Clocking in 5.5K hours, played since 2017, If you're considering playing this game, my first suggestion would be to start playing in ranked asap, don't wait to be comfortable learning about mechanics and whatnot, you know as much as any other player who's not smurfing.

Just go ahead and play ranked after your 100 normal games. why? Because you won't care about your MMR now, but you sure will after dipping 2k hours in this game. So I say start playing ranked early to get used to all sorts of stuff ranging from strategies, good habits, mechanics, average player behavior according to your region, tryharding, never giving up, Heroes you like/dislike etc. It will also help you understand if you want to play this game casually or seriously.

Exploring dota in ranked without rank anxiety is the best experience, and it takes a long time to free yourself from that mindset once you succumb to it.

Clocking in 5.5K hours, played since 2017, If you're considering playing this game, my first suggestion would be to start playing in ranked asap, don't wait to be comfortable learning about mechanics and whatnot, you know as much as any other player who's not smurfing. Just go ahead and play ranked after your 100 normal games. why? Because you won't care about your MMR now, but you sure will after dipping 2k hours in this game. So I say start playing ranked early to get used to all sorts of stuff ranging from strategies, good habits, mechanics, average player behavior according to your region, tryharding, never giving up, Heroes you like/dislike etc. It will also help you understand if you want to play this game casually or seriously. Exploring dota in ranked without rank anxiety is the best experience, and it takes a long time to free yourself from that mindset once you succumb to it.