In League of Legends, duo queue means teaming up with one other player in Ranked Solo/Duo mode. It’s a popular way to climb the ladder, especially if you have a friend you work well with. But as you move up the ranks, things get more complicated. Who you can duo with changes as you climb, and some of the higher ranks cannot duo-queue at all.
Many players get confused when they reach higher tiers, like Master and above. Questions like “Can I still duo?” or “What ranks can I queue with?” come up all the time. This guide breaks down the current restrictions.
We’ll explain how duo queue works, what the rank limits are, and some smart ways to climb with a partner. Let’s start with the basics.
What is Duo Queue in League of Legends?
Duo queue is when you and one other player team up to play Ranked Solo/Duo matches. It’s the only ranked mode where you’re allowed to queue with a friend. This setup is built for two players max — any more than that, and you're looking for Flex Queue.
It’s especially helpful if you and your partner have good synergy, like a jungler and mid laner, or ADC and support. Winning together can make climbing the ranks faster and way less frustrating.
But Riot puts some limits on who can duo together, mainly to keep matchmaking fair. That’s where rank restrictions come in.
Can You Duo Queue in Masters?
Yes, you can duo queue in Master tier, but only under specific conditions.
- Diamond I players can queue with:
- Other Diamond I, II, or III players
- Master players
- Master players can duo with:
- Diamond I players
- Other Master players
Once you go higher and get out of Master rank, you can no longer duo queue. Grandmaster and Challenger players cannot duo-queue to keep matchmaking fair.
This restriction exists because high elo games have fewer players to choose from, and coordinated duos can heavily influence matches. Solo-only queues help level the playing field, and it simplifies matchmaking from a mechanical perspective.
All Restrictions by Tier
- Iron, Bronze, and Silver:
Can duo with each other freely.
- Gold:
Can queue with
Silver, Gold, or Platinum players.
- Platinum:
Can duo with
Gold, Platinum, or Emerald players.
- Emerald:
Can queue with
Platinum, Emerald, or Diamond (with limits).
If your partner is in Diamond, they must be
within 2 divisions of your rank.
- Diamond IV to II:
Can play with Emerald players within
2 divisions
Can also duo with other Diamond players, as long as the gap is no more than
2 divisions.
- Diamond I:
Can duo with
Diamond III to I and Master players.
- Master:
Can duo with
Diamond I and other Master players.
- Grandmaster and Challenger:No duo queue allowed.
How You Can Use Duo Queue to Climb
Whether you're grinding from Silver or trying to break into Diamond, the right duo partner can make a huge difference. It can, at the very least, guarantee that one of your teammates won't be feeding for no reason.
Why Duo Queue Works
League of Legends is built around team coordination. When you queue solo, you’re paired with four random teammates. Some of them might be great. Others might troll, flame, or tilt early. That randomness makes solo queue tough.
With duo queue, you cut that risk in half. You have at least one teammate you can rely on,someone who understands the game, shares your goals, and actually listens. Ideally, it's also a friend that can cheer you up if your mental's on the edge.
Want to duo with a friend who's a different rank? You can avoid frustrating MMR gaps by starting fresh together on a new smurf account. That way, you’re synced from the start—no restrictions, no LP penalties.
Playing Different Roles That Complement Each Other
One of the smartest things you can do in duo is pick roles that work well together. For example:
- Jungle + Mid: You can easily rotate and pressure objectives together. The jungler can invade, trusting their midlaner to be ready to rotate, and the midlaner can communicate good gank setups and opportunities to catch roams.
- ADC + Support: Classic bottom-lane synergy, especially with good communication. A coordinated duo almost always beats a randomly queued up one. Focus on winning laning phase, then snowballing.
Avoid pairings like Top + ADC or Top + Support. You won’t interact much, and it’s harder to carry games that way.
Voice Chat
In solo queue, you're stuck typing or spamming pings. Besides the obvious issues with the ping system and the constraints of what you can communicate and what you can't, it's not rare for teammates to ignore a missing or danger ping, just because people spam it so much that it becomes noise.
Being able to speak directly lets you make faster and more informed decisions. Most of all, it keeps you alert. Did you know people are less likely to be toxic over voice chat?
Choose the Right Partner
Not every friend makes a good duo. Here’s what to look for:
- Same skill level or higher - MMR and duo queue constraints have tightened over the years, but you will still struggle as an Iron player if your duo is in high Silver.
- Keeps calm under pressure - Get yourself a buddy that can keep your mental positive.
- Communicates well - A quiet duo is not super ideal, or somebody who endlessly yaps about unrelated stuff.
If you’re competitive, it’s okay to duo with someone who isn’t a close friend. It removes the emotional pressure and lets you focus on climbing. And who knows? You might become friends along the way.
However, if you get a toxic partner, don’t worry about your own account. If your duo goes AFK or flames, they will be penalized with things like chat restrictions and low priority queue, not you.
Learn and Grow Together
Duo queue isn’t just about winning. It’s also a great way to improve as a player. Talk through mistakes. Review replays. Try new champ pairings. You can be each other's coach.
If you're serious about climbing, you can even consider duo coaching or hiring a booster to guide you while you play. But make sure you're learning, not just getting carried.
Conclusion
If you want to climb smarter, not just harder, duo queue is worth exploring. Just pick the right partner, stay cool under pressure, and keep your goals in check. Whether it’s winning LP or just improving your game, it helps to have someone in the fight with you.
And hey—if you’ve got a duo partner you click with, let us know who your favorite duo champs are below!
