How can I play with a lower-ranked friend without hurting our rank?

[JoshuaST]

I’ve been grinding ranked with a friend who’s a full tier below me, and our matches feel completely unbalanced. We either stomp because I can carry, or we get crushed by coordinated duos who exploit the skill gap. It’s making me wonder if playing together is actually hurting both our ranks more than it helps.

[TimothyQR]

Yeah I know that feeling. When I’m carrying and my duo is behind, one bad mistake and the match tilts heavy. We’ll stomp a game, then get blown up by coordinated duos and it starts to feel hopeless. I tried sticking to one role and not overreaching, but the swings still hurt.

[GeorgeOB]

We experimented a bit: picking two comfort champs we both know inside out, and agreeing on a few micro calls before the game. It leveled the mood a bit, but the win rate didn’t budge and the stress was still there.

[VioletYW]

Is the real issue the gap, or how we react when the other side actually has a plan? I’m not sure we’ve found a way to stay calm after a loss.

[EricW]

I might try going solo for a while and then queueing together only when it really makes sense. Feels like a gamble either way, though.