We all use the term “smurf” wrong and at this point I don’t know if there is turning back.

Hello everyone,

Sometimes I have problems with expressing myself regardless of which language I use. I will try to be very simple explicit, and hopefully short so true Dota player that usually don't read will not have problems with getting this new information.

"Smurfs are extremely highly skilled players playing on new accounts to hide their identity in order to save their competitive advantage for future official professional matches"

Smurfing.

I don't know the etymology of the word and how we ended up using it online gaming, but I don't think it matters that much.

The term "smurf" started to be used widely in the game called Warcraft 3. Back in the day 2002-2003, It was probably the most popular online PvP game after Counter Strike.

After you bought your CD box, you received a CD-key, which you had to use when installing the game. This enabled you to connect to the Battle.net servers and play online. After you connected to the Battle.net servers, you had a log-in screen where you could also create a new account. You could create 100 new accounts daily if you wanted to.

The most popular game mode in Warcraft 3 was 1v1. Online tournaments were very regular, and as the years went on, the competitive scene was growing steadily. There was big money in it, a huge number of players played it. It was either Counter Strike or Warcraft 3 at that time. (Starcraft 1 was basically dead in Europe).

Please note that Warcraft 3 offered players very simple, yet useful stats about other players. You could see the other players: WIN, LOSES, WINRATE etc. Player had unique play styles, strategies, they were adapting their play styles depending who they are going to play against. It was extremely complex and beautiful. If you don't know, Juggernat is basically Blademaster from Warcraft 3. Tinker is Tinker from Warcraft 3. Beastmaster is mostly Beasmaster from Warcraft 3.

It is important to note that replays sites (where people would upload replays) were also very very active. Replays from top players were uploaded daily, people would vote for ROTD (Replay of the Day), ROTW (Replay of the week) etc.

As more and more money was involved, more sponsors, more teams, prestigious events happened, people started doing one thing:

They wanted to hide their identity. Hide their strategies. They wanted to be invisible to opponents while they practice.

In order to do this, they had to create new accounts so their opponents wouldn't know who they are playing against. This is the reason for the following:

Every pro player had a smurf account in Warcarft 3.

Literally, no pro player had a single account. It was unheard of. While it happened almost 20 years ago, I still remember some:

4k.Grubby (you know him) = AbuseYouDNA

PhilMilardo (A brilliant Undead fiend abuser) = TodHasABigNose

4k.Tod = apm70maphacks + at least 2 more that I can't remember

MYM]Bjarke= MIMIMIMI

m1.b1gman (rip) = ВСЕ РАВНО

4k.Fury = BeautyOfSilence

Sk.Mad]Q[Frog = nochat.

This is very important:

None of these players made their new accounts to play against worse players to feel good about themselves. 0.

They made them to improve. To not feel scared about trying new things. To experiment. And while doing this, not lose rank on their main accounts.

Also, many non-pro players also had smurf accounts for the exact same reason and above.

Me, like all of my friends liked to experiment. We did crazy stuff on new accounts. Lost games like fools, tried new things, had fun. All of this while we didn't ruin our stats on our main accounts.

How does this transition to Dota?

Creating new accounts to test things in Dota is not nice, because you potentially ruin games for your teammates. Yes.

BUT, do you know what?

KOTL mid was invented on a smurf account.

Most of the pro item builds and play styles are invented on smurf accounts.

Almost everything that Dota is today is invented on smurf accounts.

The Miracel- Arc Warden throne defense was a consequence of him creating a smurf account only to play Arc Warden.

​

I will 100% not play Ember Spirit on my main account. And no, I don't want to play normal. I hate normal.

I will create a new one and play there. Or I will use an old one if I have.

My OD/Drow Ranger are easily 5,5k level and I can solo carry games.

But my Ember? I couldn't even carry Legend games with it. I'm that bad.

So I will obviously go to Legend games and slowly learn.

Why this doesn't ruin your matchmaking if Legend is your real rank?

If you are my opponent, and you want to climb MMR, your best hero will be at least same or better than my worst hero.

It's that simple. You have 450 games on your Void Spirit. I have 2 games on Ember and I don't know shit about him.

How else?

Sometimes people want a fresh start. Create a nice new account without anyone in the friends list. Try new heroes or improve on existing ones without the pressure of losing MMR.

Closing words:

We use the word "smurf" very liberally and it has lost it's true meaning.

The "120 matches played guy" with 100% win rate and 11 win streak on Lina most likely is just a regular guy with the exact MMR of yours. He has around 50% winrate in total. He mostly loses with Tinker, and wins with Lina. If he was really skilled with 90% winrate, he wouldn't be in your bracket. It's very simple.

You most likely haven't met pro player smurfs ever in your life and you probably will not. Pro players start their new account and after 2-3 games they are put in a much higher bracket than you ever be. When they are ranked eligible, they will not be matched in under 6k MMR games.

You will meet higher skilled players playing on low skilled accounts in party MMR. I don't want to ruin my MMR because I played with my drunk and stoned Legend friend. No. I worked hard for that MMR. I will ask my friend for his Legend acc. This sadly happens a lot. This isn't a smurf. This is MMR abuse and you should report it under such if you feel like this happens.

Thank you for reading,

Play well.

Watch at least 1 replay of yourself weekly.

I cannot remove MMR abuse from your games, but I can teach you how to play better.

Have a nice day.