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> is exactly the bug in the game code that enables smurfing.

Not really.

A smurf who doesn’t lose will quickly rise to their appropriate rank and stop being a “problem”.

> If such new players with win streaks far above than what is to be expected by their level ranked up very fast

This is generally exactly what happens. But unfortunately it doesn’t prevent smurfing and is trivial to get around by simply losing placement matches and throwing just enough games to keep the winrate low enough to stay in the given rank the smurf wants to play in.

They screw over the other team when they’re playing to win. They screw over their own team when they need to lose. The only people having fun in these scenarios are the smurfs, and maybe their followers.

The only truly effective tool right now is a ban. And this is why measures to prevent ban evasion (like requiring a phone number) are on the table.

I don’t know what the ideal solution is, but do know that Blizzard has been trying to address this in various ways for awhile, with somewhat limited success.




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