not just a video game thing—just like in sports, tempers can rise and players can argue or fight.
Riot Games takes toxic behavior in League of Legends seriously. They give out account suspensions or restrictions depending on how bad the behavior is.
Though mistakes can happen, like unfair suspensions or missed reports, bans for toxic behavior in LoL are pretty common overall.
League of Legends Toxicity Ban
A League of Legends toxicity ban or suspension is a punishment for being rude, negative, or offensive in the game. But what exactly is “toxicity”?
Toxicity in League of Legends (or any game) means bad behavior towards others, like being rude, name-calling, trolling or making negative comments that spoil the game for others.
But it’s not just about being rude. Other negative actions like playing poorly on purpose or refusing to help your team, can also lead to a ban. If you’re banned for toxicity, you can usually send appeal to Riot Games to review the situation.
Can You Be Banned for Toxicity in LoL?
Yes, you can be banned for toxicity in League of Legends and Riot Games takes this very seriously. Toxic behavior ruins game for everyone making it frustrating instead of fun. Many players play to relax & escape real-life problems & negativity spoils that.
Sometimes, you might not even realize you’re being toxic. In heat of the game a joke or comment you make could come off as rude or offensive. Keep in mind that other players can’t always tell your intentions, so it’s easy for things to be misunderstood.
Certain actions like using offensive slurs or hateful language, can lead to an instant permanent ban and once that happens, it’s nearly impossible to reverse.
Common reasons for LoL toxicity bans:
- Flaming and toxic language
- Intentionally feeding or “inting”
- Griefing (purposely ruining game)
- AFKing (leaving game)
- Abusing report system
Flaming and toxic language
Flaming in League of Legends is easy to spot—it’s when someone makes rude or offensive comments. This can range from name-calling and threats to milder things like being annoying or constantly complaining. Even if you’re just venting about the game or criticizing another player, it still counts as toxic behavior.
Flaming is taken seriously in League and most chat restrictions or suspensions happen because other players report the behavior. So, if you’re being negative or offensive, you’re likely to get reported which could lead to consequences.
Intentionally feeding or “inting”
Inting, short for “intentionally feeding,” is when a player purposely lets the enemy team kill them repeatedly. This gives opposing team an advantage by allowing them to gain more experience and gold, making it much easier for them to win. Feeding, whether intentional or not, can ruin the game for the team.
In some games, this behavior is also called “throwing,” like in Overwatch. It means sabotaging your own team & helping enemy win.
Even if a player isn’t being rude in the chat, inting & feeding in League of Legends are still considered toxic behavior and can lead to a ban. Riot Games punishes this because it negatively affects game and experience for other players.
Griefing (purposely ruining game)
Griefing in League of Legends is a type of toxic behavior where a player intentionally ruins game for their team. There are many ways this can happen, such as:
- Buying random or useless items that don’t help the team
- Stealing experience and gold from teammates
- Switching roles mid-game or following other players around to disrupt their play
- Picking bad champions on purpose that don’t fit the team strategy
- Leaving the game entirely
Griefing can look like the actions of a new or inexperienced player but it usually happens in ranked matches, where players are expected to know the game better. This makes it more frustrating for the team, as it’s clear the player is doing it on purpose to cause problems.
Because griefing negatively affects everyone’s experience, it’s considered a serious offense, and Riot Games punishes it as part of their efforts to keep matches fun and fair. Even if a griefer isn’t being verbally toxic, their actions in-game are enough to get them reported and potentially banned.
AFKing (leaving game)
AFKing (Away From Keyboard) in League of Legends is when a player stops playing, leaving their team to handle the match without them. This can hurt the team’s chances of winning, which is why it’s considered toxic behavior.
Sometimes, going AFK isn’t on purpose. Things from real life, like answering the door or taking care of a pet, may force you to abruptly stop playing the game. Frequent AFKing can cause problems, but it’s usually not a major deal if it occurs occasionally.
Riot Games understands this which is why AFKing rarely leads to account ban. Instead, players who frequently AFK are given queue lockouts or delays before they can join another match. This means they might have to wait longer to get into the next game. If you AFK once in a blue moon, there’s usually no serious punishment, but if it becomes a regular habit, that’s when the penalties start to kick in.
Abusing report system
Sometimes, our emotions or sense of justice can take over, making us want to speak up. In League of Legends, negativity can be subjective—what feels negative to you might not seem the same to someone else.
It’s not an issue to report a player if you feel they’re being negative. However, asking others in the game to report that player too can become a problem. This is called false reporting or report abuse, where multiple reports are made for no real reason. Unfortunately, mass reporting sometimes leads to an automatic suspension, even if it wasn’t deserved.
Thankfully, if you get banned due to false reporting it’s usually easy to overturn by submitting a ban appeal to Riot Games.
In short, report a player if they insult you, but avoid asking others to do the same, as that can cause problems. Now, let’s take a look at the suspension times based on different types of toxic behavior!
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How Long are LoL Toxicity Bans?
Toxic behavior in League of Legends is treated seriously, and the punishments get tougher with each offense. Here’s how the bans and restrictions are applied for toxic behavior:
3-Day Chat Restriction: For a first-time offense, players receive a 3-day chat ban. This means they can’t communicate with others in game.
7-Day Chat Restriction: If bad behavior continues- next step is 7-day chat restriction. Player is still unable to use in-game chat.
14-Day Account Suspension: On the third offense- entire account gets suspended for 14 days. Player cannot log in or play at all.
Permanent Ban: If poor behavior persists after suspension account will be permanently banned closing access to game.
While this process seems gradual, it moves quickly if players don’t improve their behavior. Even the first 3-day chat restriction should be seen as a warning. Ignoring it could lead to a permanent ban faster than expected.
In severe cases of extreme toxicity, like making threats or harassment, a player can be permanently banned without going through the usual steps, skipping directly to account closure.
AFK Punishments
Punishments for going AFK (Away From Keyboard) in League of Legends are different. Riot uses a tiered system with queue lockouts and delays. Here’s how it works:
Tier 0: No punishment.
Tier 1 to 6: Players gradually receive queue delays and lockouts, with penalties increasing.
Tier 7: At this level, the player gets a 14-day queue lockout and a 15-minute delay for 5 games.
To reduce your AFK tier level- simply play games without going AFK or leaving. Playing normally helps return your account to good standing.
How to Avoid a Toxicity Ban in League
It’s simple: if you focus on playing your game and stay out of unnecessary drama, you should avoid any issues. However, it’s easy to get caught up in emotions and that can lead you to vent in the chat. Try to avoid that, as it’s a quick way to end up with a ban.
League of Legends is highly competitive and can be frustrating at times. If you’re feeling upset after a game, take a break. Step away, relax, watch something lighthearted and don’t jump into another game right away.
When dealing with toxic players, it’s best to mute and report them. Arguing or defending yourself won’t help and could make things worse. You’re not likely to convince someone to stop griefing or inting, so focus on your own performance instead.
Always make sure you’re in a good mindset before queuing. If you’re already angry or stressed about something else, it’s probably not the best time to play. Do something relaxing first.
Lastly, if you know you might struggle to stay calm, use the “/mute all” command to block all chat. This way, you won’t see anything that might upset you.
Key tips:
- Take breaks between games.
- Report and mute toxic players; don’t engage.
- Play when you’re in a good mood.
- Use “/mute all” to avoid chat drama if needed.
The Tyler1 Unban Dilemma
Many believe that famous streamer Tyler1 had his ban lifted completely but the reality is a bit more complex. Many believe that the famous streamer Tyler1 had his ban lifted completely, but the reality is a bit more complex.
Unlike most players who get banned for toxicity, Tyler1 wasn’t just account-banned—he was ID banned. An ID ban means that the person themselves is banned from playing, no matter what account they try to use. This is different from a regular account ban, where a player could simply create a new account and continue playing.
When Tyler1 was unbanned, it wasn’t his old accounts that got restored. Those remain permanently banned. Instead, Riot Games lifted his ID ban, meaning he could start fresh with a new account and play again. Tyler1 is now able to play League of Legends again, but all of his old accounts remain banned. His “unban” wasn’t about bringing back those accounts but simply allowing him to create a new one. This let him return to streaming and playing the game.
This is not often the case. Unlike Tyler1, most gamers won’t experience an ID ban. Usually, when someone is banned from a game for engaging in toxic behavior, they are solely banned from that particular account. They are still able to play and create new accounts. Tyler1’s case was different because of the severity of his behavior and his large presence as a popular streamer at the time.
For most players, as long as they follow the rules, the consequences won’t be as extreme. But Tyler1’s story is a reminder of how serious things can get when toxic behavior goes too far.