Smurf means an experienced player who uses a new or lower-ranked account, instead of their main, to play against weaker opponents. "Smurfing" is the act of doing it.
A smurf account is a kind of alt account. The word is about intent and skill gap: a veteran on a fresh account is rated as a beginner by SBMM, so they win easily until the system raises their rating.
How players use it
- "That guy is clearly a smurf, 30-2 in his first game"
- "Report the smurf, he has 2 hours on the account"
- "I'm smurfing tonight to play with my lower-rank friend"
- "Smurfs ruin placements"
Why players smurf
Reasons vary and are not all malicious:
- Playing with friends. A high-rank player wants to queue with friends at a lower rank. Many games limit the rank gap in parties, which can push players toward alts.
- Trying a new role or character without risking the main's rating.
- Avoiding a stressful lobby. Some players want a relaxed game.
- Trolling or farming wins. The version that gives smurfing its bad reputation.
Smurfing and the rules
Policies differ by game, so check the one you play. Riot Games, publisher of League of Legends and Valorant, draws the line clearly:
- Valorant. Riot's July 2026 "Playing Fair" post allows an alternate account "that you created and leveled yourself", but forbids sharing, buying, borrowing or stealing accounts, "artificially lowering your rank by any means", and queueing with someone who does. Penalties include suspensions, rank and reward reversions, and permanent bans for repeated abuse.
- League of Legends. Since patch 25.18 (September 2025), Riot targets account selling, account sharing, boosting and duo boosting, while stating that legitimate alts are safe. Penalties can now carry over to a player's linked accounts.
In short: a second account you made and play yourself is usually tolerated, but deranking, buying accounts or using an alt to boost someone is not.
Policies, penalties and enforcement change, so rely on the game's current terms of service rather than forum summaries. See also boosting.
How games fight smurfs
Common tools are phone or multi-factor verification, faster rating adjustment on new accounts, linked-account penalties, and separate queues for new accounts. The extent differs by game.
Related terms
- SBMM: the system smurfs exploit.
- Boosting: raising someone's rank unfairly.
- Elo hell: being stuck in a rank.
- Solo queue: where smurfs are most felt.
FAQ
Is smurfing bannable?
It depends on the game and on what you do. Riot, for example, allows an alt you created yourself but bans buying, sharing or boosting accounts, and Valorant also forbids deliberately lowering your rank. Read the current terms of service of your game.
Why is it called a smurf?
The most widely cited account traces it to Warcraft II in the mid-1990s: two well-known players, tired of opponents avoiding them, created new accounts named PapaSmurf and Smurfette, after the Smurfs cartoon. The name stuck for any strong player hiding on a fresh account.
How do I tell if someone is a smurf?
Look for very low account level or playtime with strong performance. A reliable call is hard, so use the report function and avoid accusing people in chat.