On March 19, 2025, Dota 2 introduced a significant update that alters the mechanics of Immortal Drafts, specifically targeting the elite players with a matchmaking rating (MMR) of 8500 or higher. This update aims to enhance the overall experience of the top 0.5% of the game’s community. However, one particular change poses challenges for professional stat-tracking websites.
As per the new regulations, players reaching the 8500 MMR threshold will see their match histories rendered invisible. This includes all relevant match data and replays, even to their friends. This development not only impacts platforms like Dota2ProTracker but also threatens the viability of high-MMR live match viewing and replay highlight channels.
The Implications of Dota 2’s Updated Immortal Draft Mechanics
A crucial shift affecting a larger segment of the Dota 2 community is the disabling of the WebAPI for matches involving players with MMRs of 8500 and above. Those who meet this criterion must now register their in-game account with an official name before they can access ranked matches. This registration results in the invisibility of their profile and match history to others, effectively creating an exclusive environment.
This WebAPI restriction prevents external websites from tracking these elite profiles, meaning fans and analysts will miss out on key data regarding high-level players, such as Yatoro, and their current strategies or hero preferences.
Nevertheless, while imposing a barrier around the 8500+ MMR cohort, the changes do not completely isolate these players from the rest of the community. Players in the Immortal Drafts can still compete against those rated at 6500 MMR, who maintain their visibility. As a result, meta strategies may still filter down to the broader player base, albeit at a slower pace than in previous seasons.
Additionally, the previously available 24/7 streams focused on high-MMR gameplay will no longer be as prevalent, except for select streamers like Qojqva, who can still provide some level of access to those wanting to tune into high-stakes matches.
Key Changes from the March 2025 Patch
- Immortal Draft rules will be applicable for players exceeding 8500 MMR, distinguishing them from the previous cutoff of 6500 MMR (the top 1.5% of players).
- Matches played under the Immortal Draft banner will not appear in the public match history, and replay access is restricted solely to participants.
- Players surpassing 8500 MMR must register an official name for ranked queuing, which remains unchanged and will be displayed during the pre-game draft.
- Players within the 8500 MMR bracket are prohibited from queuing together for ranked games; however, unranked play remains unaffected.
- The MMR gain/loss system for Immortal Draft matches has been revamped to appropriately reflect potential outcomes based on player draft decisions.
For more updates and guides related to Dota 2, stay tuned: