What is L9 in League of Legends?
The infamous toxic tryhard club that dominated EUW high elo and became a symbol of skill, toxicity, and permabans.
If you've spent any time in high elo EUW or watched League streams, you've probably heard of L9. It's a name that carries weight — some people respect it, some people hate it, but everyone knows what it represents.
L9 was a group of insanely skilled players who were also insanely toxic. They'd run it down if you made a mistake, they'd flame you in all chat, and they'd still somehow carry the game. They were the ultimate tryhards, and they didn't care about getting banned because they'd just buy another account and do it again.
Here's the full story of L9, who the members were, and why it became such a big deal in League culture.
What Does L9 Stand For?
L9 stands for "Low Nine" — a reference to the group's original name and their playstyle. The "9" represents the number of players they'd carry (their 4 teammates + the enemy team), and "Low" refers to their low tolerance for mistakes.
The group was founded around 2015-2016 on the EUW server and quickly became infamous for two things:
1. Being mechanically insane (most members were Challenger or high Master) 2. Being extremely toxic (flaming, running it down, griefing if teammates played badly)
L9 wasn't a professional team or an official organization. It was just a group of friends who played together, dominated solo queue, and didn't care about the consequences.
Famous L9 Members
RatIRL (Ap0calypse)
The most famous L9 member. RatIRL was a Twitch OTP who hit Challenger with insane mechanics and zero filter. He'd flame his teammates, run it down if they made mistakes, and still somehow win games. He's since reformed (mostly) and streams full-time with 500K+ followers.
Obsess
Another Twitch main and one of the original L9 members. Obsess was known for his aggressive playstyle and his willingness to int if his team didn't play around him. He's less active now but was a core part of the L9 identity.
SELFMADE (Selfmademan)
Yes, the same SELFMADE who went pro. Before joining Fnatic and SK Gaming, SELFMADE was an L9 member known for his jungle mechanics and his toxic attitude. He's since cleaned up his act and had a successful LEC career.
Pornstar Zilean (PSZ)
Not technically an L9 member, but closely associated with the group. PSZ was a Nunu/Zilean OTP who would run it down if his team didn't play perfectly. He was permabanned dozens of times and became a meme in the League community.
Why L9 Became So Popular
L9 wasn't just about being toxic — it was about being good while being toxic. These players would flame you, run it down mid, and then 1v9 carry the next game. They didn't care about bans because they'd just buy another account and climb back to Challenger in a week.
The L9 playstyle became a meme in the League community:
- Tryhard mentality — If you're not playing to win, you're griefing
- Zero tolerance for mistakes — One bad play and they'd run it down
- Mechanical skill — Most L9 members were Challenger-level players
- No fear of bans — They'd get permabanned and be back in high elo the next day
L9 represented a specific type of League player: the toxic tryhard who's so good that they can get away with it (until Riot bans them).
The L9 Playstyle
Aggressive, High-Risk, High-Reward
L9 players were known for their hyper-aggressive playstyle. They'd invade level 1, fight for every scuttle crab, and take every 50/50 fight. If it worked, they'd snowball and 1v9. If it didn't, they'd run it down and go next.
Mechanical Outplays
L9 members were insanely skilled mechanically. RatIRL's Twitch plays, SELFMADE's jungle pathing, Obsess's teamfight positioning — these players could outplay anyone in high elo.
Mental Warfare
L9 players would tilt their opponents by flaming in all chat, spamming emotes, and running it down if they were losing. The goal was to break the enemy team's mental and make them FF at 15.
The Downfall of L9
Riot eventually cracked down on L9. Most of the core members were permabanned multiple times, and Riot started hardware banning repeat offenders. RatIRL reformed and became a full-time streamer. SELFMADE went pro. Obsess faded into obscurity.
L9 as a group doesn't really exist anymore, but the culture lives on. You'll still see players with "L9" in their name, copying the playstyle and the attitude. Some of them are actually good. Most of them are just toxic.
Warning: Don't copy the L9 playstyle. Running it down and flaming your teammates will get you permabanned. Riot doesn't care if you're Challenger — toxicity is toxicity.
L9 in Modern League
L9 is mostly a meme now. The original members have either reformed, gone pro, or quit League. But the name still carries weight in high elo EUW.
If you see someone with "L9" in their name, they're either:
1. A tryhard who thinks they're the next RatIRL 2. A toxic player who's about to run it down 3. Someone who just thinks the name sounds cool
The real L9 era is over, but the legend lives on.
FAQ
What does L9 mean in League of Legends? L9 stands for "Low Nine," a reference to a group of high-elo EUW players known for their insane mechanical skill and extreme toxicity. The group was founded around 2015-2016 and became infamous for dominating solo queue while flaming and griefing teammates.
Who were the main L9 members? The most famous L9 members were RatIRL (Ap0calypse), Obsess, and SELFMADE (who later went pro in the LEC). Pornstar Zilean was closely associated with the group but wasn't an official member.
Is L9 still active? No, L9 as a group is no longer active. Most members were permabanned multiple times by Riot. RatIRL reformed and became a full-time streamer, SELFMADE went pro, and Obsess faded from the scene. The name is now mostly used by players copying the L9 playstyle.
Why was L9 so popular? L9 became popular because they combined insane mechanical skill with extreme toxicity. They'd flame teammates, run it down if someone made a mistake, and then 1v9 carry the next game. Their hyper-aggressive playstyle and zero fear of bans made them legendary in high elo EUW.
Should I copy the L9 playstyle? No. The toxic aspects of L9 (flaming, running it down, griefing) will get you permabanned. Riot has zero tolerance for toxicity regardless of your rank. You can learn from their aggressive playstyle and mechanics, but don't copy the toxicity.
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L9 was a product of its time — a group of insanely skilled players who didn't care about the rules. They dominated high elo EUW, got permabanned, and became legends in the process.
The group is gone now, but the name lives on. If you see "L9" in someone's username, just know they're either a tryhard, a troll, or someone who thinks the name sounds cool.
Learn from their mechanics, ignore the toxicity, and don't run it down mid.
