Matchmaking Rating (MMR) in Dota 2

Matchmaking Rating, or MMR, is a numerical value in Dota 2 that indicates a player’s skill level. It is the backbone of the game’s ranking system and impacts your visible rank medal and the players you compete against in ranked games. After each ranked game, your MMR changes: a win typically enhances it by +30 points (+20 in party matches), whereas a loss diminishes it by -30 points (-20 in party matches).

Interpreting Your Rank Medal

Your rank medal in Dota 2 symbolizes the peak role MMR you have accomplished. There are eight tiers to this medal: Crusader, Archon, Legend, Ancient, Divine, and Immortal. Additionally, each tier has five subclasses (excluding Immortal). For instance, Legend rank ranges from 3,080 to 3,849 MMR – with the Legend 1 rank starting at 3,080 MMR and Legend 5 peaking at 3,849 MMR.

Role-based MMR System

Dota 2 employs unique MMR scores for distinct roles: Core MMR (made up of Carry, Mid, Offlane positions) and Support MMR (Soft and Hard Support roles). This scoring system ensures that your performance in a specific role impacts the corresponding MMR, avoiding an unfair ranking for skilled players based on their performance in a role where they are less experienced.

Confidence Interval and Changes in MMR

Dota 2’s system also includes a measure of certainty about a player’s true skill level, known as the confidence interval. Playing more games enhances confidence, leading to smaller MMR shifts per game. Conversely, fewer games lead to reduced confidence and larger MMR changes. Additionally, how much MMR you gain or lose is dependent on your teammates’ and opponents’ average rank. This means you might gain over 30 MMR from defeating higher-ranked opponents or gain fewer points when defeating lower-ranked opponents.

Getting Started with Calibration

For newcomers to Dota 2 contemplating ranked play, several prerequisites need to be met. Firstly, players must complete 100 hours of unranked games. Following this, they must also finish 10 calibration matches for each role. A player’s initial MMR is primarily influenced by their win-loss record during these calibration matches. Other factors such as kills, assists, and Gold Per Minute (GPM) may also slightly contribute to this initial MMR.