The best tips on how to win your Dota 2 ranked matches

Dota 2 ranked matchmaking is a challenging task but there is always room for improvement. Everyone knows that ranked games are tough but there are lessons that you can learn while playing these ranked matches. As the most-played mode in Dota 2, performing well in ranked matchmaking is crucial to playing this game. 

In every ranked match, there are challenging factors like playing against experienced players. However, you will also encounter teammates that pick bad heroes. That should not happen but that will always pop up when playing ranked games. If you want to thrive in Dota 2’s matchmaking system, you should follow these tips and principles so you can improve as a player.

Learn to work well with your teammates

While anyone can become a star player, they still have to work with their teammates. This is important because some players love to branch out on their own which should not be the case. Even if you queue on your own, Dota 2 is a team game that revolves around the dynamics between the players. 

Communication will be a huge part of success in matchmaking. Some people like to talk with their mic so they can be clear with what they want to do. However, most players will only type their thoughts out in the in-game chat. If you are not a player who likes to talk on the mic, make sure that you are saying all of the necessary points in the in-game chat. 

Being a good teammate is also crucial to success because some people only play the game for themselves. This has led to players only using carry or mid heroes which should not be the case. While there is a role ranked matchmaking mode, there is a limited amount of games that can be playe. You will eventually have to play the normal ranked mode where you will have to compromise at times. 

Try to be versatile with your role

When you’re playing ranked, you can always play carry or mid but that should not be the case. You should also diversify your roles because other players also want to play the roles that you prefer. You can play as an offlane or support player in some matches so you can fit with the team much better. 

This is where compromise comes into play because you can have a better time playing these games if you’re being a good teammate rather than imposing your will on the match. If you work on your support play with proper warding and the right timing with saves, you can expect that your teammates will love playing with you which will likely lead to wins and more matchmaking rating points. 

You will most likely love playing carry heroes like Juggernaut but you can’t play that all the time. Diversify your hero pool so you can be a better team player as well. If you are playing Jugg in one game, you should also know how to play Earthshaker support or Lion support. This kind of switchblade ability is rare for Dota players but you will have a much better chance of winning MMR if you play heroes that are good fits with the team. 

Manage your moves well

You will encounter some impulse decisions during the game. You should always make sure that you’re building good habits for yourself because that will factor in when you make your impulse moves. This will pop up in various situations like ganking. 

A bad habit that many players share is overextending during ganks which lead to the team pulling off a counter-gank. Players should know that if they don’t eliminate the enemy in just a few seconds, there will be a chance that the enemy team will respond. 

You should coordinate your moves well with your teammates as well like smoke ganks or team fights. This is one of the most important parts of Dota because if you coordinate your moves properly, you will win fights and get to take objectives. 

Know the right timings

In Dota 2, timing is everything. If you make the right decision at the right time, you can expect that your team will benefit from it. This can come in the form of buying the best item possible at the right time. Farming is a huge part of the game and if you are farmed at the best time possible, you can expect the rest of the team will thrive as well. 

To know the right timing, you should have a better sense of the game. This can be worked on by watching games and knowing the common tendencies that players have. If you can nail this down, you will be a much smarter player than before because you can properly predict what the enemy team is going to do. 

Know the meta

Dota 2’s metagame is always in constant flux but you can keep up with this during every patch. This will be seen in the common trends that you see in Dota matches and resources like Dotabuff where you can see the heroes that are big in the meta. When you have heroes like Io and Tiny emerging as stars of the meta, you should try and learn those heroes as well so you can use them to your advantage. 

It will be a long process to keep up with the meta but your life can become easier if you use the best heroes there. At the same time, you should also remember that the meta is not only restricted to the heroes because items are also part of the trends. 

Items like the Black King Bar and Blink Dagger will always be a huge fixture of Dota but you should look at items that will be important during a certain meta. Look at the Meteor Hammer or the Aghanim’s Shard which can be impactful in the games because of their effects on team fights and hero progression. 

Having the best mentality is key

While Dota 2 has immense dynamics, you should also know that there is also a mental battle during ranked matches. There will be times when you want to release your rage but you should always keep in mind that being toxic to your teammates will not result in anything positive. Always have the right mentality so you can take all of the obstacles at face value without having to stoop down to trash talk. 

Those are just a few of the tips that you can use to win your matches and MMR. Dota 2 matches are challenging but you should always remember that it is just a game at the end of the day. You should always enjoy the games that you are playing. As most of the players say, good luck and have fun with your ranked games!