One of the biggest problems plaguing Dota 2 in recent months has been the overwhelming rise of smurfs and account buyers. These players have disrupted matchmaking, negatively impacting the integrity of ranked games.
Ironically, the surge in smurfing can be traced back to Valve’s own decision to introduce Double MMR Tokens during the Crownfall 2024 event. This mechanic allowed players to boost their ranks at an unprecedented rate, leading to a chaotic ranked experience.
Now, in 2025, Valve appears to be taking measures to counter this issue, beginning with significant changes to ranked matches in the highest skill bracket: Immortal Rank.
New Changes to Immortal Draft
Several months ago, Valve introduced the Immortal Draft, a specialized system for ranked matches in the top-tier competitive scene. In this system, each team had a designated captain, who selected teammates from an available player pool before the match began.
This system was initially well-received and improved the matchmaking experience for high-level players. However, Valve has now implemented major modifications that will significantly impact the highest-ranked Dota 2 players.
What Changes Has Valve Implemented?
1. Increased MMR Requirement
One of the biggest updates is the increase in MMR requirements for Immortal Draft eligibility:
- Previously, players needed 6,500 MMR to participate.
- Now, the requirement has been raised to 8,500 MMR.
- This adjustment reduces the player pool to just 0.5% of the entire Dota 2 community.
This drastic restriction aims to ensure that only the absolute top-tier players can access Immortal Draft matches, potentially deterring smurfs and account buyers.
2. Official Registered Names
- Players must now register an official in-game name, which cannot be changed once set.
- This measure is designed to increase accountability, preventing players from constantly changing identities.
- This also makes it easier for Valve to track and monitor suspicious player behavior.
3. No Party Queue for Immortal Draft
- Players can no longer queue in parties for Immortal Draft matches.
- This prevents boosting and unfair advantages, ensuring a more competitive environment.
4. Match History & API Restrictions
One of the most controversial changes is the removal of public match history and API access for Immortal Draft games:
- Immortal Draft matches will no longer appear in public match history.
- The Dota 2 API will no longer provide data on these matches.
This decision directly impacts popular third-party tracking websites such as: Dota2ProTracker and DotaBuff.
These platforms have been essential for analyzing professional-level gameplay, and their functionality will be significantly limited moving forward.
5. MMR Gains & Losses Adjusted
- Valve has indicated that MMR adjustments will be tweaked within the Immortal Draft system.
- Players are advised to closely monitor these changes as they may affect rank progression significantly.
Source: Steam
What’s Next for Dota 2’s Ranked System?
While these updates represent a serious effort to curb smurfing and account buying, one notable omission is any mention of a full MMR reset. Many players were hoping for a hard reset of rankings, which could address some of the long-standing issues within ranked matchmaking.
However, given Valve’s recent activity, a potential MMR reset may still be on the horizon.