
How to improve FPS in League of Legends (PC)
League of Legends is one of the most-played games in the world and one of the best-optimized that exists. Hardware requirements are extremely low: even integrated graphics can run it. The bottleneck is almost always the CPU, especially during 5v5 teamfights with many simultaneous visual effects. This guide focuses on how to reach and maintain stable 144-240+ FPS in competitive play.
This is what you'd gain with a NVIDIA RTX 3050
Calculations based on our FPS model combined with the % gain of each setting (measured in public benchmarks). Calculate your exact FPS with your own hardware →
1. Quick wins (no visual loss)
Start here. Each one adds a little, but together they give +24% free FPS.
V-Sync
V-Sync adds unacceptable input latency in a competitive MOBA. Always off. G-Sync/FreeSync if the monitor supports it.
Frame Rate Cap
Capping FPS to your monitor's Hz prevents CPU/GPU from working unnecessarily and gives more stable framerate. With a cap of 144 or 240 FPS the game stays consistent.
Anti-Aliasing
AA in LoL has real CPU cost. Off gives more FPS in teamfights, though the image is slightly more aliased. For 240+ competitive FPS, Off is standard.
Wait for Vertical Sync (en cliente)
Make sure V-Sync is also disabled in the game client in addition to the launcher.
2. Medium impact settings
Here's where most of the FPS is. Minor visual impact, major performance impact.
Shadow Quality
Shadow Quality in LoL has a disproportionate CPU cost relative to its visual impact. Off gives the biggest FPS jump available in the game — standard in the competitive scene and high-level streamers.
Character Quality
Character Quality controls champion model detail. Medium is virtually indistinguishable from High in LoL's isometric view and saves CPU in teamfights.
Environment Quality
Environment quality (map, vegetation) at Medium vs High is very similar from the game's isometric camera perspective.
Effects Quality
Effects Quality controls the complexity of ability visual effects. Low helps significantly in teamfights with many champions. Medium is the balance between competitive and visual readability.
Texture Quality
Texture Quality has minimal FPS impact in LoL. Keep at Very High — the cost is minimal and the visual difference is noticeable.
3. Upscaling (DLSS / FSR / XeSS)
The biggest gain in the game. Compatible with almost any modern GPU.
Sin upscaling necesario
+0% FPSLeague of Legends doesn't need upscaling. The game has such low requirements that any modern discrete GPU far exceeds 144 FPS. If you have FPS issues, the bottleneck is the CPU or system configuration, not the GPU.
4. Tips by GPU
NVIDIA
- •NVIDIA Reflex (available in LoL since 2021): always enable 'On + Boost' for minimum input latency in competitive play.
- •You don't need a powerful GPU for LoL — even a GTX 1650 exceeds 240 FPS at 1080p with low settings.
- •If using a NVIDIA laptop, make sure LoL runs on the dedicated GPU (not integrated graphics) via NVIDIA Control Panel.
AMD
- •Anti-Lag (RDNA 2+) available to reduce input latency in LoL.
- •LoL is very light on AMD GPUs — if you have FPS drops in teamfights, the problem is the CPU, not the GPU.
- •On AMD laptops, verify the game uses the discrete GPU and not the iGPU.
Sistema
- •High Performance power plan in Windows: can give +5-10% FPS in teamfights, where LoL is most CPU-bound.
- •Closing the game client (lobby) while in-game frees RAM and CPU that the client unnecessarily occupies.
- •The most impactful upgrade for LoL is a faster single-core CPU. A new GPU barely changes FPS if the CPU is already the bottleneck.
5. Known game issues
FPS drops in teamfights with many visual effects
In 5v5 teamfights with particle-heavy champions (Syndra, Lux, Orianna), the CPU can momentarily saturate. Effects Quality Low mitigates the problem. It's a limitation of the game engine design.
Memory leak in the League client (lobby)
The League of Legends client (Riot Client) can accumulate memory in long sessions. Closing the client while in-game solves the problem.
Estado: Partially improved in 2024 (recurring)
Elevated input lag when using V-Sync
V-Sync in LoL adds input latency that's especially noticeable in a MOBA where each millisecond of ability timing matters. Always off in competitive.
6. Frequently asked questions
How many FPS does an RTX 3050 get in League of Legends?▾
Why do my FPS drop in teamfights?▾
What are the standard competitive settings?▾
Do I need a good GPU for LoL?▾
Calculations based on consensus of technical sources and our own FPS model. More about our methodology →