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Hey everyone. First an introduction.
I played on a crappy laptop all my life. I was Plat for 3-4 years before I quit the game for college. After a 3 year hiatus I finished college. Got a job. Finally with some money in my pocket I built a top of the line PC. I always thought my laptop was holding me back, and now was the time to really play the game, and see how far I can go. COVID-19 happens and were in forced quarantine, job cancelled. So now I’m kicked into full gear playing a lot.
I am a jungle main. I watched high elo streamers vods. I watched my replays constantly. Learned jungle paths. And also had to relearn the entire game with all the champions added or reworked during my 3 year absence.
500 games into my grind, I hit D1. I am now stuck around D1 for eternity. This was a nightmare. Being Hardstuck in D1 for so many games is so toxic. Everyone just continuously mocks you. “900 games D1 hardstuck, haha!” Even if they’re 50 winrate, and are hardstuck themselves, as long as you got more games on them, they will mock you. However, I didn’t let the toxicity stop me. I just wanted to hit grandmasters!!!
Finally after 800 more games, 1.3k total, I finally break out and peak Grandmasters 44 LP. WOOHOOO I DID IT! I Can’t wait to tell my friends I did it!! (Btw as a side remark, someone told me I was “1.3k games stuck low masters” in a game once. So it didn’t even stop after diamond.)
Here were my friends reactions. I mained Olaf by the way.
Friend A) Congrats man! After so many games I would have hoped you hit it.... (Condescending tone)
Friend B) Haha, yeah man OLAF is OP!! You really coinflipped your way up there, huh. I picked up OLAF recently, he’s super strong!
Friend C) Congrats man, really wish I could play as much as you!
Now this guy is in a league of his own, he’s my best friend as well. It’s his first season, and he’s 200 games Silver. Just for background info
Friend D)
Here are our convos. It started with me telling someone I peaked masters.
Him: Kinda cringe you even mention masters, you just coin flipped a win streak”
Me: I understand after so many games im bound to eventually touch it. But my initial goal was to just hit it, I knew I couldn’t maintain it. I maintained D1 though, so that’s good in of itself.
Him: Yeah but you played 1.3K games it’s basically just a coinflip
Me: Wait a second. I hit D1 after 500 games, and I maintained it for months. It’s not called coinflip if you maintain a rank!
Him: No, you coin flipped your way up there, but once you’re up there you actually got to that skill level, and could maintain it. But you coinflipped initially
Me: Wait. So do you think anyone can just coinflip to D1 after so many games? What about Masters or Challenger?
Him: No just up to D1. Past that is where it’s on you
Me: Bro. You don’t even know the ranking system, it’s your first season. I understand streamers make fun of Diamond, but they’re challengers. They’re top 100 players. Diamond 1 is still top .1%. People have played as much games as me for multiple seasons, and never hit diamond, let alone diamond 1. If 100 people study for an exam same amount of time, will all 100 score in top .1%??
Him: Games are different man
I was so irritated. So not only were the players toxic during my climb. But even my friends were going through mental gymnastics to not give me props, and just giving a backhanded compliment.
I decided to make a new account and show them that I could get D1 with a high winrate. So, although I may have trouble getting past D1. I am not “coinflipping” my way up there. I was 28-2, and then it hit me.
f*ck this sh*t. What the f*ck is the point. What am I playing for here.
Couple takeaways
Streamers denigrating the ranks of others while constantly smurfing is damaging. It gives community a warped sense of what a rank means.
Set your own goals for yourself only, and don’t hope to be given any kind of “props”.
Honestly. Unless you plan on going pro, or trying to kick off streaming career. It just isn’t worth it. To get to a high rank requires so much dedication for most people. If you just enjoy climbing for yourself, have at it.
In conclusion. For me. It wasn’t worth it. I was playing for some kind of validation for myself from others. Some type of glory at the end of it. It didn’t happen. 1.3K games in 4 months. You can just imagine the hours. I gained 20 lbs. Look like a hobo. Got mocked. I have now quit for good.
However, on a final note, playing with and against Pros/streamers is actually pretty cool. I loved watching past vods after game and seeing streamer/chat reactions. That was one thing I enjoyed.
Peace ✌️
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