Why a Ranked Turbo Mode Could Benefit Dota 2’s Future

[LCTadpolePeaceKindness道燕聖云澈十二中〇—]

Hello everyone,

I’d like to revive and expand on the discussion around introducing a Ranked Turbo Mode to Dota 2—an idea first brought up by other community members like @andrestrindade. Over the years, Turbo has attracted a growing player base that appreciates shorter, more action-packed matches. However, because it currently lacks a ranked ladder, many competitive-minded players overlook it. Here are a few reasons why I believe Ranked Turbo could be a welcome addition:

Faster Games for Busy Schedules

As more players find themselves short on free time, committing to a 40–60 minute standard or ranked match can be impractical.
A ranked Turbo environment would cater to those who still love Dota 2’s depth but need a condensed match format, without sacrificing the competitive spirit.
Accessibility & Wider Appeal

Players over 30 or those juggling work, studies, or family responsibilities often cite time constraints as a barrier to playing traditional Dota.
By offering a formal ranked system in Turbo, Dota 2 becomes more inviting to a broader audience—including both new players and veterans seeking a quick, high-energy experience.
Precedent in Other MOBAs

Historically, other MOBA titles (such as Heroes of Newerth) have used a similar approach, offering both classic ranked modes and faster-paced ranked modes.
This demonstrates that faster-ranked game modes can coexist with traditional ones, often increasing overall community engagement.
Retaining Competitive Depth

Contrary to fears that quicker games might lessen strategic depth, Turbo’s fast progression can actually amplify certain aspects of the game (e.g., itemization choices, early team fights).
A ranked version of Turbo would still reward skill, decision-making, and hero mastery; it would merely place these elements in a more rapid context.
Low Risk to Standard Modes

If there is a concern about splitting the player base, this mode could be introduced as a seasonal or experimental feature first, similar to how other limited-time events and modes have been handled in Dota 2’s history.
If the mode proves successful, it could then be integrated permanently, fostering distinct but complementary competitive experiences.
New Incentives & Tournaments

A Ranked Turbo Mode could open up new opportunities for event organizers to host tournaments or leagues exclusively for faster matches.
This would bring additional variety to the Dota 2 esports scene and highlight talented players who excel in rapid-play environments.
Ultimately, Ranked Turbo is about recognizing that Dota 2’s community is diverse—encompassing everything from hardcore players who love long, methodical games to those who crave shorter, more intense sessions. Providing a competitive Turbo ladder would allow more players to chase ranks, earn rewards, and stay engaged without the time commitment of the standard format.

Thank you for considering this suggestion. I hope the Dota 2 development team and community will continue to discuss the potential merits of Ranked Turbo, and I look forward to seeing how Dota 2 evolves in the future.

Kind regards,
A fellow Dota 2 enthusiast

[Kagami]

The answer is NO it will never happened. Its been discussed in reddit.dota2 and dev.dota2 forum and all the dota developer agree it won’t happened.

I hope this can answer your suggestion and put an end to it once and for all.

[LCTadpolePeaceKindness道燕聖云澈十二中〇—]

Originally posted by Kagami Taiga:

The answer is NO it will never happened. Its been discussed in reddit.dota2 and dev.dota2 forum and all the dota developer agree it won’t happened.

I hope this can answer your suggestion and put an end to it once and for all.

If that were truly the case, many features in Dota 2 wouldn’t exist today. There have been countless discussions where ideas were initially dismissed, only for them to be implemented later due to community demand.

If people want something and keep asking for it, developers take notice. Change doesn’t happen if everyone just gives up. The fact that this conversation keeps coming up shows that many players still see value in it.

Dota 2 has evolved over time, and the discussion about Ranked Turbo isn’t about forcing change—it’s about exploring ways to keep the game accessible and engaging for different types of players.

[ABOUT CASTLE DRACHENFELS]

play a turbo match. it already exists. Lock this thread

[Kagami]

Originally posted by LCTadpole道燕聖云澈十二中〇—:

Originally posted by Kagami Taiga:

The answer is NO it will never happened. Its been discussed in reddit.dota2 and dev.dota2 forum and all the dota developer agree it won’t happened.

I hope this can answer your suggestion and put an end to it once and for all.

hence the very reason why this request must be posted again and again by all those who don't have time for a 60 minute match and still like to play a competitive ranked match

Don’t have time ? Don’t play dota2. Simple.

Trust me Valve can afford losing 1 player.

[will]

I will just stop DOTA 2 if ranked turbo. Ranked is for those who don't remember the meaning of the word game.

[LCTadpolePeaceKindness道燕聖云澈十二中〇—]

Originally posted by G.H.F:

I will just stop DOTA 2 if ranked turbo. Ranked is for those who don't remember the meaning of the word game.

I respect your preference, but adding Ranked Turbo wouldn’t force anyone to play it. Just like how we have both 'All Pick' and 'Ranked All Pick,' players who enjoy unranked Turbo can continue playing it the same way.

The goal isn’t to replace anything, just to give another option for players who want competitive progression in a faster format. If some players would quit because of an optional mode, does that mean we should never add any new game modes? Dota 2 has always evolved by adding more choices, not fewer

[LCTadpolePeaceKindness道燕聖云澈十二中〇—]

Originally posted by ABOUT CASTLE DRACHENFELS:

play a turbo match. it already exists. Lock this thread

I understand that Turbo already exists, and I enjoy it. However, my suggestion isn’t just about playing Turbo—it’s about making it more meaningful for competitive players who want ranking, progression, and rewards.

Simply saying ‘play Turbo’ ignores the entire reasoning behind this discussion. Many players, especially those with limited free time, would still like a competitive experience without committing to 60-minute matches. Ranked Turbo would offer that without affecting traditional Ranked.

Other games have proven that alternative ranked modes can thrive alongside main modes, and I see no reason why Dota 2 couldn’t benefit from this as well. If you disagree, that’s fair—but shutting down discussion without engaging in the actual points being raised doesn’t contribute to a constructive conversation.

[LCTadpolePeaceKindness道燕聖云澈十二中〇—]

Originally posted by Kagami Taiga:

Originally posted by LCTadpole道燕聖云澈十二中〇—:

hence the very reason why this request must be posted again and again by all those who don't have time for a 60 minute match and still like to play a competitive ranked match

Don’t have time ? Don’t play dota2. Simple.

Trust me Valve can afford losing 1 player.

If you've played a game for years and it has become an integral part of your life, quitting isn’t that simple. Many of my friends who have been playing since Dota 1 had to stop simply because their adult responsibilities no longer allow them to commit to 60-minute ranked matches.

This suggestion isn’t about forcing a change for everyone but providing an option for those who still want a competitive experience but in a shorter format. Turbo and unranked don’t offer the same intensity, and many players don’t take them seriously.

At the end of the day, the goal is to keep more players engaged rather than losing them entirely. After all, wouldn’t a game benefit from retaining its dedicated player base rather than pushing them away?

[tom tomorrow]

They'd have to completely rebalance the game around it. Turbo isn't balanced at all. Late gamers dominate because they're always able to get online. Certain heroes with early game win conditions are almost completely unviable.

[Kagami]

Originally posted by LCTadpole道燕聖云澈十二中〇—:

Originally posted by Kagami Taiga:

Don’t have time ? Don’t play dota2. Simple.

Trust me Valve can afford losing 1 player.

If you've played a game for years and it has become an integral part of your life, quitting isn’t that simple. Many of my friends who have been playing since Dota 1 had to stop simply because their adult responsibilities no longer allow them to commit to 60-minute ranked matches.

This suggestion isn’t about forcing a change for everyone but providing an option for those who still want a competitive experience but in a shorter format. Turbo and unranked don’t offer the same intensity, and many players don’t take them seriously.

At the end of the day, the goal is to keep more players engaged rather than losing them entirely. After all, wouldn’t a game benefit from retaining its dedicated player base rather than pushing them away?

A few doesn’t represent the whole. So if a few quits the game. Trust me Valve can afford it.

[Kagami]

Originally posted by mf tom:

They'd have to completely rebalance the game around it. Turbo isn't balanced at all. Late gamers dominate because they're always able to get online. Certain heroes with early game win conditions are almost completely unviable.

And also Ogre magi can have triple or quadruple networth in turbo compared to the normal match.

[Dinsdale]

Ranked turbo will never happen and ranked turbo will not benefit dota in anyway.

The points you make is exactly why ranked turbo shouldnt exist, people dont have time to play long games or get good at farming + hero balance is wack in turbo just because of the passive income. Nah. Wasted your time with this...

Why take turbo serious? The old name for this was easy mode.

Besides Valve will never want to balance two modes as players will start to cry about this too. Thats a resource dump for sure.

Ranked turbo is and will only be a crazy suggestion to make.

[Himmel]

unranked all pick, single draft, random draft and ability draft are useless modes that just split numbers, those should be erased

[ZenWar]

I would rather want the turbo mode what it used to be,
10~15 minutes average game time max and it was very fun.
I remember when one day all of my game was around 5 minutes max.
Most of the time maximum long game time was 20 minutes max.
All of the carry heroes could get 4 maxed slot items under 3 minutes.
Towers and buildings were like candle, destroyed easily.
All changed and ruined in the name of balance updates.
Now all of my games are 30 to 40 minutes average game time,
which is 4x time longer than before. It is very noticable in recent games.
Prior to turbo and monkey king release back in 2016,
I remember my overall dota2 play time on steam was 1k~1.5k.
But now it's over 13k and i never went back to normal games again.
So, i rather want a new turbo mode based on turbo mode.
A turbo-turbo mode or change it back to it's original form.

[LCTadpolePeaceKindness道燕聖云澈十二中〇—]

Originally posted by mf tom:

They'd have to completely rebalance the game around it. Turbo isn't balanced at all. Late gamers dominate because they're always able to get online. Certain heroes with early game win conditions are almost completely unviable.

developers truly decide to implement it, trust me, they will balance it—just as they have done countless times before. Dota 2 is by far one of the most balanced games out there, and Valve has a strong track record of listening to player feedback and making necessary adjustments.

So don’t worry too much about that part, friend—if Turbo Ranked were to become a reality, balance patches would follow, just like with every other mode! 😊