Have you ever wondered what it would be like to dive into the bustling ranks of League of Legends from a different corner of the world? The allure of new challenges and unique players awaits, but navigating the path to change your gaming region can feel like trying to find a needle in a haystack. In 2024, the journey is less daunting with simple strategies that can transport you beyond geographical boundaries. Join us as we unravel the secrets to switching regions, ensuring you’re not just playing the game, but embracing a whole new arena of excitement.
A Comprehensive Guide on Changing Your League of Legends Region in 2024
- Choose a VPN Service.
- Install the VPN Application on Your Device.
- Connect to a Virtual Private Network Server.
- Create a New League of Legends Account.
- Enjoy Playing League of Legends in Your New Region.
Riot Games has established itself as a leading name in the gaming industry, known for popular titles like League of Legends and Valorant. While these games enjoy immense popularity and positive reviews, they do face certain drawbacks.
Specifically for League of Legends (LoL), players find themselves tied to their designated region upon account creation. Once set, there is no straightforward way to shift your region, which may lead to being assigned to a server that doesn’t meet your preferences or has its own set of challenges.
Additionally, if you have friends who are gaming from different countries or continents, the region lock can become a significant hurdle, making it difficult to play together. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to change your region in League of Legends and address these limitations.
Before we dive in, let’s clarify the two distinct methods available: using a VPN and creating a fresh League of Legends account, or paying for a location change while retaining your existing account. We will explore both options in detail.
Changing Your League of Legends Region Using a VPN
Let’s start with the first and arguably the superior method—utilizing a VPN. This method is akin to what we previously did for changing the region in Valorant. When you create a new account in LoL, the game detects your IP address, which reveals your geographical location.
This information leads to the automatic assignment of your account to that specific region. To get around this, your goal is to employ a VPN that masks your real IP, substituting it with a new one from another country, thereby tricking the game into thinking you are in a different location.
The benefit of this approach is that you won’t have to pay Riot Games for a region switch. However, you will incur costs for the VPN service itself, but most reputable providers offer at least a 30-day money-back guarantee, which makes it a worthwhile investment.
Now that you understand the theory, let’s detail the practical steps to change your League of Legends region using a VPN.
1. Choose a VPN Service
The initial step involves signing up for a reliable VPN service. It’s advisable to avoid free options as they often come with limitations in terms of monthly bandwidth and provide slower speeds—both of which can hinder your gameplay experience due to increased ping times.
I recommend NordVPN, known as one of the best options for gamers, offering lightning-fast 10 Gbps speeds and over 6,300 servers distributed across 110 locations without bandwidth constraints. Although not free, the provider currently offers a significant 65% discount on its 24-month plan, including extra free months.
This reduces the cost considerably, and NordVPN also provides a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to request a refund if desired. You could think of this as a risk-free trial of their services.
Follow through with the link above to access their best deal, log in, and proceed to the next step.
2. Install the VPN Application on Your Device
Next, let’s move on to the installation of NordVPN. League of Legends is compatible with both Windows and macOS, so ensure you download the appropriate setup file from NordVPN’s official website and install it on your system.
Once the setup is complete, launch the application by clicking the icon on your desktop. Sign in using the credentials from the previous step; if everything checks out, you will land on the app’s main interface, indicating it’s ready for use.
3. Connect to a VPN Server
The third step involves changing your IP address to that of another country via NordVPN. Determine which region you want for League of Legends. For instance, if you wish to connect to the US region, you need to acquire a US IP address.
Alternatively, if you’re aiming to join Japanese servers, securing a Japanese IP address will be essential before proceeding with account creation. Browse the server list, select your desired country, and connect.
As displayed, I connected to a server located in the USA, thereby acquiring a US IP address. This effectively deceives the game into believing I’m situated in that country.
4. Create a New League of Legends Account
If you haven’t installed League of Legends yet, do so from their official site. If the game is already installed, simply open it and proceed to create a new account, utilizing a different email address while keeping NordVPN active. DO NOT disconnect from the server during account creation—this is crucial!
While signing up, League of Legends will automatically recognize your selected location through NordVPN and assign your account accordingly.
5. Enjoy Playing League of Legends in Your New Region
Once your new account is created, be sure to verify it through your email, and log in as necessary. Click on ‘Play’ to launch the game. You will now have full access to servers within your newly selected region, allowing you to play without restrictions—enjoy the gaming experience!
Keep in mind, however, starting fresh means you’ll lose all previous achievements, progress, RP, skins, etc. This new account also means you’ll need to rebuild your friends list, so be prepared to reconnect.
This method essentially requires you to start anew, which can be a significant downside. Nonetheless, it does allow for a change to your desired League of Legends country. The alternate method we will cover, however, has limitations that make this one more appealing in most scenarios.
Changing the League of Legends Region Without a VPN
If you have invested substantially in your account, amassing numerous skins and achievements, you may want to hold on to that progress. Riot Games does offer a way to change your region without needing to create a new account through the use of in-game currency known as RP.
This RP can be obtained with real money, costing approximately 2,600 RP (around $20) for an account region change. Though your skins remain safe, here’s what you will lose in the process:
- Mission progress
- Victory points
- Clash progress
- Ranked League Placement
- Honor level
The upside is that you retain your XP level and all skins without needing a VPN. Here’s the process to change your League of Legends region in this manner:
- Access the in-game store and purchase RP via PayPal, credit/debit card, Skrill, or another payment method. Keep in mind, you will need 2,600 RP as indicated at the time of writing, so ensure you purchase the correct amount.
- In the store, click on the Account icon.
- You will see multiple account transfer options, all priced the same. You can transfer your account to regions like Latin America North, Russia, Turkey, North America, and more.
- Select your desired new region, complete the purchase with RP, and your account will shift to that region almost instantly.
Is There a Downside?
<pWhen considering a region change in League of Legends, it’s crucial to note a significant catch. The game confines your ability to move your account to certain specified regions based on where you’re currently playing.
For example, if you’re using a Russian account and wish to switch directly to Latin America, you may encounter restrictions. Instead, you will need to first transition to North America and then to Latin America.
This process effectively doubles your transfer costs, meaning each account switch costs $20 or 2,600 RP, totaling $40 for a simple transfer. Additionally, players from Asian countries like China and South Korea face even more difficulties as they must provide documentation proving residency in the respective countries. However, utilizing a VPN solves these complications, allowing you to register an account from any country without barriers.
Your Top VPN Choices for League of Legends in 2024
When selecting a VPN service for League of Legends, focusing on low-latency gaming, DDoS protection, and the ease of changing your account region is vital. Let’s review five of the top VPNs suitable for enhancing your gaming experience.
1. NordVPN
Advantages:
- Meshnet feature for secure LAN party hosting/joining
- Utilizes NordLynx protocol for excellent performance
- Offers over 110 server locations worldwide
- Included Dark Web Monitor feature
- Threat Protection included
- Double VPN server option available
Disadvantages:
- Higher costs in certain regions due to added taxes
- Occasional connection issues
NordVPN stands out as my top choice. My experience with this service has been consistently positive, allowing for smooth region changes in League of Legends on numerous occasions. With unlimited bandwidth, impressive server speeds, and an extensive network of over 6,300 servers, NordVPN is a reliable option.
The security features included, such as DDoS protection, encryption of your connection, and robust measures against unauthorized access, are crucial for any gamer. The service utilizes 256-bit encryption combined with the proprietary NordLynx protocol, ensuring security while providing the speed necessary for competitive gaming.
NordVPN also has a unique Threat Protection functionality, which blocks ads, malware, and viruses, as well as a fascinating Meshnet feature tailored for creating and joining secure LAN parties, particularly useful when teaming up with friends in League of Legends.
