Riot Points (RP) are the lifeblood of League of Legends cosmetics, but they can get expensive if you're not careful. Whether you're looking to buy skins, champions, or event passes, getting the most value from your RP is crucial. This guide will show you exactly how to stretch your RP further and get more bang for your buck.
Understanding RP Pricing
Before we dive into saving strategies, it's important to understand how RP pricing works. Riot Games offers RP in several denominations, with larger bundles offering better value per dollar.
| RP Amount | USD Price | RP per Dollar | Bonus RP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 650 RP | $5.00 | 130 RP/$ | - |
| 1380 RP | $10.00 | 138 RP/$ | - |
| 2800 RP | $20.00 | 140 RP/$ | - |
| 5000 RP | $35.00 | 143 RP/$ | +150 RP |
| 7200 RP | $50.00 | 144 RP/$ | +350 RP |
As you can see, the $50 bundle gives you the best value at 144 RP per dollar, plus an additional 350 RP bonus. That's nearly 15% more RP than if you bought the equivalent in $10 bundles.
Best Ways to Buy RP
1. Purchase Larger Bundles
As shown in the table above, buying larger RP bundles gives you more RP per dollar spent. If you know you'll be spending RP over time, it makes financial sense to purchase the largest bundle you can afford.
2. Use Gift Cards for Discounts
One of the best ways to save on RP is by purchasing League of Legends gift cards when they go on sale. Many retailers offer discounts of 10-20% on gift cards throughout the year:
- Amazon: Frequently offers $10 gift cards for $8-9 during sales
- Best Buy: Often includes gift cards as part of bonus promotions
- PayPal Digital Gifts: Regular discounts on various denominations
"I save an average of 15% on all my RP purchases by stocking up on discounted gift cards during sales. It adds up to hundreds of dollars saved each year." - Platinum-tier player
3. Take Advantage of Regional Pricing
RP prices vary by region due to currency exchange rates and local pricing strategies. Some players have found savings by:
- Purchasing RP through the Turkish or Brazilian servers (requires account region change)
- Using VPNs to access regional pricing (though this violates Riot's TOS)
- Gifting between accounts in different regions
Important: Some of these methods may violate Riot's Terms of Service. Proceed at your own risk.
Maximizing Your RP Value
Now that you've acquired your RP at the best possible price, here's how to make it go even further:
1. Wait for Sales
Riot regularly holds several types of sales that can save you RP:
- Weekly Sales: 30-50% off selected skins each week
- Your Shop: Personalized discounts up to 70% off
- Event Sales: Special discounts during major events
- End-of-Season Sales: Deep discounts at season's end
2. Purchase Bundles Instead of Individual Skins
Skin bundles often offer significant savings compared to buying items individually. For example:
| Bundle | Individual Price | Bundle Price | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Guardian 2025 Set | 12,620 RP | 9,900 RP | 2,720 RP (21.5%) |
| PROJECT: Overdrive Set | 10,290 RP | 7,950 RP | 2,340 RP (22.7%) |
| Battle Academia Set | 7,840 RP | 6,250 RP | 1,590 RP (20.3%) |
3. Use Hextech Crafting Wisely
The Hextech Crafting system allows you to earn skins and champions for free. To maximize its value:
- Disenchant duplicate champion shards for Blue Essence
- Reroll three skin shards into a permanent skin (great for cheap skins)
- Use Orange Essence to unlock skin shards you really want
- Save Gemstones for exclusive Hextech skins
4. Participate in Events
League's regular events often provide opportunities to earn free RP or discounted content:
- Complete event missions for free loot
- Earn tokens to redeem for skins or chromas
- Take advantage of event-specific discounts
- Purchase event passes for maximum rewards
Advanced RP Saving Strategies
For players looking to optimize every aspect of their RP spending:
1. The Skin Waiting Game
New skins are almost never discounted at release. By waiting 3-6 months, you can often:
- Find the skin in Your Shop for 30-70% off
- Catch it in a weekly sale
- Get it as part of a bundle
- Receive it from Hextech Crafting
2. Champion Shard Strategy
Instead of buying champions with RP:
- Use Blue Essence to buy champion shards when they're on sale
- Wait until you get the champion you want from a chest
- Use the shard to unlock the champion at a discount
This can save you thousands of RP over time.
3. Account Boosting
While controversial, some players create smurf accounts to:
- Take advantage of new player rewards
- Get better Your Shop discounts
- Earn easy chests in low-level games
Final Tips for RP Efficiency
- Set a monthly RP budget and stick to it
- Prioritize skins you'll actually use rather than collecting everything
- Take advantage of refund tokens for accidental purchases
- Consider gifting when there are bonus RP promotions
- Follow Riot's official channels for surprise giveaways
By combining these strategies, you can easily save 30-50% on your League of Legends cosmetics while still getting all the skins and content you want. Remember that the best value comes from patience and smart purchasing rather than impulse buys.