There are three lanes, each of which requires a different approach. Also, there are more than 100 heroes and 60 items you can combine to achieve the best results. The bottom line is Dota 2 is quite an intense game. Much more so because it only takes place online. Thus, you need to be entirely focused on the game and you certainly can’t win on your own. The whole game experience revolves around teamwork. But enough of Dota 2’s awesomeness and popularity. We’re here to discuss some less pleasant aspects of this game. Given that you can only play it online, this game is subject to the same unfortunate issues that every other service faces: high latency, jitter, and maybe the most annoying of them all, packet loss.

What is packet loss in Dota 2?

To keep it short, packet loss in Dota 2 is no different than with other services. Certain packets that you and the server send to each other never make it to the destination. In turn, you experience horrible lagging, rubberbanding, and possibly timeouts. All of these combined can ruin the game for you, your teammates, and even your opponents. Imagine delivering the final blow to one of your virtual foes only to realize the champion isn’t even there anymore. Not too pleasant, right? Or picture your hero exposed somewhere on the map when a pack of enemy heroes approaches. You try to run and think you’re safe when the game suddenly yanks you back to the spot you were trying to leave. If any scenario depicted above seems familiar to you, you might’ve experienced packet loss at least once in your life. We believe that understanding the causes of this unwanted phenomenon might help you avoid or fix it easier.

What causes packet loss in Dota 2?

There are quite a lot of factors that can cause packet loss in Dota 2. However, most of these causes aren’t Dota 2-specific, so it’s likely that if you experience these issues in this game, you might encounter them everywhere else, too. That being said, the most common causes of packet loss in Dota 2 are:

Overloaded network Outdated, unstable devices Old Ethernet cables Using Wi-Fi instead of wired connections Software/hardware faults Overloaded game server ISP throttling

You can check out our comprehensive guide if you want to learn more about packet loss, how to test for packet loss, and how to fix it. We’re sure you’ll find some great advice on how to curb this unwanted phenomenon.

How to reduce packet loss Dota 2?

1. Use a VPN

Private Internet Access is a great VPN service from Kape Technologies that can help you reduce packet loss. However, for it to work, your ISP must be the cause of your packet leaks. If the issue is on your side or if the game server itself triggers the loss of packets, using a VPN won’t do much good. In fact, it can even complicate things by choosing a longer route between you and the Dota 2 server. Just to be on the safe side, run a packet loss test before you turn to VPNs. You can do so easily by pinging google.com and checking if there’s any high ping issue. If everything seems to be alright, the Dota 2 server might be the culprit.

2. Troubleshoot your connection and isolate the issue

If you paid attention to our guide, you probably know that packet loss can occur in 4 different locations:

Your PC, router, or home network Your ISP (and its network) The big network distribution company The Dota 2 game server you connect to

Thus, depending on the location of the packet leak, there are different actions you can take to alleviate the problem. Namely:

Check if your PC, router, and cables are working properly, not damaged, or outdated Contact your ISP if the trouble seems to be on its side (or the big network distributor) Reach out to Dota 2’s support team if the issue seems to be triggered by the game server

Packet loss often solves by itself, but sometimes it doesn’t

All things considered, it’s worth noting that packet loss doesn’t have an exact cause most of the time. Additionally, it can occur randomly and disappear just as easily, without you even noticing. However, sometimes there might be an underlying issue, and leaving it like that won’t do you any better. Thus, you might want to try the fixes we’ve suggested, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you think you can’t handle it.

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