How to Join LoL Tournaments with a Prize Pool
Most LoL tournaments with a prize pool aren't accessible to solo players and the few that are usually disappoint. Here's what actually works.
Why Most LoL Tournaments Aren't Worth Your Time
Most "tournaments" you'll find are Discord events run by random communities. No guaranteed prize pool, erratic scheduling, no refereeing and at least three players who no-show. You've probably tried one. You know how it ends...
On the other end, LEC and Worlds are closed elite circuits. Great to watch but completely out of reach for anyone who isn't already a pro.
Between those two extremes, platforms like Amber.gg run structured competitions with real cash prize pools — open to any rank, no team required.
🎮 How Async Ladders Work
Bracket tournaments kill most players before they start: you need a full team, everyone needs to be free at the same time, and one loss ends your run. That's not how most people play League.
Amber.gg's async ladders work differently. You queue your normal ranked games, accumulate points across your sessions, and your score on the ladder reflects your performance over the full cycle.
No coordinated schedule. No team. You play the ranked games you were going to play anyway, the competition runs on top of that.
🏆 Daily, Weekly, Monthly — Choose Your Format
Three ladder formats, three different rhythms:
- Daily: Short cycles, fast payouts. For players who grind every day and want frequent shots at the prize pool.
- Weekly: More time to build your score. Better when your schedule is unpredictable.
- Monthly: Biggest prize pools, most competitive field. For players who want to maximize their edge across a full cycle.
You can enter multiple ladders simultaneously. Daily and Weekly at the same time, for example.
© Riot Games
Free Entry vs. Paid Ladders
Ticket ladders let you compete for free — no entry fee, just a ticket earned through the platform. The right way to test the format with zero risk before putting money on the line.
Paid ladders charge an entry fee: 1€, 5€, or 10€. The higher the fee, the bigger the prize pool. New users get a 5€ bonus on their first deposit of 10€, giving you 15€ to spread across ladders from day one.
Rank-Based Matchmaking: No Smurfs
The biggest issue with community tournaments is Diamond smurfs wrecking Silver brackets. Amber.gg prevents this by segmenting ladders by rank.
Gold players compete against Gold players. You don't need to outplay a Diamond, you need to outperform players at your level over the cycle. That's a contest you can actually win.
Role Ladders: Compete Where You're Strongest
Beyond standard ladders, there are role-specific and category competitions: support-focused ladders, jungle formats, and more.
If you're a support main, a support-only ladder changes the dynamic entirely. Your performance gets measured against other support players, not fed carries. Propose new formats in the Amber.gg community Discord, the community shapes what gets added.
✅ How to Join Your First LoL Ladder
The full process in under 10 minutes:
- Create your account on Amber.gg and link your League of Legends profile.
- Browse the ladder lobby, filter by game, format (Daily/Weekly/Monthly), and entry fee.
- Pick a free ticket ladder to start with zero risk.
- Play your ranked games normally. Your performance gets tracked automatically.
- Check your position on the ladder, the standings update in real time (every ~15min).
- Collect your prize at the end of the cycle if you finish in the payout zone.
You're not reserving a tournament slot, you're entering an ongoing competition that runs in parallel with your regular ranked grind.
For more context on how prize pools are structured, check out How to Make Money Playing League of Legends and How to Turn Your Gaming Skills into Real Money.
Sign up on Amber.gg and join your first LoL ladder, free to start, paid when you want to boost the prize pool.
