The most precious commodity in Dota 2 is MMR. Casual players judge one another based on it, pro players crave it, and Valve has made it the most important factor when it comes to putting together games through matchmaking.
But what is it? How is it determined, and what is the average MMR? What does it all actually mean? Here’s everything you need to know about the coveted stat.
What does MMR mean in Dota 2?
MMR stands for matchmaking rating, and is the game’s way of estimating a player’s skill. Dota 2 has both published and hidden MMRs that come into play when it comes to the game's match coordinator.
Under ideal circumstances, all 10 players matched together in a game of Dota 2 will have similar MMRs. The game branches out the number of possible MMRs as queue times increase.
How do I check my MMR in Dota 2?
Though Dota 2 players obsess over their MMRs, Valve has inexplicably decided to make the number somewhat hidden in the game client. It’s not hard to access, if one knows where to look.
- Click on player profile
- Click on Stats page
- Check the top right portion of the main window
The first step to finding one’s MMR is to access their player profile. This can be done by clicking on the player’s Steam avatar that is in both the top left and bottom left of the main menu. Once on this page, click on the “Stats” tab near the top of the screen.
The stats page will show the player’s average stats with a number of Dota 2 heroes. On the top right portion of the window, the exact MMR number will be listed.
How is MMR calculated?
Players initially have their MMR calculated based on the wins, losses, and stats the player compiles during their placement games. From there, MMR moves up and down as the player moves through ranked matches. A win will see the player gain MMR, while a loss will see the player lose MMR. This typically happens in 25-point increments, but not always.
The exact formula for calculating MMR is unknown and has likely changed on many occasions in the past.
How do I recalibrate my MMR?
Follow these steps in order to have your MMR recalibrated:
- Open the Settings menu
- Navigate to Account menu
- Click button under the “MMR Recalibration” section
- Confirm the MMR reset
Valve recently gave players the ability to reset their MMR, removing the seasonal reset that was previously in place. This is actually easier to access than simply checking one’s current MMR.
It can be done by going into the settings menu and navigating to the “Account” section. From there, look to the “MMR Recalibration” section. Follow the prompts and then play the 10 calibration games to get ranked once again.
What is the average MMR in Dota 2?
The average MMR fluctuates over time but is normally in the low 2000s range. With the current Dota 2 ranking system, this places an average player at a high Crusader or low Archon rank.
What constitutes a good Dota 2 MMR is up for debate, as players will inevitably insult one another by saying that their teammate is a rank lower than they actually are. Unless players are sitting at the very top of the leaderboard, they can always do better.
What is the Dota 2 MMR distribution?
- Herald: 0-700
- Guardian: 700-1,400
- Crusader: 1,400-2,300
- Archon: 2,300-3,100
- Legend: 3,100-3,900
- Ancient: 3,900-4,600
- Divine: 4,600-5,500
The highest rank in Dota 2’s ranked matchmaking is Immortal. This is not attached to a specific MMR number, but is instead granted to the 6,000 highest-rated players in each region according to their MMR. Players’ standings can be tracked on the official Dota 2 leaderboards.
What is the highest MMR in Dota 2?
Historically speaking, the Dota 2 player with the highest MMR is current Evil Geniuses mid laner Abed “Abed” Azel L. Yusop. He hit 11,000 in 2020, continuing what has been a tradition of him pioneering new heights in MMR. In 2017, he became the first player to reach 10,000 MMR, and he was again the first to achieve this feat after the MMR system was revised in 2019.
Some of this can be chalked up to the region Abed plays in. Southeast Asia tends to produce high-MMR players significantly faster than other regions, with five of the 12 players to reach 11,000 MMR coming from the region. This can be attributed to a number of different factors including the large player base in the region, the specific type of matchmaking that is used, and the fact that SEA generally produces some strong players in Dota 2.
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