Last Updated: September 2026
Champion Mastery finally works like a long-term record instead of a seven-level finish line. In the current League of Legends champion mastery system, levels are uncapped, Mastery Points track your experience, and Marks of Mastery prove you can hit the grades required by seasonal milestones.
The confusing part is that three progress bars overlap. Your Mastery Level persists forever, your seasonal milestones reset, and Battle Pass missions use those milestones for separate rewards. This guide sorts out all three using Riot's current rules, checked on live Patch 26.19 during Season 3.
⚡ Quick answer: Levels 1–4 need only Mastery Points. Levels 5–9 need points plus one Mark per level. Level 10 and every level after it need 11,000 more points plus two Marks. Mastery has no level cap.
Table of Contents
- How League of Legends champion mastery works
- LoL mastery levels and requirements
- How to earn Marks of Mastery
- How mastery grades are calculated
- Champion mastery rewards
- How to progress faster without chasing KDA
- Champion mastery FAQ
How League of Legends Champion Mastery Works
Mastery belongs to the champion, not your account rank. Every champion has a separate track, and finishing eligible matchmade games adds Mastery Points (MP) to the champion you played.
Riot calculates those points from your performance, your team's performance, game length, the result, and other factors. You can see the exact amount on the post-game Progression screen; Riot does not publish one fixed “MP per win” formula.
Your level never resets. Seasonal milestones do.
That distinction matters. If you finish a season at Mastery 14 on Ahri, the next season does not throw you back to level 1. Your Ahri milestone track refreshes so you can earn new Marks, while the permanent level and accumulated points stay put.
The official Champion Mastery guide{:target="_blank"} also gives premade groups a small MP bonus:
| Premade size | MP bonus |
|---|---|
| Solo | None |
| Two players | +2% |
| Three players | +4% |
| Four players | +6% |
| Five players | +10% |
The bonus is useful, but consistency is the real win. A steady duo can repeat the same lane setup, objective calls, and review routine instead of rebuilding coordination every lobby.
LoL Mastery Levels and Requirements
The modern system has no ceiling. Levels 1–10 change the crest, and level 11 onward keeps the level-10 crest while displaying your actual number.
| Mastery level | Additional requirement for that level | Cumulative MP after reaching it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Play the champion | Starts after your first eligible game |
| 2 | 1,800 MP | 1,800 |
| 3 | 4,200 MP | 6,000 |
| 4 | 6,600 MP | 12,600 |
| 5 | 9,000 MP + 1 Mark | 21,600 |
| 6 | 10,000 MP + 1 Mark | 31,600 |
| 7 | 11,000 MP + 1 Mark | 42,600 |
| 8 | 11,000 MP + 1 Mark | 53,600 |
| 9 | 11,000 MP + 1 Mark | 64,600 |
| 10+ | 11,000 MP + 2 Marks per level | Adds 11,000 each level |
Points do not disappear when Marks hold you back. If you have enough MP for level 8 but lack the required Mark, the game keeps banking your new points. Earn the Mark later and the system applies the level automatically.
This replaced the old Mastery 6 and 7 crafting flow. You no longer combine S-grade tokens with Blue Essence or champion shards to buy those upgrades; Patch 14.10 moved progression to uncapped levels and Marks.
At level 10, you permanently unlock that champion's title for your profile. If your goal is the title, plan for the full 75,600 cumulative MP plus the Marks required from levels 5 through 10.
⚠️ Watch out: Mastery level shows champion experience and repeated strong performances. It does not equal rank. A level-50 one-trick can still be Bronze, while a Master-ranked player may have a low level on an off-role pick. Our League rank distribution guide explains what rank measures instead.
How to Earn Marks of Mastery
Marks come from each champion's season milestones. You advance those milestones by earning the required post-game grade in a mode where League awards grades.
Riot's current milestone track is simple:
| Milestone | Grade requirement | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | One A- or higher | 1 Mark |
| 2 | One A- or higher | 1 Mark |
| 3 | One S- or higher | 2 Marks |
| 4 | One S- or higher | 2 Marks + crest highlighting |
| 5+ | Two S- or higher | 1 Mark, repeatable |
Milestones are sequential. An S- is strong enough for an earlier A- requirement, but one game only clears the milestone you are currently working on. Check the Mastery tab for that champion before queueing so you know whether tonight's target is A- or S-.
You can earn Mastery Points in all matchmade queues: Summoner's Rift normals, Ranked, ARAM, and rotating modes including Arena. Seasonal milestones require a queue that awards grades, which Riot currently lists as Summoner's Rift normal or Ranked and ARAM.
That means rotating modes can build MP without solving a Marks bottleneck. If the client shows enough points but your level is stuck, open the champion's milestone track before grinding another mode.
How Mastery Grades Are Calculated
League grades run from S+ down to D-. Riot compares your performance against players in your region using the same champion in the same position.
That last part is huge. Mid Annie and support Annie are not judged as if they have identical jobs. The comparison pool changes with the champion-position combination, so copying one universal CS or KDA target from a random post is a bad plan.
Riot does not publish the exact weighting. Kills, deaths, assists, farming, vision, objectives, game length, and role-specific contributions can all matter, but there is no honest calculator that can promise “get this KDA and receive an S.”
Use the grade as feedback, not as permission to grief the game. Refusing a winning objective to farm one more wave can hurt the team and still fail to produce the grade you wanted.
A better approach is to review the first repeatable leak:
- Lane: Are you dropping free CS, dying to the same gank timing, or taking trades with no wave advantage?
- Jungle: Are you clearing efficiently, showing up before objectives, and converting pressure instead of chasing kills?
- Support: Are you controlling vision and moving with a purpose instead of wandering for low-percentage roams?
- Teamfights: Are you entering from the right angle, using cooldowns on the correct target, and surviving long enough to do your job?
Fixing those patterns improves grades because it improves your games. The grade follows the performance—not the other way around.
Champion Mastery Rewards
Mastery is mostly a record and a flex, but the current system has several visible and seasonal rewards.
Permanent rewards include:
- Evolving mastery crests through level 10
- Your displayed mastery number from level 11 onward
- The champion's profile title at level 10
- The Mastery Emote at level 4+, used with Ctrl-6 or
/masterybadge - Mastery displays on loading screens, eligible multi-kill banners, and death recap
Season milestone progress also feeds Battle Pass missions. Riot currently awards 325 BXP for every three milestones, 500 BXP for reaching Milestone IV on a champion once per act, and additional BXP at 10, 20, and 30 milestones across champions.
Old guides may still promise Hextech Chests from champion milestones. That reward path is retired. The current mastery missions award Battle Pass XP, so do not build a chest-farming plan around a pre-2025 article.
The Patch 26.19 notes{:target="_blank"} confirm the live patch used for this review. Mastery rules can change independently of champion balance, so Riot's support guide—not an old token explainer—is the page worth bookmarking.
How to Progress Faster Without Chasing KDA
I believe the fastest honest mastery loop is boring in the best way: one champion, one role, one measurable fix, three-game blocks.
- Choose one champion-position pair. Grades compare that specific combination, and your review stays focused.
- Open the current milestone. Know whether you need A- or S- before game one.
- Set one process goal. Try “fewer than two deaths before 15 minutes” or “arrive 30 seconds before major objectives,” not “get an S.”
- Play three games with the same setup. Constant role and champion swaps destroy useful comparisons.
- Review the first preventable mistake. Fix the earliest bad recall, death, or missed objective—not the final fight after the game was already lost.
A regular duo makes the loop cleaner. You earn the +2% premade MP bonus, but more importantly, you get stable comms and someone who can spot the same repeated mistake across a session.
If you want structured feedback while building mastery, find a League teammate or coach on Tapin. Match the partner to your role and goal, then keep the review target consistent for the whole block.
Ranked players should also check the current duo rank restrictions before scheduling a session. If the ranks do not fit, normals and ARAM can still progress mastery without forcing either account into a bad queue.
Champion Mastery FAQ
Does League champion mastery reset each season?
No. Your Mastery Level and points persist between seasons and years. Only the champion's seasonal milestone track resets, giving you a fresh path to Marks and seasonal rewards.
Is champion mastery capped at level 7 or level 10?
Neither. Mastery levels are uncapped. Level 10 is the last unique crest design, and level 11 onward uses that crest with your actual level number displayed.
How do I get Marks of Mastery?
Complete the active seasonal milestone on that champion. Milestones 1 and 2 require A- or higher, milestones 3 and 4 require S- or higher, and repeatable milestone 5+ requires two S- or higher games.
Can I earn mastery in ARAM or Arena?
Yes, both can award Mastery Points because they are matchmade modes. ARAM also awards grades and can progress seasonal milestones; Arena builds points but does not currently qualify for milestone grades.
Do wins automatically give an S grade?
No. Riot grades your overall performance against regional players using the same champion and position. Winning affects Mastery Points, but it does not guarantee any specific grade.
Does mastery affect MMR or LP?
No. Mastery, rank, and matchmaking rating are separate systems. If your LP gains look strange, our League of Legends MMR guide explains the relationship between hidden MMR, visible rank, and LP.
Build Mastery That Actually Means Something
Points prove you put in the games. Marks prove you hit the seasonal performance gates. The level only moves when both pieces line up.
Pick one champion, check the active milestone, and review one repeatable mistake per block. The crest will climb—and your actual play should climb with it.
