How does thelate-join ranking work?

[Vicious Biscuit]

Now, I haven't played this in months, since I migrated to League I've had little reason/time to play this.

Now that being said I just picked it back up the other night, and somethings been bugging me, I rarely join a fresh game (since there is no choice in the matter) and have always been thrown into a on-going game. The issue here is that 9/10 times your join the side that is loosing no doubt to rage quitters. The thing is, this happened to me a couple games ago and the moment I join the other 2 members quit, so it was just me and 2 bots against 3 human players. Needless to say it didn't last much longer.

So after the loss I wen't down a league. I'm finding it hard to see how its fair i'm being penalized for the previous players downfall.

[Mr. noob]

happens to me all the damn time. And if the disadvantage is too grave, I leave instantly. It's something that shouldn't even exist in the game..

[R]

I'm almost certain, though I won't google it for you, that it is partially based on how much time you spent in a match. Near starts of the season, I've experienced a few too many late joins just to be demoted, but late in the season - I remember having a horrible string of late joins where my placement hardly move.

[Rainbow Dash]

it does not work, that's the problem. sometimes it's better for your ranking that you leave rather than stay in the 3v0 you've just been droped in while your base is under attack

[Sexy Iron Maiden]

It depends on the playerbase around you. If you are playing at non peak times (8pm) it would be best to change your search setting to further afield.

Also they are working on matchmaking and networking now.