Why Talented Gamers Get Hardstuck in League of Legends

Why Experienced Gamers Can Plateau in League of Legends

The video explains why experienced or naturally quick-learning gamers can get stuck in League of Legends. Prior success can help players climb quickly, but it can also create overconfidence: they may assume that playing more games or relying on their strengths will keep working. When they hit a plateau, they may blame teammates, matchmaking, or the game instead of examining their own decisions.

League is especially challenging because it is a five-player team game with a complicated, hard-to-read feedback loop. A player can win lane or perform well mechanically and still make decisions that hurt the team later. Small actions—such as showing on the map, missing a timing, or failing to support a teammate—can affect the rest of a match. Unlike games where one player can often take over through individual skill, success in League also means adapting to the game, understanding your role, and sometimes enabling teammates rather than being the star.

Skills from other games can give players a head start, but they do not replace learning League itself. For example, FPS experience may help with mechanics and skillshots, while team-based or role-based games can encourage supporting others. However, a player may reach a rank through a narrow set of strengths while having major gaps in their overall understanding. To progress further, they must recognize those gaps and become a student of the game.

The Psychological Side of a Plateau

Some talented players tie their rank to their identity, making replays and mistakes feel threatening. They may avoid reviewing games, play on tilt, or tell themselves they are not trying so that losses do not challenge their self-image. This can lead to frustration, toxicity, and an unhealthy relationship with the game.

Practical Advice

• Separate identity from behavior. Replace “I’m terrible” with a specific observation, such as “my Ezreal Qs were inaccurate.” Specific actions can be practiced and improved.
• Accept your current level. Your rank reflects how you are playing now; improving your behavior and decisions is what can change it.
• Review your games, especially emotional moments. Look at situations where you felt confused, angry, or afraid, and observe what happened without immediately judging yourself.
• Focus on learning rather than just climbing. Avoid relying on endless games, a single champion, or one strength if those habits are preventing you from building broader skills.
• Slow down and make decisions deliberately. Strong play does not require constant action. Sometimes the right choice is to wait, clear a wave, or avoid an unnecessary fight.
• Treat wins and losses as imperfect feedback. A win can hide mistakes, and a loss does not mean everything went wrong. Ask what you could learn from either result.
• Acknowledge good plays by teammates and opponents. This helps replace defensiveness with curiosity and makes it easier to learn from others.
• Build a healthier relationship with the game. Keep other parts of life—such as family, friends, work, or study—from being overshadowed by League.
• Pay attention to your habits. Whether you review, change champions constantly, or queue game after game can reveal your underlying attitude toward improvement.
• Find supportive people. A constructive community can make it easier to stay accountable and maintain a growth mindset.

The speakers stress that changing these habits is gradual, not instant. For some players, behaving as if they are open to learning—reviewing games, narrowing their champion pool, and treating others respectfully—can help them develop that mindset over time.

Gamers and Sources Featured

• Nathan Mott and Curtis — the podcast hosts, discussing their own experiences.
• Zaihu — a high-level World of Warcraft PvP player who struggled initially in League.
• Ludwig — cited as a skilled Super Smash Bros. player who faced a League plateau.
• Scribbles — a support player whose improvement after coaching is discussed.
• Miles — an academy student whose acceptance into medical school is mentioned.
• Shroud — mentioned in connection with reviewing game recordings.
• John Wooden — cited for his process-focused coaching philosophy.
• Mike Angelo — credited with the Rek’Sai-themed merchandise artwork.
• Other examples include an unnamed Urgot one-trick, an unnamed Master-tier Cassiopeia player, and players with backgrounds in World of Warcraft, Valorant, Overwatch, Counter-Strike, StarCraft, and fighting games.