Duo boosting is a boost where you play every game on your own account while a high-rank player queues with you as your teammate. You never share your login, you learn by playing next to a stronger player, and the account risk is lower than a piloted boost. At Boosting Games duo costs 1.5× the piloted price.
What is duo boosting?
Duo boosting, also called self-play or duo queue boosting, is the version of a boost where you stay in control. You log in to your own account, invite the booster to your party, and play ranked together. The booster's job is to win games with you: taking the hardest fights, calling plays, and covering the gaps.
The other common option is a piloted boost, where the booster logs into your account and plays alone. Both chase the same goal, a higher rank or a set number of wins, but they feel very different, cost different amounts and carry different levels of risk. If you want the full picture of boosting first, read what is rank boosting.
How does duo boosting work?
- Choose duo in the calculator. Pick your game, current and target rank (or a number of wins), and select duo. The full price is shown before you pay.
- Get your private order page. After paying you receive a link with chat, progress updates and screenshots.
- Agree on play times. A vetted, ID-verified booster claims the order and arranges sessions with you in the order chat.
- Queue together. You add the booster as a friend and invite them to your party. You never give out your login.
- Track progress. Results are logged on your order page after each session, and the order closes when the target is reached. If it cannot be finished, you are refunded for the unfinished part.
Because duo runs on your schedule, it moves as fast as the two of you can play. The order process is the same as every other order, described on our how it works page.
Duo boost vs solo (piloted) boost: which should you pick?
| Duo / self-play | Piloted ("solo") boost | |
|---|---|---|
| Who plays | You, with the booster in your party | The booster, on your account |
| Share your login? | No | Yes, encrypted, deleted after the order |
| Price | 1.5× the piloted price | Base price |
| Speed | Depends on your schedule | Fastest |
| Account risk | Lower | Higher |
| Do you improve? | Often, from playing next to a stronger player | No, your skill stays the same |
Pick duo if you want to keep your login, enjoy playing the games, or want to stay at the new rank afterwards. Pick piloted if speed matters most and you accept the higher risk. Note that "solo boost" sometimes means something else: our Solo queue only add-on (+10%) is for piloted orders where the booster never queues with friends.
How much does duo boosting cost?
Duo costs 1.5× the piloted price for the same climb, because two schedules have to line up and the booster has to win with you on the team rather than alone. Real examples from our calculators at the time of writing, in USD:
| Climb | Piloted | Duo (×1.5) |
|---|---|---|
| Valorant Gold 1 → Platinum 1 | $39 | $58.50 |
| League of Legends Gold IV → Platinum IV | $56 | $84 |
| Overwatch Gold 5 → Platinum 5 | $45 | $67.50 |
| Five Valorant wins at Gold | $30 | $45 |
Add-ons such as Priority (+20%) work the same way in duo. Piloted-only extras, like appearing offline, do not apply because you are the one logged in.
Play With a Pro: duo by the hour instead of by rank
Not everyone wants a fixed rank target. Sometimes you just want a strong teammate for an evening. That is what Play With a Pro is for: you choose the hours, and a high-rank player queues with you in any game we cover. At the time of writing it costs $19 for one hour, $49 for three hours and $75 for five hours.
If you play every week, the Duo Pass Membership gives you four hours a month for $69. Four single hours would be $19 × 4 = $76, so the pass works out lower if you use all four.
Hourly duo is a good fit for learning. Ask the pro why they rotated, what they bought, or how they would have played a round you lost. If learning is the main goal, compare it with coaching in our guide is game coaching worth it.
Self-play carries in raid and extraction games
Duo is not just for ranked ladders. In PvE and extraction games the same idea is usually called self-play or a sherpa run: you play your own character inside a group of experienced players.
- World of Warcraft: Mythic+ and raid carries can be done in self-play, where you play your own character in our group. See the WoW services.
- Destiny 2: raids, dungeons and Trials can be done in self-play, so your login stays with you. See Destiny 2.
- Escape from Tarkov: sherpa raid hours are duo only, from $15 for one hour.
- ARC Raiders: Pro for Hire duo hours start at $7 for one hour.
For how a raid carry is organized, read our guide to raid and dungeon carries.
Queue with a pro on your own account
Choose duo in your game's calculator to see the full price before you pay, or book Play With a Pro hours in any game.
Price my boostAsk Boost Up AIIs duo boosting bannable?
As of October 2026, duo removes the biggest red flag, which is another person logging into your account from a different device. Every major publisher forbids account sharing, and duo avoids it completely.
Honest risk note: duo lowers the risk but does not remove it. Some publishers' rules go beyond account sharing. Riot's Terms of Service, for example, forbid any activity intended to boost an account's rank, which can include paid duo play. Publishers decide penalties, not us. Coaching is the only option where nobody plays to raise your rank. Read our account safety notice before ordering.
Some modes also limit duo in other ways. Some ranked queues restrict how far apart in rank party members can be, Hearthstone is one versus one so there is nothing to duo, and Deadlock calibration cannot be played in a party.
How to get the most out of a duo boost
- Use voice chat. Calls are half the value. A booster who can tell you where to stand wins more games with you.
- Play your best role or pick. The booster can cover a lot, but your games still count.
- Ask questions between games, not during fights. Short, specific questions get the most useful answers.
- Record your sessions. Watching them back later turns a boost into practice. Our coaches also offer VOD reviews from $15 per match.
- Keep sessions to a sensible length. Two focused hours beat five tired ones.
Duo boosting FAQ
What is a duo boost?
A duo boost is a rank or win boost where you play on your own account and a high-rank booster joins your party as a teammate. You never share your login, you play every game yourself, and the booster helps you win. At Boosting Games duo costs 1.5 times the piloted price for the same climb, and it runs on a schedule you agree with the booster.
Is duo boosting better than solo boosting?
It depends on what you want. Duo is lower risk because you keep your login, and you often improve from playing next to a stronger player, but it costs 1.5 times more and is slower. A piloted (solo) boost is the fastest option but someone else logs into your account, which carries more account risk.
How much does duo boosting cost?
Duo is 1.5 times the piloted price. At the time of writing, Valorant Gold 1 to Platinum 1 costs $58.50 in duo against $39 piloted, and Play With a Pro hours cost $19 for one hour, $49 for three or $75 for five, in any game we cover. Your game calculator shows the exact price before you pay.
Do I need to give my password for duo boosting?
No. In duo you log in to your own account and invite the booster to your party. Your login is never shared, which is the main reason duo carries less account risk than a piloted boost. Only piloted orders ask for a login, and only after payment, on your private order page.
Can I get banned for duo boosting?
It is possible, though the risk is lower than a piloted boost. Duo avoids account sharing, which every major publisher forbids, but some publishers, Riot included, also forbid any activity intended to boost an account rank. Penalties are decided by the publisher. Coaching is the only option where nobody plays to raise your rank.
Which games do not support duo boosting?
Hearthstone is one versus one, so there is no duo option. Deadlock calibration matches cannot be played in a party, so they are piloted only. Some ranked queues also limit how far apart in rank party members can be. Most other team games we cover offer duo in the calculator.
Sources: Riot Games Terms of Service, EA Help: Apex Legends play by the rules, Call of Duty Security and Enforcement Policy