How long does it take to reach level 30?

Level 30 is the gate on ranked play, and getting there is the single most common reason people look for a second account. The honest answer is that it takes longer than most people expect, and the estimates circulating online are usually based on outdated XP curves.

Here is what it actually costs in hours, and where the numbers move.

The realistic number

A standard win in Summoner's Rift grants somewhere in the region of 180 to 220 XP depending on game length, with losses paying meaningfully less. Levelling from 1 to 30 needs roughly 28,000 XP in total.

That works out at approximately 130 to 160 games. At an average of 28 minutes per game, you are looking at **65 to 80 hours of play** — three to four weeks for someone playing a couple of hours a night, and that assumes you are not losing more than you win.

What speeds it up, and by how much

XP boosts from the store are the only legitimate accelerator that meaningfully changes the total. A duration boost multiplies the XP from every game for a set number of days, which suits concentrated play; a per-win boost suits scattered sessions. Used well, they shave perhaps a quarter off the total.

ARAM is frequently recommended as faster. It is not faster per hour — the XP rate is broadly comparable — but games are shorter, so it feels quicker and it is less mentally taxing. If you are levelling while doing something else, ARAM is the more sustainable grind.

Co-op versus AI is slower than it looks. It pays reduced XP specifically to discourage bot levelling, so what you gain in game length you lose in rate.

What you have at the end

Levelling naturally from 1 to 30 leaves you with somewhere around 20,000 to 25,000 Blue Essence from level-up capsules and champion shards, assuming you disenchant what you do not intend to play.

That is enough for a handful of champions, not a role's worth. It is also why accounts advertising 40,000 or more essence represent meaningfully more work than simply reaching the level cap — the level is the gate, but the essence is what makes an account actually usable.

Is it worth doing yourself?

If you enjoy the games, yes — you learn the champions you unlock and the time is not wasted. If you are grinding purely to reach a gate so you can play the mode you actually want, you are spending seventy hours on an administrative task.

That is the entire market this site exists in, and it is worth being clear-eyed about the trade: buying an account saves the hours but breaks Riot's Terms of Service, and a purchased account can be reclaimed. Levelling yourself costs the time and carries no such risk.

Common questions

Is there a fast way to level to 30?

Not legitimately beyond XP boosts and playing efficiently. Scripts and bots are the only genuine shortcuts, and they are what ban waves are built to catch.

How much Blue Essence do you get on the way to 30?

Roughly 20,000 to 25,000 if you disenchant shards you will not use. Accounts advertising 40,000 or more have had additional work put in beyond reaching the level.

Do you need level 30 to play ranked?

Yes, plus at least 20 champions owned. Both gates must be cleared before the ranked queue appears.

Regions covered here

North America

Europe Nordic & East

Turkey

Keep reading

More guides

How to smurf without getting banned

6 min read

The cheapest region to play League of Legends

5 min read

What is fresh MMR?

5 min read

SmurfVault

North America accounts

Europe West accounts

Europe Nordic & East accounts

Oceania accounts

Public Beta Environment accounts

Latin America North accounts

Latin America South accounts

SmurfVault is not endorsed by Riot Games and does not reflect the views or opinions of Riot Games or anyone officially involved in producing or managing Riot Games properties. Riot Games and all associated properties are trademarks or registered trademarks of Riot Games, Inc.

Account transfers are prohibited by Riot’s Terms of Service and purchased accounts can be suspended or reclaimed. Our lifetime replacement warranty is the extent of the protection we can offer.