LoL Apex Tier Reset Explained: 26.9 Master+ Wipe Guide

Riot reset Master, Grandmaster, and Challenger ranks across six regions on April 28. If you grinded to Apex Tier this season in NA, EUW, EUNE, BR, LAN, or TR, you woke up at Diamond I, 0 LP. Here is what actually got reset, why Riot did it, and the fastest way back up.

What is the LoL Apex Tier Reset?

The LoL Apex Tier Reset is a partial rank wipe applied to all Master, Grandmaster, and Challenger players in NA, EUW, EUNE, BR, LAN, and TR as of patch 26.9 on April 28, 2026. Affected players drop to Diamond I, 0 LP. Hidden MMR stays the same, so the climb back is faster than starting over. Diamond IV and below players are not affected.

Korea, China, and the rest of Asia did not get the reset. Riot has not said whether those regions will get one later this year.

Why Riot reset the top of the ladder

The short answer: rank inflation. The skill needed to reach Master in 2026 had drifted lower than it was in 2024, while the visible LP threshold stayed the same. Riot’s data showed the top 0.1% of players had crept toward something more like the top 0.4%.

A few things contributed:

• Small inconsistencies in matchmaking compounded over time
• Decay timing changes from earlier patches let inactive players hold high ranks longer
• More high-MMR alt accounts pushed legitimate players up via win-trade chains
• Grandmaster and Challenger slot expansion diluted the top end

The reset pulls the ladder back into shape. It is not the first time Riot has done this, but it is the first since 2022, and the messaging this time suggests it might happen on a regular cadence going forward.

What stays the same

This is a partial reset, not a full one. Preserved:

• MMR, your hidden matchmaking rating
• Champion mastery levels and points
• Honor level and progression
• Ranked rewards from the previous split, already locked in
• Champion pool data that matchmaking uses

What gets reset:

• Visible rank, down to Diamond I, 0 LP
• Leaderboard position, top 200 in each region opens up
• Series records, any active promo series clears
• Sub-tier progression, you start fresh in D1

How to climb back fast

If you were Apex Tier before April 28, your hidden MMR is still high. Matchmaking will pair you with players at your real skill level, which means LP gains should be larger than what a normal Diamond player sees.

The fastest path:

• Play your strongest champions, no flexing or experimenting
• Queue off-peak hours, fewer ex-Master players in the pool
• Stop after three losses in a session, tilt is the LP killer
• Aim for 65%+ winrate over thirty games

Most active Apex Tier players will be back at their old rank within two to three weeks. Players who only queue once a week will take longer.

What about Diamond climbers

This is where the reset gets controversial. Diamond I players grinding toward Master before the patch are now competing in matchmaking against thousands of ex-Apex Tier players also sitting at Diamond I. The MMR weighting means legitimate Diamond climbers will not see ex-Masters in their games as often as the rank itself suggests, but the LP economy gets noisy for a few weeks.

Expect odd matchups, some swingy LP gains and losses, and generally more volatility than usual until the system settles. Riot estimates rank distribution should normalize by mid-May.

Will this happen every season

Riot has not confirmed Apex Tier resets as a regular feature, but their /dev post strongly implies it. They explicitly mentioned wanting to keep rank distribution aligned with skill levels over time, which means repeated resets when drift gets too large.

If the cadence holds, the next one should land at the start of the 2027 season. For the official reasoning and the full data Riot used to justify the reset, their Apex Tier Ranked Reset post covers it in detail.

Apex Tier Reset FAQ

When did the Apex Tier Reset happen? April 28, 2026, with patch 26.9.

Did my MMR reset too? No. Hidden MMR is preserved. Only visible rank and LP reset.

Do I keep my Master+ rewards? Yes. Rewards from the previous split are locked in.

Is Korea getting the reset? Not in patch 26.9. Riot has not confirmed Korea or China will get one later in 2026.

How long until I climb back? Two to three weeks for active players who are genuinely Apex Tier-level. Longer for players who reached it through grinding rather than skill.
For ranked strategy, champion guides, and patch impact analysis through the rest of the season, our LoL news section and the broader LoL section cover it.