Understanding DOTA 2’s 2024 MMR Recalibration – How Rankings Work

So, when it comes to Matchmaking Rating (MMR) in DOTA 2, it’s not as complex as it sounds. Essentially, it boils down to your Rank and Rank Confidence. Your Rank reflects your skill level, and Rank Confidence is how much we trust that skill level estimate. Every time you play a match, your Rank can go up or down depending on whether you win or lose. Plus, your Rank Confidence increases because we’ve got more data to work with.

Before we dive deeper into this, if you’re eager to reach your highest rank this season, you can make it happen right here with the help of our rank calibration boosting service. Just pick your previous medal and tell us how many games you’d like to play.


Introducing the Glicko new Ranking System

We’ve revamped the calibration process into something more straightforward—confidence. Now, to unlock your MMR, you just need to hit that 30% confidence mark. Even if you’re at 28%, it takes just one game to get your medal.

Here’s the scoop: When you win, you gain 2% confidence, and when you lose, you still get 1%. So, your last game matters a lot. Not only should you aim to win, but also strive to play your best. Players have been boosting their MMR by anywhere from +100 to +1500 by winning all their games with high skill.

Now, let’s talk about the rank points you’ll earn once you’ve unlocked your medal. It’s all about how you perform in-game. You can score anywhere from +40 to +10 points, depending on your gameplay. The same goes for when you lose. Many players have turned to our Dota 2 calibration service to boost their confidence up to 30% and secure a higher rank!

To tackle this, we’re making a shift to a different algorithm called Glicko. This change will make sure you’re matched up with players of similar skill levels quickly and accurately. From a math perspective, Glicko enables us to factor in your Rank Confidence better, leading to more precise determinations of Rank gains and losses.

The transition to our new matchmaking system will feel like the beginning of a fresh matchmaking season:

  • Calibration Process: Players will go through a short calibration mode, initially using their previous rank as a starting point.
  • Dynamic Calibration: Calibration is no longer a fixed number of matches. A player is considered calibrated when their Rank Confidence surpasses a certain threshold.
  • Potential Medal Change: After calibration, a player might end up with a different medal than before. However, matchmaking will still aim to pair players of similar skill levels.
  • Variable MMR Gain/Loss: Matches will no longer have a fixed MMR (Matchmaking Rating) gain/loss. It will be determined by various factors, including participant ranks and Rank Confidence. There will be a cap to prevent extremely negative outcomes.
  • Rank Confidence Decay: If a player doesn’t participate in matches, their Rank Confidence will slowly decrease over time.

We’ve been using both matchmaking systems in the background for a while to test these changes and gain confidence in them. We know that having an accurate Match Making Ranking (MMR) is just one of the factors affecting match quality. As with any changes in this area, we’re eager to hear your thoughts.

Every few months, Valve starts adjusting the MMR (Match Making Ranking) for Dota 2 players to fine-tune the matchmaking process. If you’re familiar with Dota 2’s current rating system or any similar games, it’s pretty straightforward. But for those with less experience, it can be confusing.

If you’re returning to Dota 2 after a long break, the Dota 2 MMR Recalibration 2023 will automatically kick in on your account. However, it’s not a good idea to recalibrate your MMR right away without first playing some unranked games to get used to the new neutral items, hero abilities, map changes, and more.

After the last recalibration, many players saw their ranks drop. For example, if you had an Ancient medal with 5 stars, you might have been downgraded to Legend or Archon with 3 or 4 stars. Valve is constantly experimenting with new ranking methods and game adjustments, making the Dota 2 ranking system quite different from what it was two years ago.

If you want to regain your previous rank quickly, especially since Valve has de-ranked many players, recalibration is the fastest way to do it. During recalibration, players can often climb 500-800 MMR. Here’s everything you need to know about the MMR recalibration in 2023, along with some tips and tricks to maximize your MMR gain.


Tips & Tricks for Improving Your Dota Game

Learn how to counter-pick heroes to up your chances of winning. If you counter your opponent’s heroes, your win rate can increase by up to 60%. Keep in mind, though, that counter-picking doesn’t mean choosing a hero you’re not skilled with. If your counter-pick strategy fails, you can still turn the tide by adjusting your itemization.

For instance, let’s say you’re playing as PA, and the enemy team picks a ghost scepter. You can counter them simply by crafting a nullifier for PA. Always stay updated with the current meta. If professional players are not selecting a hero like Invoker in their games, unless you have thousands of games of experience, it’s probably a mistake to choose him in your bracket. Make sure your choices align with what works best.

Avoid getting into arguments with teammates who are flaming you. Instead, mute them and focus on playing the game. In the 3K bracket, many players get caught up in irrelevant discussions that distract from the ultimate goal: winning. Remember, what happened 20 minutes ago is in the past; concentrate on the present.

If you excel at playing mid in your bracket, consider Alchemist as a viable option. With a gold advantage, you can farm and create space for your carry. Another option is OD; use Astral to control your enemy’s hero and deny their creeps to secure your lane.

Recognize when your hero is at its strongest. When playing mid, it’s time to join fights or push lanes once you’ve obtained key items, rather than idling in the jungle. When Slark acquires a Scepter, it’s prime time to hunt for pick-offs. Be mindful of your hero’s power spikes and exploit them.

As a core player, if your supports aren’t buying wards, take the initiative and purchase them. It’s a small investment of 80 gold that can make a significant difference. Instead of berating your supports, which can harm team morale, be the team player and invest in vision. Trust us, spending 80 gold won’t disrupt your item progression.

Don’t limit yourself to playing only core roles with a ‘mid or feed’ mentality. When you understand hero counter-picks, your skills become valuable with any hero at any stage of the game. Stay humble and always be open to learning more about the game you’re playing. The best way to grasp the meta and counter-pick strategies is by watching professional players and studying their gameplay.

To improve your skills as a position 5 player and gain insights into lane control, watch gameplay from players like Kuroky or Sneaking. Once you have a better understanding of what to do in your matches, your chances of losing will be greatly reduced.


MMR Recalibration Date for 2023

The new recalibration is scheduled for January 23, 2023. Most players will have the chance to play 10 calibration matches to achieve their new rank. However, if you’ve already done your calibration in 2022, you’ll have to wait six months to unlock your new rank.

How Does Dota 2 Recalibration Actually Work?

So, there’s a lot of talk about Dota 2’s MMR recalibration system, and many folks believe that no matter what your rank is, recalibrating will always result in a lower MMR. Well, let’s bust that myth right now because it’s not entirely true. When you hit that recalibration button on your profile, it doesn’t reset your MMR completely. You’re still at your current MMR; it’s just that you can’t see it anymore.

Now, here’s the scoop on different role queue MMRs, like hard support, soft support, and carry MMRs. Valve really takes a close look at your gameplay during those recalibration games and awards you a medal based on your skills. When I say “Valve analyzes your gameplay,” I mean they’ve got an algorithm for every possible skill a player can show.

Your skills and stats in Dota 2 really matter. They assess your performance in relation to the game’s outcome. This includes things like physical and magical damage inflicted on your enemies, your KDA, building damage, net worth, and more. It’s all designed to evaluate how well you’re performing overall. So, it’s a good idea to play your best heroes when your account is in the recalibration process.

If you manage to win all 10 of your recalibration games, you can expect to gain 500-800 MMR, depending on your skills and stats. You can actually get a sneak peek at your potential medal during the picking phase by looking at your allies’ and enemies’ medals. To get the medal you’re aiming for, try to win at least 8 out of 10 games because losing a match during recalibration can cost you 50-70 MMR in a single go.

Here’s the kicker: during recalibration matches, if your medal is the lowest in the match and you win, you’ll only gain 30-34 MMR. But if your medal is the highest in the match and you win, you could gain a whopping 70-90 MMR, depending on your skills and gameplay. That’s right, you can gain or lose double the MMR during recalibration matches, so winning these matches is absolutely crucial.

One more thing to keep in mind: if you haven’t played Dota 2 for six months or more and decide to come back, you’re likely to lose around 1,000 MMR due to inactivity calibration. It’s designed to lower your MMR if you’ve been away for a while.

Dota 2 medals

DOTA 2 ranks for 2023

  • Herald
  • Guardian 
  • Crusader
  • Archon
  • Legend
  • Ancient
  • Divine
  • Immortal 

Herald 

In the world of skill levels in gaming, think of Herald as the very starting point. This is where you’ll encounter newcomers who may not have much experience. To get better and move up the ranks, you’ll need plenty of practice and patience. Here’s a tip for those of you trying to improve your game.

If you find yourself stuck in the Herald bracket, consider watching how legends and experienced players at the Ancient level enhance their gameplay, instead of only focusing on top-ranked players. Concentrate on what you can do to improve in each match.

Here’s a breakdown of the Herald ranks:

  • Herald 1: Starting at zero MMR
  • Herald 2: 154 MMR
  • Herald 3: 308 MMR
  • Herald 4: 462 MMR
  • Herald 5: 616 MMR

Guardian

Matches get a lot tougher when you climb out of Herald rank in Dota 2 because most Guardian-level players are really honing their skills. But here’s the thing: many of them struggle with controlling the map. So, the trick is to choose heroes that can clear out waves of creeps in a snap and deal some serious damage to buildings.

To level up, you’ve got to focus on your main role and figure out how to move around the map effectively. Work on your mechanics, like nabbing those last hits on creeps to rake in gold and taking objectives to give your team the push they need to reach the Crusader bracket.

Here’s the breakdown of the Guardian ranks:

  • Guardian 1: 770 MMR
  • Guardian 2: 924 MMR
  • Guardian 3: 1,078 MMR
  • Guardian 4: 1,232 MMR
  • Guardian 5: 1,386 MMR

Crusader

In Crusader, that’s where you really start getting into the nitty-gritty of the game. You’ll see more folks using those top-tier hero picks and keeping up with the latest item trends. These things can seriously up your chances of winning.

To climb from Crusader to Archon, you’ve gotta figure out what strategies click for you and when to buy the right items in different situations. Relying on a single hero guide every match won’t do the trick anymore because you’ll face a whole new lineup of heroes in nearly every game.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the MMR for each Crusader tier:

  • Crusader 1: 1,540 MMR
  • Crusader 2: 1,694 MMR
  • Crusader 3: 1,848 MMR
  • Crusader 4: 2,002 MMR
  • Crusader 5: 2,156 MMR

Archon 

In Dota 2, you’ve got over a hundred heroes to choose from, but when it comes to forming your dream team, you can only select five. As you climb up the ranks, like in the Archon tier, players tend to lean towards heroes that work well together and get a better grasp of when it’s the right time to initiate team fights.

Now, if you want to break out of this bracket and step up your game, using voice chat is crucial. Team coordination is the name of the game in most matches, and you should start focusing on a specific role that suits you best.

Pick a handful of heroes to become a master at for your chosen role, and that way, you’ll be able to consistently perform well in every game.

Here’s a breakdown of the MMR in the Archon ranks:

  • Archon 1: 2,310 MMR
  • Archon 2: 2,464 MMR
  • Archon 3: 2,618 MMR
  • Archon 4: 2,772 MMR
  • Archon 5: 2,926 MMR

Legend

Once you hit the Legend rank in Dota 2, the vision game really heats up. Players start using more wards and counter-wards to make sure they can see better than the other team. Having a superior vision becomes a game-changer.

If you’re looking to climb out of this bracket, it’s time to start emulating what the pros and high-level players do. Head over to YouTube and check out the guides. Tune into live games using Dota 2’s Watch section and pay close attention to every move the professional players make.

Here’s a breakdown of Legend ranks and their corresponding MMR:

  • Legend 1: 3,080 MMR
  • Legend 2: 3,234 MMR
  • Legend 3: 3,388 MMR
  • Legend 4: 3,542 MMR
  • Legend 5: 3,696 MMR

Ancient

In the world of Dota 2, most experienced players in the Ancient bracket pretty much have the game down pat. They’ve got a good grasp of all the game mechanics. While not everyone in this group can handle super-challenging heroes like Meepo and Invoker, they generally know what to expect when these heroes are in skilled hands.

If you find yourself in this bracket, be prepared to exercise some patience because you’re likely already well-versed in the finer points of Dota 2. Focus on honing your communication skills and try to step up as a leader in games where your team might be lacking.

Just to give you an idea, Ancient is divided into five sub-levels based on your Matchmaking Rating (MMR):

  • Ancient 1: 3,850 MMR
  • Ancient 2: 4,004 MMR
  • Ancient 3: 4,158 MMR
  • Ancient 4: 4,312 MMR
  • Ancient 5: 4,466 MMR

Divine

The Divine bracket is like the waiting room you have to go through before you can become an Immortal. If you find yourself in this bracket, it means you might have what it takes to be a top-ranked player, but there could be a few habits holding you back.

One common mistake among Divine players is playing when you’re upset or frustrated, which usually leads to poor performance. When you’re not at your best in this bracket, you become a liability for your team, and that seriously hurts your chances of winning.

Remember, the key to each match here is to have fun, focus on improving your skills, and play more efficiently.

Here’s a breakdown of the Divine ranks:

  • Divine 1: 4,620 MMR
  • Divine 2: 4,820 MMR
  • Divine 3: 5,020 MMR
  • Divine 4: 5,220 MMR
  • Divine 5: 5,420 MMR

Immortal

In the world of Dota 2, Immortals rule the roost. If you want to be an Immortal player, you’ve got to be a game expert, knowing all the ins and outs. And let me tell you, every Immortal match is a real nail-biter.

As you climb up the Immortal bracket, you’ll work your way into the regional rankings, and scouts might come knocking on your door in no time.


Wondering how the Immortal Rank works in Dota 2? 

Well, Immortal isn’t the ultimate destination for ambitious players. When you win games in the Immortal bracket, you’ll still earn MMR (Matchmaking Rating), and you’ll begin your journey toward the regional leaderboards.

Your position on the leaderboard will appear beneath your rank icon. However, to maintain your spot there, you must play at least one ranked game in your region every 21 days. If you fail to meet this requirement, you’ll be taken off the leaderboard due to inactivity, but you’ll still retain your hard-earned MMR.

And if you find yourself stuck with the same medal, don’t worry. You can explore our Dota 2 boosting service, which can help you climb the ranks and enhance your gameplay. We are also providing Dota 2 Coaching, Dota 2 Behavior score boost, and Dota 2 LP removal services as well.