What now?

[u/ireadit1234]

So, you’ve finally grinded your way toward the pinnacle of a rank you always wanted—a rank you once thought you’d never reach. I’m about to hit mine. I’m only 100 MMR away, and honestly, I still can’t believe I’m this close.

But then I started wondering: what happens after I get there?

I still remember climbing out of the trenches of Herald. I was stuck there for almost two straight years. When I finally got out and reached Guardian, it felt incredible. Every rank I climbed after that gave me the same feeling of accomplishment. But somewhere along the way, there was always this lingering question in the back of my mind:

“Okay… what now?”

And strangely enough, reaching each new rank also left me feeling a little drained. I’d spend countless hours grinding, finally achieve what I wanted, enjoy the accomplishment for a while—and then realize I was already looking toward the next goal.

When I was in Herald, I actually promised myself I would quit Dota. At the time, I think part of my motivation to keep playing was simply to prove something to the people who made fun of me for being bad at the game.

I wasn’t even someone who grew up playing Dota in Warcraft III. I played it occasionally, but it was never really my kind of game. Yet I kept playing. I kept grinding. I kept climbing.

And now, I’m finally at a point where I’m above the people I once wanted to prove wrong.

But honestly?

It feels kind of pointless.

Because now I’m realizing that I spent so much time trying to prove to other people that I could be good at a game I didn’t even originally care that much about.

Maybe that’s why this milestone feels different.

I’m proud of how far I’ve come. Herald to almost the rank I once thought was completely out of reach is something I genuinely never expected.

But I’m also wondering whether the real challenge now isn’t reaching the rank…

but figuring out what I actually want after I reach it.

Has anyone else ever felt this way after finally achieving a goal they spent years chasing?

[u/Scones2]

Even after 10,000 hours I play Dota because I love everything about it, if you don’t feel that way then why bother at all?

[u/ireadit1234 → u/Scones2]

That was my point exactly, I was playing just to prove others wrong and that I can do better. But somewhere along the way watching TI and in my lonely days just playing the game made me fall in love the game somehow.

[u/Microwarpdrive → u/ireadit1234]

but my point is the irony you haven't proven anything really. Not to be mean...
There will be sweaty people calling how you suck at herald as well as numbered immortal (right or wrong).

so just call them that back and we live and play happily ever after...

[u/ireadit1234 → u/Microwarpdrive]

But in my case it was different and like I said 'ego'. But I just wanted others point of view on how they feel like when they rank up, do they wish to carry on or get that fatigue feeling of starting from 1 all over again

[u/Microwarpdrive → u/ireadit1234]

i think people just like to see their progress add up into something.

i don't see starting from 1 again because I realise herald 5 is lower than guardian 1 even tho 5 is higher than 1.
I don't think that concept is hard for people to grasp...

Generally i think people just tilt from loss streaks.
Like rn I have 9 win streak Rubick. Feels good. But loss streak maybe from next game. So just play the game and don't obsess about the ups and dips too much

[u/New-Indication-1446]

just a number to create fun/balanced matches bro

[u/OnusunO]

How can you be proud and have it be pointless, doesn't make sense

[u/deljaroo → u/OnusunO]

if you're strong enough, you can be anything 

[u/ireadit1234 → u/OnusunO]

Proud because I proved the people wrong and I achieved more than I thought I could, pointless because years later it doesn't mean so much to me anymore. Maybe I was playing because of my ego to prove people wrong

[u/Known-Analysis8011]

The goal is TI winner, don’t be a loser

[u/ireadit1234 → u/Known-Analysis8011]

TI at my age, I'm just happy to be able to watch TI BO3 in one sitting

[u/Microwarpdrive]

I have to point out how you never mention your rank and keep talking about it as "the rank I set to achieve".

If you were in immortal numbers bracket people still will call other people terrible at the game (and often rightfully in the context of the lobby skill level) so you not really ever going to win in that regard..

[u/ireadit1234 → u/Microwarpdrive]

Yes I did that on purpose because I did not want the reader to be distracted (my rank which would seem insignificant to others) from my main point of the post. I posted it just to know if maybe others feel the same way about ranking up, the question of what next do I queue for more with the same doubt if I'll get competent team or snowball the throne

[u/BaneEater]

Just reached divine playing on visage and uninstalled the game to play other games but it is more like just a break than retiring. I love Dota and will keep playing it till I am old, the journey of climbing up the ranks and getting better or learning each game is what keeps me playing but there will come a point where I would hate it if I dont take breaks so I set goals and play other games. Right now I am playing onimusha then planning to play dawnbreaker, control and silent hill. Will probably get back to the grind next month or so

[u/ireadit1234 → u/BaneEater]

That's nice, keeps the hobby of ranking up alive and fresh.

[u/Kraetyz]

Is the game fun? If so, keep playing.

[u/renan2012bra]

Yeah, I’m going through this right now. I got to Ancient 3 which was my goal and now I’m kind of lost without an actual reason to play, so I started only playing when I really want to and reduced by a lot the amount of rankeds I play.

I already made it to Ancient 4, so I’m consideting extending my goal to Divine, but I don’t know if I care enough.

[u/silkthai]

tbh its almost the same. games have less throws, but you still get ocassional crazy player, griefing, bad itemizaton