Dota Rank Distribution and Medals in Season 1
The Dota 2 rank distribution and estimated MMR by medal during season 1. Data based on 5 million players.
I have been asked numerous times about the rank distribution in Dota 2. We don’t have official and specific info from Valve, but thanks to the work of the community and some tools, it is possible to find a reasonable answer.
The following dataset has the purpose to create a plausible MMR distribution by collecting data from as many players as possible.
A fraction of the player base might not be available as you can’t gather data from Dota 2 profiles that keep their info hidden, but the tool used for this distribution claims that “it covers nearly all ranked players and is not affected by the third-party sharing option” because “it gathers data directly from the Dota 2 system”.
All the Dota 2 ranked seasons
I had to split this analysis into multiple articles due to the excessive number of tables and graphs, which resulted in very long loading times.
Rank distribution - Season 1
May 2018
The table is responsive and sortable. If you are using a phone, you may have to turn it sideways for a full view. Otherwise, zoom in or click the grey area to swipe and sort it.
| Rank | Percentile | Rank | Percentile | Rank | Percentile | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herald | 0.01 | Crusader | 19.92 | Legend | 70.90 | Divine | 98.38 |
| Herald 1 | 0.05 | Crusader 1 | 23.51 | Legend 1 | 75.30 | Divine 1 | 98.78 |
| Herald 2 | 0.24 | Crusader 2 | 27.25 | Legend 2 | 79.47 | Divine 2 | 99.10 |
| Herald 3 | 0.80 | Crusader 3 | 31.23 | Legend 3 | 83.23 | Divine 3 | 99.32 |
| Herald 4 | 1.74 | Crusader 4 | 35.37 | Legend 4 | 86.29 | Divine 4 | 99.48 |
| Herald 5 | 2.96 | Crusader 5 | 39.63 | Legend 5 | 88.80 | Divine 5 | 99.97 |
| Guardian | 4.48 | Archon | 44.07 | Ancient | 91.04 | Divine 5+ | 100.00 |
| Guardian 1 | 6.30 | Archon 1 | 48.60 | Ancient 1 | 92.95 | ||
| Guardian 2 | 8.42 | Archon 2 | 53.11 | Ancient 2 | 94.49 | ||
| Guardian 3 | 10.85 | Archon 3 | 57.61 | Ancient 3 | 95.72 | ||
| Guardian 4 | 13.59 | Archon 4 | 62.05 | Ancient 4 | 96.81 | ||
| Guardian 5 | 16.61 | Archon 5 | 66.41 | Ancient 5 | 97.87 |
MMR distribution by Medal - Season 1
Comparing the old MMR to the new medals is a more difficult job. Again, we don’t have any info from Valve. We have access to the estimated MMR distribution pre-medals, but honestly that data has almost no value now.
After the release of the new system, clarinetEX held a survey, gathering data from over one thousand Dota 2 players about their calibration matches, the old MMR, and the medal achieved. Below, the final results.
Herald: 1 - 839
Guardian: 840 - 1709
Crusader: 1710 - 2579
Archon: 2580 - 3449
Legend: 3450 - 4319
Ancient: 4320 - 5189
Divine: 5190 - 6055+
Dota 2 new Solo MMR distribution in Season 1 - Image by clarinetEX
The MMR by medal is an estimate and is constantly adjusted.
You must have noticed that your medals changed in the past months even when not gaining MMR - and sometimes even when losing it! I believe that Valve re-arranged the system over time to offer a more balanced division.
Most probably, medals aren’t based on a strict MMR, but on a percentile: If you are a Legend and remain stable on your rank while most Legend players are losing theirs, then you deserve a better one. But, this is just a theory.
Dota 2 Gamepedia displays a slightly different distribution, but both are based only on a rough estimation as only Valve has access to the data of all players.
Herald: 1 - 779
Guardian: 780 - 1559
Crusader: 1560 - 2369
Archon: 2370 - 3149
Legend: 3150 - 3929
Ancient: 3930 - 4709
Divine: 4710 - 5360+
Which distribution should you trust? None.
They are helpful to give you an idea of your actual position and the approximate MMR necessary to advance to the next medal, but overall they all have a margin of error.
It is also very hard to understand how/if the combination of solo and party MMR affects the medal. Hopefully we will have more info directly from Valve at the end of the season.
Note: the first ranked season ended, and Valve has not revealed any official data.
Previous months
April 2018
| Rank | Percentile | Rank | Percentile | Rank | Percentile | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herald | 0.01 | Crusader | 20.94 | Legend | 72.37 | Divine | 98.54 |
| Herald 1 | 0.07 | Crusader 1 | 24.60 | Legend 1 | 76.74 | Divine 1 | 98.92 |
| Herald 2 | 0.34 | Crusader 2 | 28.41 | Legend 2 | 80.87 | Divine 2 | 99.20 |
| Herald 3 | 1.03 | Crusader 3 | 32.45 | Legend 3 | 84.41 | Divine 3 | 99.40 |
| Herald 4 | 2.06 | Crusader 4 | 36.67 | Legend 4 | 87.27 | Divine 4 | 99.54 |
| Herald 5 | 3.36 | Crusader 5 | 40.98 | Legend 5 | 89.64 | Divine 5 | 99.96 |
| Guardian | 4.96 | Archon | 45.48 | Ancient | 91.80 | Divine 5+ | 100.00 |
| Guardian 1 | 6.87 | Archon 1 | 50.04 | Ancient 1 | 93.57 | ||
| Guardian 2 | 9.07 | Archon 2 | 54.56 | Ancient 2 | 94.99 | ||
| Guardian 3 | 11.61 | Archon 3 | 59.05 | Ancient 3 | 96.13 | ||
| Guardian 4 | 14.45 | Archon 4 | 63.51 | Ancient 4 | 97.10 | ||
| Guardian 5 | 17.55 | Archon 5 | 67.90 | Ancient 5 | 98.06 |
March 2018
| Rank | Percentile | Rank | Percentile | Rank | Percentile | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herald | 0.01 | Crusader | 21.94 | Legend | 73.84 | Divine | 98.69 |
| Herald 1 | 0.09 | Crusader 1 | 25.66 | Legend 1 | 78.20 | Divine 1 | 99.04 |
| Herald 2 | 0.50 | Crusader 2 | 29.54 | Legend 2 | 82.26 | Divine 2 | 99.28 |
| Herald 3 | 1.31 | Crusader 3 | 33.65 | Legend 3 | 85.52 | Divine 3 | 99.46 |
| Herald 4 | 2.41 | Crusader 4 | 37.96 | Legend 4 | 88.21 | Divine 4 | 99.58 |
| Herald 5 | 4.18 | Crusader 5 | 42.33 | Legend 5 | 90.47 | Divine 5 | 99.96 |
| Guardian | 5.46 | Archon | 46.87 | Ancient | 92.52 | Divine 5+ | 100.00 |
| Guardian 1 | 7.44 | Archon 1 | 51.46 | Ancient 1 | 94.17 | ||
| Guardian 2 | 10.14 | Archon 2 | 55.99 | Ancient 2 | 95.47 | ||
| Guardian 3 | 12.36 | Archon 3 | 60.48 | Ancient 3 | 95.61 | ||
| Guardian 4 | 15.29 | Archon 4 | 64.96 | Ancient 4 | 97.36 | ||
| Guardian 5 | 18.47 | Archon 5 | 69.39 | Ancient 5 | 98.24 |
February 2018
| Rank | Percentile | Rank | Percentile | Rank | Percentile | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herald | 0.01 | Crusader | 22.78 | Legend | 75.10 | Divine | 98.83 |
| Herald 1 | 0.15 | Crusader 1 | 26.55 | Legend 1 | 79.49 | Divine 1 | 99.14 |
| Herald 2 | 0.71 | Crusader 2 | 30.48 | Legend 2 | 83.36 | Divine 2 | 99.35 |
| Herald 3 | 1.59 | Crusader 3 | 34.68 | Legend 3 | 86.40 | Divine 3 | 99.51 |
| Herald 4 | 2.76 | Crusader 4 | 39.04 | Legend 4 | 88.97 | Divine 4 | 99.62 |
| Herald 5 | 4.19 | Crusader 5 | 43.44 | Legend 5 | 91.21 | Divine 5 | 99.96 |
| Guardian | 5.92 | Archon | 48.05 | Ancient | 93.13 | Divine 5+ | 100.00 |
| Guardian 1 | 7.96 | Archon 1 | 52.66 | Ancient 1 | 94.66 | ||
| Guardian 2 | 10.33 | Archon 2 | 57.18 | Ancient 2 | 95.86 | ||
| Guardian 3 | 13.03 | Archon 3 | 61.69 | Ancient 3 | 96.82 | ||
| Guardian 4 | 16.02 | Archon 4 | 66.24 | Ancient 4 | 97.57 | ||
| Guardian 5 | 19.25 | Archon 5 | 70.67 | Ancient 5 | 98.36 |
Stats and seasonal rank graphs: dota.rgp.io - Header image (Reminiscence of Dreams loading screen for Puck): Valve
