Dota 2 Ranked Rewards: Medals, Season Reset
Verified November 7, 2026 · Status: live seasonal rewards
Dota 2 Ranked Season Rewards include Medal tiers (Herald → Guardian → Crusader → Archon → Legend → Ancient → Divine → Immortal), with a seasonal reset every 6 months lowering your MMR slightly, plus rank-specific cosmetic rewards: season icons, chat wheel lines, border frames — top-10 Immortal players appear on regional leaderboards with their nameplate highlighted. Verified on 7 November 2026.
Source: Valve — Dota 2 Ranked Season.
Symptom → cause → first action
| Problem | Likely cause | First action |
|---|---|---|
| Season ended; rank reset | 6-month cycle reset | Place matches to re-rank |
| Medal tier unexpected | MMR matters, not just wins | Check MMR vs medal tier chart |
| Didn’t get season reward | Must play X placement matches | Play required placements |
| Can I buy my medal | No | Grind MMR legitimately |
| Why is leaderboard higher ranked than me | Leaderboard is top 2000 per region | Climb MMR above leaderboard threshold |
| Got auto-dropped MMR | Season start grace period | Normal — placements re-establish |
Medal tiers
| Medal | MMR range (approximate) |
|---|---|
| Herald | 0 – 770 MMR |
| Guardian | 770 – 1540 MMR |
| Crusader | 1540 – 2310 MMR |
| Archon | 2310 – 3080 MMR |
| Legend | 3080 – 3850 MMR |
| Ancient | 3850 – 4620 MMR |
| Divine | 4620 – 5420 MMR |
| Immortal | 5420+ MMR |
| Top Immortal (Leaderboard) | Top 2000 per region |
Each tier has 5 ranks within it (except Immortal). MMR ranges approximate; exact borders vary slightly.
Season timing
- Season length: ~6 months per season.
- Reset: At season end, MMR drops by 500-1500 depending on current level.
- Placement matches: 10 matches required to establish new rank.
- Season ends: Announced in patch notes 1-2 weeks before.
- Grace period: First 7 days of new season have adjusted MMR calibration.
- No confusion: Season end never surprises — Valve announces well in advance.
Season reward categories
| Element | Reward |
|---|---|
| Season icon | Unique profile icon per season |
| Chat wheel lines | Rank-tier chat wheel voice lines |
| Loading screens | Rank-themed loading screens |
| Border frames | Profile border per peak rank |
| Rank name change | Each season has new medal design |
| Leaderboard title (top 100) | Special Immortal nameplate flag |
Rank distribution (approximate 2026)
- Herald-Guardian: 40-50% of ranked playerbase.
- Crusader-Archon: 25-30% of players.
- Legend-Ancient: 15-20%.
- Divine-Immortal: 5-10% of ranked players.
- Top 2000 per region: Elite 0.1-0.5%.
How Valve calculates rank
- MMR system: Elo-like rating that changes with every win/loss.
- Visible rank (medal): Set by MMR position within season reset points.
- Win/loss impact: ±20-30 MMR per game at your level.
- Party vs solo MMR: Separate tracking for playing with friends vs solo.
- Medal reset: Only Medal name resets each season; underlying MMR stays mostly intact.
Leaderboard placement
- Top 2000 per region: Appears on official leaderboard at dota2.com.
- Daily update: Leaderboard reflects same-day MMR.
- Regions: Asia, Europe, Americas, Southeast Asia, Russia-CIS, etc.
- Season-end leaderboard freeze: Ranks lock 2 weeks before season end.
- Immortal nameplate flag: Top 10 of your region get a highlighted nameplate during next season.
Common rank questions
- Q: Can I stop queuing and keep my rank? A: Yes, rank doesn’t decay during a season. Only resets at season end.
- Q: Do losses reset my medal? A: Not directly. Medal reflects MMR; sustained losses lower MMR, which may drop medal tier.
- Q: Can I grief my way to lower rank for easier games? A: No — repeated losses trigger behavior review and LPQ.
- Q: How many Behavior Score points per rank? A: Not directly tied; high medal has no Behavior Score requirement.
If rewards aren’t appearing
- Placement matches incomplete? → play remaining placements for the season.
- Icon not showing on profile? → log out and back in; may need refresh.
- Chat wheel line locked? → verify you reached the required tier at season end.
- Border frame missing? → check Profile → Showcase → verify peak rank is correct.
- Season mathematics seem off? → Valve accounts; check dota2.com leaderboard for official numbers.
- Related: ranks and MMR, check MMR, Battle Pass, LPQ.
- Still stuck → Steam Support ticket.
FAQ
How often does Dota 2 ranked season reset?
Every 6 months. At season end, MMR drops slightly (500-1500 points depending on rank), and placement matches re-establish your rank. Medal designs may also change.
What are the 8 medal tiers?
Herald, Guardian, Crusader, Archon, Legend, Ancient, Divine, Immortal. Each tier has 5 sub-ranks (except Immortal). Rare “Top Immortal” tier is top 2000 per region.
How do I earn season rewards?
Play 10 placement matches per season to establish your rank. Rewards (icons, chat wheel, borders) distribute based on peak rank at season end. Higher peak = better rewards.
Can my rank drop during a season?
Medal tier can drop if you lose consistently and your MMR falls below the threshold. During a season, rank shifts fluidly with your MMR. Season end lock applies for rewards.
What’s the Dota 2 leaderboard?
Top 2000 players per region, viewable at dota2.com/ranks. Daily updates. Top 10 get special nameplate flags in the next season.
Is there rank decay?
No visible rank decay from inactivity. Your MMR stays where you left it between matches. At season end, the full reset applies to everyone.
How many matches to climb one medal tier?
Varies — roughly 15-30 wins to climb from one tier to the next at your current level. Diminishing returns at higher ranks (Immortal climbers may spend hundreds of matches per ladder spot).
Related guides
