How to increase MMR in Dota 2

Dota 2 has a steep learning curve. It is one of the most difficult MOBAs or Action-RTS currently available. It often takes a lot of time to learn the basics, let alone master the game, to become the best and get better MMR in Dota 2.

in fact, the burning question always arises: how to increase MMR and conquer the ranked ladder? MMR, or Matchmaking Ranking, serves as the quantifiable measure of your Dota prowess – in short, it tells you whether you suck at playing Dota 2 or not!

Today, we reveal potent and proven strategies to propel your Dota 2 MMR to newer highs.

Laning and last hitting is crucial to get better and improve your MMR in Dota 2. Photo: Valve

Mastering the Basics: Understand Fundamentals to increase Dota 2 MMR

A rock-solid foundation is paramount before jumping into the theatrics. The most important aspect of doing anything is mastering the basics and understanding the fundamentals. Here's where the grind meets brilliance:

• Last Hitting and Denying in Dota 2: Mastering these fundamentals allows efficient gold acquisition and hinders enemy carry potential. Last-hitting creeps accumulate gold in your bank, providing you with better scaling opportunities with proper itemization and hero builds, and denying the creeps restricts the opponent from gaining gold and experience points, thus effectively propelling you to a higher level. Practice in last-hit training custom lobbies to refine your timing and creep awareness.
  
• Dota 2 Map Awareness: The minimap is your window into enemy movements. Develop the habit of constantly glancing at it, anticipating ganks and rotations. Get habituated to the pathways, neutral camps, blindspots, and high-ground/low-ground mechanics. Warding strategically provides crucial vision control, often tipping the scales in your favour. Important information and subsequent actions can be implemented through gauging properly at the minimap.
  
• Effective Hero Pool: Jack of all trades but master of none! This saying is a spot-on anecdote for mastering the basics and increasing your MMR in Dota 2. Focus on a handful of heroes you excel with, ideally one for each core – carry, mid and support position. This allows adaptability within your preferred role while ensuring mastery. As the infamous EternalEnvy once said, “Spam the heroes you love playing to boost your MMR” – this holds in all aspects.

Knowing when to use your spells and ultimates is key to winning team fights and improve your MMR in Dota 2. Photo: Valve

Strategize: Outwit, Outplay, Outlast to increase Dota MMR

Dota 2 is a symphony of coordinated efforts and not individual skills alone. Individual skills can only get you so far, but strategy, in conjunction with synchronized efforts, can win you games. And improve MMR in Dota 2.

Here's how to elevate your strategic thinking in Dota 2.

• Focus on Dota 2 Objectives: The most efficient way to increase MMR in Dota 2 is to execute the objectives. While kills are enticing and surge your adrenaline, the priority should always be on taking objectives like towers, Roshan, and breaching the enemy high ground. These secure map control and create win conditions by creating pressure on the enemy.
  
• Team Composition: During hero selection, analyze team synergy. Ask important questions to yourself and your allies, what does your lineup lack? Does it lack lane control or initiation? Does it lack stable support or a stable carry? Understanding hero composition is vital to winning a game and climbing up the MMR ladder. Playing five heroes with minimal or absent synergy will only lead to negatives.
  
• Adaptability: The beauty of Dota 2 lies in its dynamic nature. You may be trailing with a deficit of 20k gold and experience but there’s always an opportunity to bounce back and vice versa. Be flexible enough to adjust your game plan based on the enemy draft and in-game situations. More importantly, don’t go into an ego trip of being macho and thinking that you can win the game single-handedly by farming all game. Be open to ideas where you’ll have to play a certain way to benefit the team as compared to your natural gameplay.

Photo: Valve

Increase Dota 2 MMR: Mastering the Art of Comms

Communication is the key to every relationship. Playing Dota 2 is akin to being in a polyamorous relationship with your team, sharing the same room virtually, and fostering communication, leading to a cohesive team environment. You want to improve your Dota 2 MMR, not lose it.

Without further deviating from the topic, let’s see how effective communication is an art in itself:

• Shot-calling: Provide clear and concise direction, keep objectives and focus on rotations. The shot-calling differs as the game progresses. In the initial stage, the mid and supports usually make the calls on lane rotations while the offlane and carry focus on stabilising the lanes and prioritizing their farm. During the later stage of the game, the offlane and carry are primarily in charge of the shot-calling.
  
• PMA: Maintain a Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) even during setbacks. As mentioned a while back, you can mount a comeback even from a 20k deficit. Flaming teammates only worsens the situation and makes the environment toxic. Toxicity leads to negativity, which creates chaos and frustration amongst your allies. Focus on constructive criticism and boost the team morale, thus increasing your chances of winning the game.
  
• Muting Toxicity: As mentioned earlier, toxicity leads to negativity. The best way to keep your cool is to eliminate toxicity from the game. Mute disruptive players since their negativity hinders focus and coordination. Mute effectively to maintain a clear channel for vital communication.

Disclaimer: The player base for Dota 2 is the most passionate in the world but is also highly toxic. Tread with caution.

Sharpen your skills to increase MMR in Dota 2

Mastering Dota 2 is like learning to love wine – you get better over time. Continuous improvement is the hallmark of a rising MMR player. Increasing your MMR in Dota 2 is a never-ending pursuit of perfection and knowledge.

There are plenty of ways to get better at Dota 2:

• Watch Tournaments and Replays: The best way to get better at Dota 2 is to immerse yourself in the strategies employed by professional players. Analyze their decision-making in crucial moments, with their backs against the walls, and the subsequent outcome. Additionally, watch your replays to identify mistakes and areas for improvement. Implement the same and if required, employ the help of someone better than you.
  
• Practice: Regularly play increase MMR in Dota 2, both ranked and unranked. Unranked offers a space to experiment with new heroes and strategies without MMR pressure. Once you’re confident, employ the same strategy in ranked games and see the fruits of your labour materialise.
  
• Utilize Community Resources: Numerous guides are available online, on different websites, and in-game, where you can learn the ropes of the game. Plenty of former professional players regularly stream and provide valuable feedback.
  
• Watch Streams and High Ranked Pubs to increase MMR in Dota 2: Many former pros have become full-time streamers. They regularly host educational streams and provide exceptional insight into the theatrics of the game. Additionally, also make sure to watch high-ranked pubs where pros and other high-ranked MMR players in the world often compete. A plethora of knowledge is readily available at your disposal.

Mastering Dota 2 is a difficult task. Increasing your MMR in Dota 2 is also a difficult task. We hope this guide propels you to newer highs and helps you answer the burning question: how to increase MMR (Matchmaking Ranking) in Dota 2.