The Glicko Rating System Coming to Dota 2: What You Need to Know
Dota 2 has had its MMR and ranking system for many years, but it’s not perfect. However, it seems that improvement may be on the way with the introduction of the Glicko Rating System.
A Reddit user recently discovered that the Glicko Rating System code was added to the Dota 2 client. This suggests that the system could soon be implemented in the game.
Glicko rating systems are commonly used in games like Pokémon GO, CS:GO, and Chess.com. If you’re not familiar with how it works, you can read more about it on Wikipedia.
In Dota 2, players will experience the effects of the Glicko rating system in their ranked matches. The MMR they gain or lose from each game will vary, thanks to the introduction of “MMR Uncertainty.”
For example, if the system detects a smurf in a low-ranked match, that smurf may be rewarded with more MMR to bring them closer to their intended skill bracket. On the other hand, if a player has taken a break and returns to the game, they might experience higher MMR losses due to a decrease in skill level.
This may sound unusual to new Dota 2 players, but a similar system existed in the game’s early days. Back then, players would only lose a small amount of MMR if they were matched against smurfs. This is one of the advantages of the Glicko ranking system.
The Glicko rating system makes adjustments based on the presence of smurfs or a wide spread in MMR. Here’s what happens in those situations:
- The team favored to win will receive fewer MMR points than the usual 30 for solo queue games.
- The team expected to lose will lose fewer MMR points than the usual 30 for solo queue games.
Dota 2, Glicko Rating System, MMR, ranked matches, smurf, skill level