3.9 Champion Mastery System — League of Legends Guide
The Champion Mastery system in League of Legends provides a rewarding way for players to showcase their dedication and skill with specific champions. As you play games and perform well with a champion, you earn Champion Mastery points, unlocking new tiers and cosmetic rewards along the way.
This system is designed to recognize and celebrate your proficiency with individual champions. It's a free-to-play feature that encourages players to explore different champions and deepen their understanding of their kits, playstyles, and strengths. Reaching higher mastery levels can be a badge of honor, indicating a significant investment of time and effort.
How Champion Mastery Works
The core of the Champion Mastery system is earning Champion Mastery points (MP). You earn MP based on your performance in games, with higher scores awarded for better grades.
- Performance Grades: After each game, you receive a grade (S+, S, S-, A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-) based on your in-game performance. This grade is calculated using various metrics, including KDA (kills, deaths, assists), objective control, damage dealt, vision score, and more, compared to other players on the same champion in that role.
- Earning MP: The higher your grade, the more MP you earn. An S+ grade will grant significantly more MP than a C- grade.
- Mastery Levels: There are typically 7 mastery levels for each champion. Each level requires a cumulative amount of MP to unlock.
- Free-to-Play: The Champion Mastery system is entirely free. You earn MP for every champion you own simply by playing them.
Rewards and Unlocks
As you progress through the mastery levels, you unlock various rewards:
- Mastery Emotes: At higher mastery levels (typically level 5 and above), you unlock champion-specific emotes that you can use in-game to taunt opponents or celebrate with teammates. These are a popular way to show off your mastery.
- Mastery Banners: Some mastery levels also unlock unique champion banners that appear on your player profile, further personalizing your in-game presence.
- Champion Shards: At certain mastery levels, you can earn Champion Shards through Hextech Crafting, which can be used to unlock new champions or upgrade your mastery level.
- Mastery Tokens: Earning an S- grade or higher in a game with a champion you have at mastery level 5 or higher can grant you a Mastery Token. Collecting these tokens and combining them with Champion Shards and Blue Essence allows you to upgrade your mastery level beyond level 5.
Benefits of the System
The Champion Mastery system offers several benefits to players:
- Sense of Progression: It provides a clear and tangible way to track your progress and dedication to specific champions.
- Encourages Specialization: It motivates players to focus on and master a smaller pool of champions, leading to better overall gameplay.
- Showcasing Skill: Mastery emotes and banners are a visual representation of your skill and commitment to a champion.
- Learning Tool: To achieve higher grades, players are incentivized to learn all aspects of their champion's kit and how to perform optimally in various game situations.
The Champion Mastery system is a fun and engaging way to enhance your League of Legends experience, allowing you to celebrate your journey with each champion you master.