What League Medals Are and Where to Find Them
League Medals are in-game rewards you earn by completing matches, challenges, or seasonal events in games that use a medal or ranking system. They function as progress markers — some games display them on your profile, others convert them into cosmetic items or currency, and some unlock new game modes or ranked tiers. The exact purpose depends on which game you're playing, because different titles handle medals differently.
Most games show your medal count in your profile menu, in a dedicated achievements or rewards section, or on a seasonal leaderboard. If you're unsure where yours appear, open the game's main menu and look for tabs labeled "Profile," "Achievements," "Rewards," "Stats," or "Season Pass." Some games also display medals next to your username during matches so other players can see your progress.
The path to earning medals is almost always the same: play matches, win games, complete specific objectives, or finish seasonal challenges. The speed at which you earn them depends on how often you play and which game mode you choose — ranked matches typically reward medals faster than casual play, but they also require more skill.
Key Takeaways
- League Medals appear in your profile or achievements menu and show progress toward seasonal rewards or ranked tiers.
- You earn medals by winning matches, completing in-game challenges, or reaching milestones in ranked or seasonal modes.
- Ranked matches and seasonal events reward medals faster than casual play, but require consistent wins or specific objective completion.
- Some games let you trade medals for cosmetics, battle pass progress, or currency, while others use them only as display achievements.
- Medals reset at the start of each season in most games, so your progress resets even if your account rank does not.
Playing Ranked Matches to Earn Medals Faster
Ranked matches are the fastest way to earn League Medals in most games because they reward you for every win and sometimes for individual performance. To enter ranked mode, open your game's main menu and select "Ranked," "Competitive," or "League Play" — the exact name varies by game. You will usually need to reach a minimum account level first, often between level 5 and level 20, which takes a few hours of casual play.
Once you enter ranked, you will be placed in a tier or division based on your first few matches. Each win moves you up and earns medals; each loss may cost you medals or keep your count flat depending on the game's system. The higher your tier, the more medals you earn per win, so climbing the ranks accelerates your medal gain over time. Expect to earn between 5 and 50 medals per ranked match, depending on your tier and whether you won or lost.
Ranked play requires you to stay in matches until they end — leaving early usually results in penalties like medal loss or temporary bans. Make sure you have 20 to 45 minutes free before you queue, depending on the game.
Completing Seasonal Challenges and Events
Most games release seasonal challenges every few weeks that reward medals for specific tasks — getting a certain number of kills, winning matches with a particular character, or reaching a score threshold. These challenges appear in a dedicated menu, usually labeled "Challenges," "Quests," "Missions," or "Battle Pass." Open that menu from the main screen and look for tasks that show a medal icon as the reward.
Seasonal challenges are often easier than ranked matches because they do not require you to win — you only need to complete the objective. For example, a challenge might ask you to deal 5,000 damage in five matches, which you can do even if you lose. This makes them a good option if you are still learning the game or prefer casual play. Most seasonal challenges reset weekly or monthly, so you can earn medals repeatedly from the same tasks.
Some games also run limited-time events tied to holidays or game anniversaries. These events usually have their own challenge list with higher medal rewards. Check your game's news or announcements section regularly to see when events are active, because they typically last only one to four weeks.
Understanding Medal Tiers and Seasonal Resets
Many games organize medals into tiers or levels — you might earn Bronze medals first, then Silver, then Gold, and so on. Each tier requires a set number of medals to unlock, and reaching a new tier often comes with a cosmetic reward like a badge or icon. Your game's profile or achievements menu will show your current tier and how many medals you need to reach the next one.
At the start of each new season (usually every month or quarter), your medal count resets to zero, even if you reached the highest tier the previous season. Your account rank and cosmetics do not reset, only your medal progress. This means you start earning from the beginning each season, which gives all players a fair chance to progress regardless of how much they played before.
Some games let you carry over a small bonus — for example, if you reached Gold tier last season, you might start the new season with 100 free medals. Check your game's patch notes or seasonal announcement to see if this applies to you.
Trading or Converting Medals Into Rewards
In some games, medals convert directly into cosmetics, battle pass progress, or in-game currency. In others, medals are display-only and do not unlock anything. To find out which applies to your game, open your profile and look for a "Redeem," "Shop," or "Rewards" button near your medal count. If one exists, you can click it to see what items are available for purchase with medals.
Games that let you trade medals usually have a rotating shop that changes weekly or monthly. Cosmetics in the shop might cost between 100 and 1,000 medals depending on rarity. Some games also let you convert medals into battle pass progress — for example, 50 medals might unlock one tier of your seasonal battle pass. Check the shop regularly to see what is available, because popular items sell out or rotate away.
If your game does not have a redemption option, medals serve only as a progress tracker and bragging right on your profile. They still count toward seasonal achievements and leaderboard rankings, but you cannot spend them on anything.
Avoiding Common Mistakes That Slow Medal Gain
The most common mistake is playing only casual matches when ranked matches reward medals much faster. If you have reached the minimum account level, switch to ranked even if you lose your first few matches — you will still earn medals for participation, and you will climb back up as you improve.
Another mistake is ignoring seasonal challenges. A single challenge might reward 50 to 200 medals for 15 minutes of work, whereas a ranked match takes 30 minutes and rewards only 10 to 20 medals if you lose. Completing all available challenges each week is often faster than grinding ranked play alone.
Leaving matches early also slows your progress because most games penalize you with medal loss or temporary bans that prevent you from playing ranked. Even if a match looks unwinnable, staying until the end protects your medal count and keeps you may be able to access to queue again when ready.
Finally, do not waste medals on cosmetics you do not want just to spend them. Medals reset each season anyway, so there is no penalty for sitting on them. Wait for items you actually like before redeeming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I lose medals if I lose a ranked match?
Most games subtract medals for losses in ranked play, though some only subtract from higher tiers. A few games use a system where losses do not cost medals but wins reward fewer medals if you are on a losing streak. Check your game's ranked rules in the main menu to see the exact penalty for your title.
Can I earn medals in casual or practice modes?
Casual matches usually reward medals, but at a much slower rate than ranked — often 1 to 5 medals per match instead of 10 to 50. Practice modes and training grounds typically do not reward medals at all. Stick to casual or ranked if you want to progress.
What happens to my medals when the season ends?
Your medal count resets to zero when a new season begins, but your cosmetics, account rank, and any seasonal rewards you unlocked stay on your account. Some games give you a small bonus of free medals in the new season based on how high you climbed the previous one.
Can I earn medals on mobile if I play the same game on console or PC?
If the game supports cross-platform play and your accounts are linked, medals usually count across all platforms. If the game keeps separate accounts for each platform, medals do not transfer — you earn them independently on mobile, console, and PC. Check your game's account settings to see if cross-platform linking is available.
Do medals matter for anything besides cosmetics?
In some games, medals unlock new game modes or ranked tiers. In others, they are purely cosmetic and appear only on your profile. A few games use medals to determine matchmaking — higher medal counts may match you with stronger opponents. Your game's help menu or ranked guide will explain what medals unlock in your specific title.