How to transition from casual play to ranked

The Mentality

The most important thing to know is actually the easiest and yet the most forgotten foundation of this transition to ranked play. And that is the realization that half of the battle is mental, and comes in the form of making sure you have the right mindset going into any ranked queue; Solo, Duo, 3v3's, or 5v5's. Here are some things to keep in mind when psyching up for ranked play.

 

Winning actually matters, so play like it

This one might seem obvious but it actually pays to think about it for a second. First of all what this means is that although League of Legends is all about having fun you are willingly placing yourself in a environment where progression through victory IS the fun. Obviously if this is fun to you then perfect! It should be easy for you, but realize this means; not trying out new champions in ranked (without a thorough knowledge of them through guide study or proficiency of a similar champion), not committing to a game with any less than an hour to play, and not flaming if somebody starts to do poorly.

Do what you are good at.

Again this is something that is simple in theory but is oftentimes overlooked. There is a debate as to whether or not you should do what's meta or what you know and I find that depends on your level of skill. However for those who are just entering or re-entering the ranked scene this applies to you. There is an old saying "If it's doubtful, chances are it's dirty," or in other words if you don't feel comfortable with it steer clear of it and the same goes for a champion pick. If you are being pressured to pick Braum or Thresh for a CC support but you have mained Leona for awhile she might be the better choice for you to help win your lane. The bottom line is if don't feel ready to do it you probably aren't.

There is always next game.

Arguably the most important thing to think about is that the more you play the more chances to win you have. Defeat is inevitable and it can be really annoying to lose a ranked game and see that dreaded (-xx LP). However as painful as it is and as, "Not my fault! My jungler fed!" it may be you must also realize that another victory is practically inevitable for you as well so take heart and hit that "Play Again" button.

 

The Interaction

The next big thing to prepare for is the Communication players on and off your team in a way which you may have not had before. Although communication in League is technically optional, and not always as easy as it might be in Counter Strike or another voice chat title, ranked play demands it. These are the reasons why it is imperative to chat in ranked.

 

That's a person you're talking to.

It is crucial to remember that the people you are playing with are just that, people, and dislike being talked down to just as much as you do. Trash talking is never ever the way to go especially if it is a teammate. It is also worth keeping in mind that people who can be classified as flamers, ragers, or toxic are not always that way and starting off a match by greeting everyone and being nice can make the difference for everyone.

Feelings matter, morale can win games.

Suprising as it may or not be, people's feelings can lead directly to victory or defeat. Nearly all of us can attest to the fact that when someone is toxic or not having a good time they are more likely to play poorly. Something as simple as taking the time to encourage the team before minions spawn, or comforting someone after a bad play can tip the scales in your favor. So just remember that your allies feeling like they can win is just as important as you feeling that you can win, and you should try and encourage that thinking whenever you can.

Be constructive or be silent.

Now don't get me wrong, making jokes, being silly, and keeping morale high is being constructive. However if conversation gets to the point of being menial, or typing just to type, you may be distracting teammates by either drowning out real calls or getting someone killed because they were typing. The main thing to think about is whether or not what you are typing is working towards your victory, and even more importantly if it is worth your allies risking a reply. Obviously this point is very dependant on the situation, so by all means don't let it limit your talks if it is safe to type!

The Conclusion

To wrap things up lets review shall we?  
1. The mentality you take into ranked is just as important as your mechanics.
2. Winning is as important as it's ever been so fight for it and have fun achieving it!
3. If you need to choose between something you know and something meta, choose what you are comfortable with.
4. Even if you do everything right you can still lose but there is always next game so hang in there!
5. Remember to be encouraging to your fellow humans who happen to be players on the side. How your team is feeling can directly affect your game's outcome!
6. Good luck and have fun Summoners!