Communication Score
What communication score is in Dota 2, how it differs from behavior score, which communication features unlock at different levels of the up-to-12,000 scale, and how to raise it if your communication has been restricted.
What communication score is
Communication score is a separate measure of the quality of your communication in Dota 2 on a scale up to 12,000. It accounts specifically for how you interact in chat and voice, and it depends on communication reports. The higher your communication score, the more communication features are available to you and the calmer the lobbies the system matches you into.
Communication score vs behavior score — the difference
They're often confused, but these are two different scales, both up to 12,000:
- Behavior score — about your in-game conduct overall: griefing, leaving matches, the total of reports and abandons.
- Communication score — only about communication: text and voice.
You can have a high behavior score but a low communication score — for example, if you play well but go toxic in chat. There's more on the other scale in the guide about behavior score.
What unlocks at each level
The higher your communication score, the more communication features are available. Approximate thresholds:
| Level | What's unlocked |
|---|---|
| below 3,000 | Communication limited to ~30 seconds per game |
| 3,000+ | Ranked mode available |
| 5,000+ | Drawing on the map |
| 6,000+ | Text chat and mini-profile customization |
| 7,000+ | Commends and requesting coaching |
| 8,000+ | Voice chat |
| 10,000+ | Coach others and ping allies' abilities |
What lowers communication score
Communication score drops first and foremost from communication reports. The most common things that lower it:
- Toxicity in text and voice chat — insults, getting personal.
- Spamming messages and pings that get in the team's way.
- Constant negativity and whining, provoking teammates.
- Any communication that regularly gets you reported.
How to raise communication score
There's no quick button — communication score recovers gradually over a run of calm games. What actually helps:
- Don't go toxic in chat and voice — that's the main reason for the drop.
- It's easier to mute annoying teammates than to argue with them.
- Communicate to the point: calls, timings, help — without negativity.
- Earn commends for good play and being level-headed.
- Play consistently without reports — over time the score rises on its own.
Communication score affects matchmaking: a low score pairs you with equally toxic players, a high one with calmer people. So raising it also means improving the atmosphere of your own games.
Frequently asked questions
How does communication score differ from behavior score in Dota 2?
These are two different scales, both up to 12,000. Behavior score rates your in-game conduct overall — griefing, leaving matches, reports. Communication score rates your communication specifically: text and voice. You can have a high behavior score but a low communication score if you go toxic in chat.
Why is my communication restricted in Dota 2?
If your communication score is below 3,000, in-match communication is limited to about 30 seconds and some communication features are locked. This is the result of communication reports — to lift the restriction you need to raise your communication score by playing calmly without toxicity.
What unlocks at high communication score levels?
As your communication score grows, communication features unlock: drawing on the map (5,000+), text chat and mini-profile customization (6,000+), commends and requesting coaching (7,000+), voice chat (8,000+), and at 10,000+ the ability to coach others and ping allies' abilities.
How do I raise communication score quickly?
Stop being toxic in chat and voice, mute annoying players instead of arguing, communicate to the point and earn commends for good play. Communication score rises gradually over a run of games with no reports — there's no fast way, it takes consistency.
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