You just spent 35 minutes watching a 0/12/0 Draven run down mid because the support accidentally took one melee minion at level two. We've all been there. You click that little red exclamation mark at the end of the game, type "inter" in the box, and hit send. But then? Nothing. You play another game, and half the time, you don't even get that satisfying "Instant Feedback" pop-up. Honestly, it feels like shouting into a void sometimes.
Reporting a player in League of Legends in 2026 isn't just about clicking a button anymore. Riot has changed the plumbing behind the scenes quite a bit. If you want to actually clean up your games, you need to understand how the automated systems—and the new 2026 lobby interventions—actually "think."
How to Report a Player in League of Legends Right Now
Most people think you can only report someone in the post-game lobby. That's old school. Since the updates leading into the 2026 season, Riot has spread the "report a player League" functionality across the entire match lifecycle.
1. The Pre-Game (Lobby Hostage Intervention)
This is the big one for 2026. If someone in Champion Select starts threatening to "disco Nunu" or says they're going to grief because their main was banned, you don't have to wait for the game to start. Hover over their name and click the exclamation mark.
In early 2026, Riot fully rolled out the Lobby Hostage Intervention system. If the system detects a "bad actor" (someone explicitly threatening to ruin the game), the lobby can actually be terminated before it even starts. It’s not a vote-kick, but it’s the closest we’ve ever gotten.
2. In-Game Reporting (The "Live" Method)
Don't wait until you're tilted at the defeat screen. You can report someone while the Draven is still running it down.
- Hold Tab to open the scoreboard.
- Click the red exclamation icon next to the offender.
- Select the categories.
- Pro Tip: If you select "Verbal Abuse," the system often auto-mutes them for you immediately.
3. Match History (The "I Forgot" Method)
Ever leave a game so fast out of rage that you forgot to report the person who caused it? You have a 5-day window. Go to your Profile, then Match History, right-click the player's name, and hit report.
Why Your Reports Aren't Working (And What to Change)
Most players sabotage their own reports. Riot’s automated disciplinary system handles thousands of games a minute. It’s looking for patterns, not just feelings.
Stop selecting every single category. It’s tempting. You're mad, so you check "Negative Attitude," "Verbal Abuse," "Feeding," and "Hate Speech" all at once. Don't do that. Riot’s support documentation is pretty clear: selecting every category doesn't make the report "stronger." In fact, it can dilute the system’s focus. If they were typing slurs, pick "Hate Speech." If they were just being a jerk, pick "Verbal Abuse." Accuracy helps the bot find the evidence faster.
The "Comment Box" Secret
Does anyone actually read those comments? Mostly, no—at first. The AI scans them for keywords, though. Instead of writing "this guy is a loser," write something objective.
"Died at 4:00, then followed jungler around stealing camps for the rest of the game."
That gives the system specific timestamps and behaviors to verify against the game logs.
New 2026 Standards: Smurfing and Rank Manipulation
As of the 2026 season, the report menu has some new faces. Rank Manipulation and Smurfing are now explicit categories.
But wait—Riot clarified this. Simply having a second account isn't going to get someone banned. They are looking for "Boosting" and "Hitchhiking." * Boosting: A high-rank player playing on a low-rank account to raise its standing.
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- Hitchhiking: A high-rank player duo-queuing with a low-rank friend specifically to inflate the friend's MMR.
If you see a Level 32 account with a 98% win rate on Rengar in Diamond, that’s what the "Rank Manipulation" button is for. It triggers a check on the account's hardware ID (HWID) and IP history to see if it’s a bought account or a booster.
What Actually Happens After You Hit Send?
The moment you click "Report Player," the data goes to the Instant Feedback System. This thing is fast. Usually, within 15 minutes of the game ending, a decision is made.
The system cross-references:
- Chat Logs: It searches for flagged words and "sentiment analysis" (is the person being generally miserable?).
- Match Data: It looks at movement patterns. Did the player stand still for 5 minutes? Did they click directly into the enemy fountain repeatedly?
- Report History: A single report from one person rarely results in a perma-ban (unless it's hate speech). However, if someone is reported in 4 out of their last 5 games, the system flags them for a much harsher penalty.
The Penalty Escalation
Riot doesn't usually go straight to the "Ban Hammer" unless it's a severe offense like scripting or racism. Typically, it looks like this:
- 1st Offense: 3-day chat restriction.
- 2nd Offense: 7-day chat restriction.
- 3rd Offense: 14-day ban and Honor Level reset to 0.
- 4th Offense: Permanent ban.
Common Misconceptions That Get You Reported Instead
"Report x9 this Lux please!"
We've all seen this in all-chat. Stop doing it. First of all, "Report calling" is actually a reportable offense itself under "Harassment" or "Disruptive Behavior." It derails the game and makes you look like the toxic one.
Second, it doesn't even help. One report is enough to trigger a system review. Getting nine people to report one player doesn't multiply the "strength" of the report by nine. The system just needs a "signal" that something went wrong. Once the signal is there, the bot does the investigation.
Bad Games vs. Intentional Feeding
The system is surprisingly good at telling the difference between a 0/10/0 top laner who is trying but getting dove, and a 0/10/0 top laner who is ghosting into the enemy turret. If you report someone for "Intentional Feeding" just because they lost lane, your "Report Trust Score" might actually drop.
Yes, Riot tracks how accurate your reports are. If you report everyone in every game, the system starts to weigh your reports less heavily. Use the button when it's actually deserved.
Actionable Steps for a Cleaner Game
If you're serious about dealing with a toxic player, follow this checklist to ensure the system actually takes action:
- Mute Immediately: The second someone says something "off," use
/mute allor/mute [player]. If you argue back, the system sees two toxic players, and you might get penalized along with them. Retaliation is never a valid defense in Riot's eyes. - Capture Evidence for Support Tickets: For extreme cases (like streamers being targeted or severe stalking), the in-game report isn't enough. Take a screenshot or record a clip and submit a manual ticket at the Riot Support Website.
- Check Your Feedback: If you get an Instant Feedback Report, it means your report was the one (or one of the ones) that triggered the ban. Use that as a guide for what "valid" reporting looks like.
- Be Specific in the Box: Use words like "AFK," "Slur," "Scripting," or "Running down mid." These are the "tags" the automated system prioritizes.
The 2026 season has given us more tools than ever to report a player in League, especially with the pre-game lobby intervention. Using them correctly—instead of just using them when you're angry—is the only way the community actually gets better.