During the past 4-5 years. I have been often taking extended breaks from the game and everytime I come back. It feels like I have to start the game from a new.
Some Back story of the span of 5+ years.
Reached 4k+ and was steadly rising MMR but had to quit the game when I graduated from uni.
Came back to the game many months later and calibrated to 3k exactly. took me couple of months of struggling but I ended up 3.8k but I had to quiit again.
Came back and calibrated to 2.7k, took many months and landed 3.6k before quiting.
Took my biggest break ever and I ended up at 1990 MMR in Nov/2011, my lowest probably in 10 years but I learned from my past experiences and after a couple of weeks of 50%~ WR, I managed to get on a roll and get back to 3.4k before quitting again.
2 months ago, I came back and I fucked up my calibration and mega tilted and went to 2.1k but I followed my formula/tips and I am at 3k right now. and I was still 2.1k MMR 3-4 weeks ago, so all this progression was these past 2-3 weeks.
My Tips:
1. Adapt to your main role's playstyle or change roles to a position you understand:
This is probably the most important tip, Roles often change with big patches and the role you found success before might be completely different from how you used to play before. example: Mid is my favourite role, I really enjoyed the concept of 1v1, space creation and flashy heroes but the meta is different right now. Mid players have access to runes and have access to easy farm. They are more passive now. So my playstyle of wanting to fight all the time and create space was not working because my carries did not know what to do with the space I gave them. I would have games where I was 4-0/6-0 early game but I ended up falling hard in networth while the opponent mid afk farmed. I either had to stomp to win the game or just fall off. I couldn't change my playstyle cuz I played that way for 7+ years and I knew what I was doing wrong but I would still focus more on space creation over farming.
I ended up changing roles cuz I coulnd't adapt. First step: see which roles I understand the most. 2nd step: execute. Even though Pos.3 and Pos.4 matched my old mid playstyle more but I felt like understood the Pos.1 role the most.
2. Set rules for your self:
My rules:
Don't queue again after loss untill you forgot about it. It could take 5 minutes it could take hours(depending on the loss)
if I feel that I played bad 2-3 games in a row even though I won or lost. I'd take a break and if I still feel that I am not having the impact required from me I'd contemplate changing roles.
Look at the graphs every game. Compare your self to the opponent, see what you did better or worse. Find points in the game where you see a big event happened and rewatch it. This doesn't take more than a few minutes.
Don't play when you are tired or sleepy. You need to play at your 100%.
3. Don't give up and focus on your own game:
There is an equal chance of having a griefer or bad player on the opponent's team. I had games where I would have someone pick a carry in offlane role. I would have someone flame someone else for no reason.
You know your role, you do what you have to do that is in your hands to win the game and do it.
Mute people temporarily if you feel that they are negatively impacting your and unmute them when you think it is appropriate.
Don't be the toxic guy
don't be the negative guy, you saying X player is bad or suck just makes other people lose focus. play the game
4. Know your purpose in the game either pick accordinly or adapt to it:
Never stick by the books. See what your team needs and adapt to it. This might apply more to Pos.1 to 4 than 5.
You can either do it in the draft if you are picking later in the draft by seeing what your team is lacking and pick accordingly (ex. something less greedy if you mid is is ultra greedy or hero) or pick something to synergize with your team mates. You have an invoker expert in your team, pick a void for him and make him shine.
or you can adapt with items. See what your team is lacking and use items to fill the gaps. See what items can counter the enemy team and use items to counter.
5. Dont be a meta slave:
You can easily gain MMR right now if you pick heroes like Jugg, Dawn, Necro..etc. but they are not always available or they might not always be the right pick. yes jugg is like 56% WR in almost all brackets but that is also 44% loss. There are heroes that could fit the game perfectly.
Have a few tricks up your sleeve to completely dismantle the opponents draft.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/DotA2/comments/wb7zu9/some_tips_for_those_of_you_who_just_returned_to/
