Valve has introduced one of the most significant changes to Dota 2’s high-level ranked ladder in recent years. Patch 7.41e adjusts every Immortal player’s matchmaking rating into a new range between 1 and 9,500 MMR.
The change affects the numerical ratings shown on player accounts, but Valve has preserved the relative order of the Immortal leaderboard. Players who ranked above their competitors before the update should therefore remain ahead of them after the adjustment.
The ranked changes arrived alongside the Summer Scrub 2026 update and new content connected to The International 2026.
Immortal MMR Is Compressed Rather Than Fully Recalibrated
The update is widely being described as an Immortal MMR reset. However, it functions more like a ladder-wide compression than a traditional recalibration.
Valve has moved every Immortal account into the 1–9,500 MMR range. The system has not simply capped every player at 9,500, as individual ratings still reflect their previous positions relative to other Immortal competitors.
The main ranked adjustments are:
- Every Immortal player now has an MMR between 1 and 9,500
- Relative positions on the regional leaderboards remain unchanged
- The Immortal Draft threshold stays at 8,500 MMR
This distinction is important. Players have lost visible rating points, but the update is not intended to erase their progress or randomly reorder the leaderboard.
Alan “Satanic” Gallyamov offers a striking example. The high-ranked player had previously reached the historic 18,000 MMR mark. Following the update, his displayed rating reportedly fell to 9,462 MMR, while his position relative to other players was preserved.
Why Valve Targeted the Immortal Ladder
Dota 2’s highest MMR values had expanded considerably over time. Leading professional players and elite pub competitors were reaching ratings far beyond the numbers seen when the current ranked system was introduced.
This type of inflation can make the rating scale harder to interpret. A compression gives Valve more room to manage future progression while bringing the top end of the ladder back into a more controlled numerical range.
| Ranked element | Situation after Patch 7.41e |
|---|---|
| Immortal MMR range | 1 to 9,500 |
| Immortal Draft entry | 8,500 MMR |
| Leaderboard order | Preserved |
| Lower ranks | Not included in the compression |
The update changes the number attached to an Immortal account without intentionally changing that player’s competitive standing.
The immediate impact is largely presentational for players already on the leaderboard. The longer-term effect will depend on how quickly MMR inflation returns and whether Valve modifies rating gains, losses or matchmaking rules in future updates.
Patch 7.41e Also Changes the Ranked Mode Pool
The Immortal adjustment is not the only matchmaking change included with the update. Valve has also removed Random Draft and Ranked Classic from the available ranked mode pool.
Ranked Classic allowed players to enter a match without selecting preferred roles in advance. Its removal places more emphasis on the structured Role Queue system, where players choose positions before matchmaking begins.
Patch 7.41e introduces several related changes:
- Players can automatically select every role after exhausting their Role Queue Tokens
- The automatic selection option is disabled by default
- New players unlocking Ranked matchmaking receive five Role Queue Tokens
- Random Draft and Ranked Classic are no longer available in Ranked
These adjustments should make the ranked experience more consistent, although some players may dislike losing alternative queue formats. Ranked Classic was particularly useful for competitors who preferred negotiating positions after entering a lobby rather than selecting roles beforehand.
Summer Scrub 2026 Focuses on Fixes and Quality of Life
Patch 7.41e was released as part of Valve’s Summer Scrub 2026 update. Rather than introducing a complete gameplay overhaul, the release focuses on bug fixes, interface improvements and quality-of-life changes across heroes, items, cosmetics and the Dota 2 client.
Valve described the Summer Scrub as a large collection of fixes targeting issues reported by the community. The update also includes adjustments for Dota Plus and a range of technical corrections affecting gameplay interactions.
The timing is notable because The International 2026 is approaching. Stability and competitive consistency become increasingly important when professional teams enter the final stages of preparation for Dota 2’s biggest event.
Valve has also launched the event’s Compendium features, including predictions, fantasy activities and supporter bundles. These systems allow fans to engage with the tournament while earning rewards and supporting participating teams.
Assessment
The Immortal MMR compression is a practical response to years of rating inflation at the highest level of Dota 2. It creates a cleaner scale without deliberately disrupting the established leaderboard hierarchy.
For professional players, the immediate competitive consequences should be limited because their relative rankings remain intact. The update may initially create confusion, especially when players compare their new ratings with historical milestones, but the leaderboard itself should continue to reflect the same general order.
Removing Ranked Classic and Random Draft represents a more direct change to how players access competitive matchmaking. Valve is clearly prioritising Role Queue as the standard ranked format, which may improve consistency but reduces choice.
The real test will come over the following months. If top ratings begin climbing rapidly again, the compression will only offer a temporary solution. Valve may eventually need broader changes to rating distribution and MMR gains to prevent the Immortal ladder from returning to the same inflated state.
