League of Legends Brings Back Ranked 5s With Weekend-Only Queue and Tournament Draft
Riot Games has officially announced the return of Ranked 5s in League of Legends.
The experimental queue is designed to bring competitive team play back to Summoner's Rift. They shared the update in a new Dev Blog titled "The Return of Ranked 5s.".
It highlights a renewed focus on coordinated team competition in League of Legends.
Riot Games explained that competitive League is at its best in a full team environment.
The studio pointed to past memories of local tournaments and group play experiences.
Ranked 5s is returning with a redesigned structure and several key changes.
Riot Games emphasized that this version is an experiment, not a permanent system.
What Is Ranked 5s?
Ranked 5s is a Summoner's Rift queue built for premade five-player teams. Each player still maintains an individual rank within the queue.
The mode previously existed but was removed due to matchmaking and queue time issues. Riot Games now believes improved systems can support its return.
What Is New In Ranked 5s?
The new Ranked 5s removes the requirement for fixed teams. Players can now queue with different friends each session. This change is designed to reduce roster lock issues and improve accessibility. It also allows wider social groups to play together more freely.
Rank restrictions have also been loosened significantly in this version. Friends of different ranks can now queue together in the same team. Riot Games stated that enjoyment of playing together is a higher priority than strict matchmaking limits. However, systems will be in place to balance major skill differences.
Weekend-Only Queue Windows
Ranked 5s will only be available during set weekend time windows. The goal is to concentrate player activity into the same queue periods.
North America, Europe, and other regions will share similar weekend schedules. All regions will run from 9:00 PM to 1:00 AM local time.
Riot Games expects this will improve matchmaking quality and queue times. Higher player density should lead to faster and more balanced games.
Tournament Draft System
Ranked 5s will use Tournament Draft instead of standard draft rules. This includes a structured pick and ban format for competitive strategy. Tournament Draft mirrors the format used in professional League of Legends games. This means there will be two pick and ban phases in this mode.
The format is designed to encourage deeper coordination between teammates. Teams will need to adapt strategies based on opponent drafting patterns.
Anti-Smurfing and Game Integrity
Riot Games addressed concerns about smurfing and boosting in Ranked 5s. The company stated that detection systems have significantly improved since the original version. Existing anti-boosting systems from Flex Queue will also apply here. Riot Games will actively monitor game integrity throughout the experiment.
Rewards For Participation
Players who participate in Ranked 5s will receive a unique in-game icon. A special banner will also reflect peak rank for Gold and above players.
These rewards are available regardless of final rank performance in the queue. Riot Games aims to encourage participation across all skill levels.
Final Notes
Ranked 5s is being treated as a live experiment in League of Legends. Riot Games expects the mode to evolve based on player feedback. Players are encouraged to form squads and test the new system. The company will adjust matchmaking and systems based on results.
Copyright The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 6:12 PM.