Dota 2 Rank System: MMR, Distribution, Strategies to Increase Dota 2 Rank

What are Dota 2 ranks, and how are they connected to MMR? How does the Dota 2 MMR ranking system work, and how can players increase their Dota 2 rank faster?

The Dota 2 ranking system is known as the MMR system (Matchmaking Rating). Your MMR rating will decide your place on the ladder. It is used to find you an appropriate opponent, track your progress, and figure out where you stand in the 8 ranks in Dota 2.

This guide breaks down Dota 2 MMR, rank medals, Dota 2 rank distribution and overall dota ranks distribution, and how to rank up. Simple on paper. Not always in practice.

What are Dota 2 Ranks?

The Dota 2 ranking system has 8 ranks in Dota 2, with each medal corresponding to MMR. Dota 2 game ranking system analyzes a person’s skills before awarding the player the corresponding medal. The Dota 2 ranks can be further divided into a variety of hierarchical tiers based on skill level.

Each of the ranks in Dota 2, apart from Immortal, is further broken down into five divisions, so that the players enjoy a wider progressive range in their climb. Once you reach the Immortal rank, you are placed on a leaderboard where the focus shifts from normal rank progression to improving your position on the leaderboard.

How Does the Dota 2 MMR Ranking System Work?

For you to ascend the Dota 2 ranks ladder, you must know how the rank system works. For those who have felt confused about terms such as MMR, Calibration, and Behavior Score, we will explain how the system works.

• Eligibility: In an effort to deal with the smurfing issue, where high-ranked players open new accounts in order to compete at a lower level, Dota 2 adopted a policy that requires the player to complete 100 hours of unranked Dota 2 before getting a rank. This system makes sense as Dota 2 is a pretty complex game, and playing 100 hours before jumping into rank will help you understand the gameplay mechanics.
• Calibration Matches: You can jump into ranked matches after playing your first 100 hours. But first, you’ll need to play ranked games until your Rank Confidence reaches the calibration threshold, so it is no longer a fixed 20-match process. In these games, your results help determine the rank you get placed in.
• MMR: You’ll gain about 25 MMR for every win and lose about 25 MMR for every ranked match, though it may be more or less depending on Rank Confidence. Your rank sub-tiers and medal will steadily increase as you accumulate MMR.
• Rank Confidence: As the name implies, Rank Confidence is how sure the Dota 2 rank system is that you are placed in the right MMR according to your skill level. The current ranked model uses a Glicko-based confidence system. The more games you play, the more your Rank Confidence will increase. However, if you take a break from Dota 2 and return, your Rank Confidence will decrease slightly.

The reason why the Rank Confidence system was put in place was to make sure that if there is a drastic difference in the skill of the player and the rank they are placed in, the system adjusts the amount of MMR you win or lose so that you get to the rank you are best suited to. If your rank confidence is low, expect to gain or lose more than normal after each game.

Recent update: Immortal Draft rules now apply if any player is above 8500 MMR, which Valve describes as roughly the top 0.5% of players. This affects top Immortal matchmaking rather than the standard medal ladder.

• Rank Medal: As already stated, the total points you earn in MMR will determine your medal from eight categories of medals, namely: Herald, Guardian, Crusader, Archon, Legend, Ancient, Divine, and Immortal. All medals except Immortal have five levels each.
• Behavior Score: Although it does not directly affect the ranking criteria, behavior score is still relevant to watch because it will determine the kind of lobbies you will be paired with. If it is too low, you will be put in lobbies with inconsistent or problematic players.

Dota 2 Ranks

The ranks in Dota 2 are divided into 8 ranks: Herald, Guardian, Crusader, Archon, Legend, Ancient, Divine, and Immortal. Below is a quick overview of Dota 2 ranks and their MMR ranges before breaking it all down.

Herald: 0-769 MMR

Heralds are the lowest level in Dota 2: they are players who have just started their journey in the game, or new players in general. Players are still learning about the mechanics of the game, the powers of their heroes, and the basic strategies for the game. The following are the sub-ranks in the Herald rank and their respective MMRs:

• Herald 1 (0 MMR)
• Herald 2 (154 MMR)
• Herald 3 (308 MMR)
• Herald 4 (462 MMR)
• Herald 5 (616 MMR)

Guardian: 770-1539 MMR

Once you’ve reached 770 MMR, you’ll be classified as a Guardian. Players at the level have gained a better understanding of game basics and are starting to recognize the role and lane significance. All the sub-ranks in the Guardian rank include:

• Guardian 1 (770 MMR)
• Guardian 2 (924 MMR)
• Guardian 3 (1078 MMR)
• Guardian 4 (1232 MMR)
• Guardian 5 (1386 MMR)

Crusader: 1540-2309 MMR

After you exit Guardian, you are given the Crusader rank at the 1540 MMR. Here, players demonstrate a better understanding of game mechanics and understand what roles and heroes they like to play. They also start to understand more about drafting.

• Crusader 1 (1540 MMR)
• Crusader 2 (1694 MMR)
• Crusader 3 (1848 MMR)
• Crusader 4 (2002 MMR)
• Crusader 5 (2156 MMR)

Archon: 2310-3079 MMR

Once you pass the Crusader level, you’ll pass into Archon, where you’ll begin facing average-level gamers. At the Archon level, players will display decent mechanical skills and a basic familiarity with the complex game mechanics. Such players start using the map more strategically, draft effectively and focus on fulfilling objectives. Simply put, Archons have a broader understanding of characters and counters used in the game.

• Archon 1 (2310 MMR)
• Archon 2 (2464 MMR)
• Archon 3 (2618 MMR)
• Archon 4 (2772 MMR)
• Archon 5 (2926 MMR)

Legend: 3080-3849 MMR

The next medal in the rank distribution is Legend. This is where you’ll find people who start to understand their strengths and weaknesses and encounter some very good players. Players demonstrate a higher level of mechanical skills and understanding of the game. They are game and map-aware, and can predict enemy moves and strategies.

• Legend 1 (3080 MMR)
• Legend 2 (3234 MMR)
• Legend 3 (3388 MMR)
• Legend 4 (3542 MMR)
• Legend 5 (3696 MMR)

Ancient: 3850-4619 MMR

At Ancient, you start to experience higher-level play. These players are loosely known as the best non-professional players with their advancing mechanical skills and better understanding of the meta, best item builds, and understanding of hero synergy. They have excellent teamwork and coordination, and they know when to make plays, like doing smoke ganks or taking out Roshan.

• Ancient 1 (3850 MMR)
• Ancient 2 (4004 MMR)
• Ancient 3 (4158 MMR)
• Ancient 4 (4312 MMR)
• Ancient 5 (4466 MMR)

Divine: 4620-5420 MMR

With the high MMR of Divine, it’s easy to see how demanding it is to achieve this rank when it comes to skills, in-game inventory and much more. These players show a high level of skill, with outstanding mechanical abilities, and have a strong understanding of the current meta. They always produce great plays and, therefore, can run games.

• Divine 1 (4620 MMR)
• Divine 2 (4820 MMR)
• Divine 3 (5020 MMR)
• Divine 4 (5220 MMR)
• Divine 5 (5420 MMR)

Immortal: 5620+ MMR

Congratulations, you’ve reached the top rank in Dota 2. Here, you’ll find the game’s top players. In this rank, you compete for a rating on the leaderboard of your respective region. This level is often associated with Dota 2 immortal mmr, where players perform at a professional or semi-professional level, and you’ll commonly find pro players practising for tournaments.

How to Increase Rank in Dota 2?

To improve your rank faster, focus on developing your skills and playing consistently. Here are some steps you can take to enhance your Dota 2 skills and begin ascending the rank ladder more quickly.

• Practice Regularly: If you want to dominate in a game like Dota 2, then it’s necessary to play more to get better. By playing regularly, you’ll begin to identify your weaknesses and in-game aspects that require improvement. Over time, you will become more well-versed in the game and master the fundamentals, such as last hitting and knowing what items to pick up in the different phases of the game.
• Watch Pro players: Pro players in any game represent the high skill level that can be achieved. Therefore, watching them play and copying their actions can help you understand and implement what you learned in your games. In any professional or high-ranked game, always take note of the items that the pro player uses and try to think of why such players choose to use that item. Also, observe farming patterns and rotations and note when they make smoke ganks and go for towers or Roshan.
• Spam a Hero: An effective way to rapidly rise in the ranks is to repeatedly use a hero. It means taking the time to work on one character until you know everything about their abilities. This will help you to understand the hero’s mechanics, their strengths and weaknesses. Watch some of the best matches featuring pro gamers ever played with that hero, and replicate their builds. This is one of the best, if not the best, ways to rank.
• Map Awareness: The enemy team’s position is best known through the mini-map in Dota 2. This is why it’s a common practice among pro players to check their mini-map every 10 seconds. You should begin to get into the habit of looking at your mini-map at least every 30 seconds to climb rank.
• Stay updated on the Meta: Dota 2 is a game that regularly receives gameplay updates that shake up the meta. Avoid playing heroes that are weak in the current game’s meta, as you won’t be playing at your best.

What Is MMR in Dota 2?

Dota 2 MMR stands for Matchmaking Rating. Essentially, it is a number that represents your skill level compared to other players, while also determining which medal you’ll receive at your rank. In the Dota ranking system, when you win a ranked game, you usually gain around 25 MMR and lose around the same amount, though the number can vary.

New players will need to go through calibration games until their Rank Confidence meter is full, instead of playing a predetermined number of games like it used to be. These games will set your base MMR and will be used by matchmaking to place you in lobbies with players of similar MMR.

How to Check Your MMR in Dota 2?

Checking the MMR value is easy. Here is how you can check your MMR in Dota 2:

1. First, launch your Dota 2 game and go to your profile by clicking on your in-game name on the top left-hand side.
2. On top of your profile, locate the “stats” tab and click on it.
3. Upon opening your match stats, you’ll find your Dota 2 MMR and Rank Confidence.

Dota 2 Ranks Distribution

Examining the Dota 2 rank distribution provides a clear overview of how most players are ranked in the game. This also clarifies the broader distribution of Dota ranks.

• Herald
• Guardian
• Crusader
• Archon (the largest share of players)
• Legend
• Ancient
• Divine
• Immortal (top percentage of players)

The ladder is like a pyramid. Most players are in the mid-range, around Crusader, Archon and Legend. On the other hand, Immortal represents the top percentage comprising the elite players. If you picture gaining experience in Dota 2 like climbing a pyramid, the Dota 2 MMR distribution appears to be somewhat more achievable for progression.

Conclusion

Understanding the Dota 2 ranking system can enhance your ability to track your progress and develop the right gaming habits. By following the tips in this guide, you can better understand the correlation between MMR, Medals, and Rank Confidence. This will help you begin to see how you’ll progress toward the next step.