Dota 2 items — How do they differ and how to purchase cosmetic items?

Cosmetic items in Dota 2 allows players to personalize the appearance of heroes, interface and other game elements. These items do not affect the game balance, but only the visuals.

They can be purchased in bundles and treasures released by Valve, or on Steam Market, where items are offered for sale by other players. You can also buy “cosmetics” on various online services which are popular because they offer items unavailable on Steam, such as Collector's Cache or Weather Effects. In addition, cosmetic items can be obtained for free during various events in the game. Occasionally, you may be rewarded with an item, set or treasure after a match (usually of little value, though there are known cases of valuable drops, such as the Shattered Greatsword for Sven or Arcana).

Cosmetic items in Dota 2 are categorized by two main characteristics: Rarity and Quality.

Rarity of cosmetic items in Dota 2

• Common - The most common items. Simple appearance changes, no effects.
• Uncommon - Minor appearance changes, may contain small visual effects.
• Rare - More detailed or unique models, sometimes contain effects.
• Mythical - Significantly change the model of the character or parts of the character, add more prominent visual effects.
• Legendary - Comprehensive changes, including special animation and sound effects.
• Immortal - Unique items, usually modify one or more abilities by adding special effects, but can also change the model, sound, and other parameters.
• Arcana - Change the hero's appearance, skill animations, interface, icons and voiceline. There are only 24 sets of this rarity in Dota 2, 7 of which cannot be purchased, but Valve usually adds exclusive Arcana sets to new treasures. For example, Arcana on Wraith King and Windranger have become available for purchase. In addition, some Arcana sets can be obtained for free during events with Candyworks Caravan.
• Ancient - There is only one item of this rarity in Dota 2, a courier called The Defense Season 2 War Dog.
• Seasonal - Can be obtained during various events in the game. Items of this quality disappear over time. Also seasonal are Spring, Fall, Summer and Winter landscapes, which can be obtained with a Dota Plus subscription.

Quality of cosmetic items in Dota 2

• Standard - Standard quality;
• Inscribed - Items track certain stats in the game;
• Auspicious - Commemorative quality for New Bloom 2014;
• Genuine - Obtained under promotional circumstances;
• Autographed - With an autographed rune of a player, caster, or other community member;
• Heroic - Dropped when watching tournaments during a live game broadcast;
• Frozen - Commemorative quality for Frostivus 2013;
• Cursed - Commemorative quality for Diretide 2013;
• Infused - Items with upgraded ambient effects (Infusers);
• Exalted - Limited, first edition;
• Unusual - Adds particle effect;
• Corrupted - Commemorative quality for Frostivus 2013.;
• Elder - Limited quality. Also known as Vintage;
• Glitter - Glitter sticker;
• Gold - Gold sticker;
• Holo - Holo sticker;
• Legacy - Older colored gems;
• Favored - Given to professional players with a fan vote;
• Ascendant - Featuring the Ascendant Gem.

Quality Priority:

Some Gems will change the quality of an item. In the event of a conflict with an item's existing quality, a priority is followed. Higher priority qualities take precedence.

Example 1: Socketing an Inscribed item with an Autograph Rune will change the item's quality to Autographed.

Example 2: Socketing a Genuine item with an Autograph Rune will not change the item's quality.

Gems

Gems are items that can be added to their respective sockets to modify or improve equipment. You can make a socket in an item with Artificer's Chisel, which can be purchased in the Dota Plus store in the tools section for 1,000 shards (each item can have up to 9 sockets). Tools for removing various gems, changing the name and description of items are also can be found there.

Gems in Dota 2:

• Ethereal Gem - Gives an item the Unusual quality. This gem could be obtained from Unusual Couriers and inserted into an item to give it the corresponding effect. However, Valve later removed the ability to remove the Ethereal Gems from a courier, and items with this effect increased in price significantly. Now, Unusual quality items with Ethereal effects can be obtained by opening some treasures as an additional reward.

• Prismatic Gem - This gem will change the effect color of the item. Changes the effect color of Arcana items for Terrorblade and Techies, as well as some couriers (There are about 40 color variations). The Prismatic Gem could be obtained for free by getting a courier with the corresponding gem from the Dota Plus Seasonal Treasures or by purchasing an Arcana item from the Candyworks Caravan (when destroying Arcana on Terrorblade or Techies, you will receive the Reflection's Shade or Explosive Burst Prismatic Gem, respectively).

• Kinetic Gem - The item with this gem will change one or more of the hero's animations. These gems can only be socketed into items for a specific hero. Usually they are in the appropriate set for the character, but you can resocket the gem into another item for that hero. You can buy them on the Steam Market or get them for free: a set containing kinetic gems you can receive after a match, or in the Candyworks Caravan.

• Inscribed Gem - Gives an item the Inscribed quality. The item with this gem will track certain stats. Can be purchased on the Steam Market or obtained for free if you find Immortal Treasure 2015 Immortal Treasure I, II, or III in the Candyworks Caravan. The items it contains include a random Inscribed Gem. Unlike Kinetic Gems, Inscribed Gems are not tied to a specific character, meaning they can be used on any hero (unless the counter is related to a specific ability, such as the number of stuns from Paralyzing Cask Witch Doctor).

• Spectator Gem - Counts the number of games you've watched in one league, tournament, or specific team. Can be obtained for free if you are given a set containing the Spectator Gem after a game.

• Ascendant Gem - Gives an item the quality of Ascendant. These are gift gems for participating in Dota 2 Beta testing. They count the number of wins or show the number of people invited to Beta testing. This item cannot be purchased.

• Autographed Rune - Gives an item the Autographed quality. These are digital signatures of professional players, casters, or other community members. An item with an Autographed Rune can be purchased on the Steam Market, or obtained from a treasures that contains Autographed runes.

• Foulfell Shard - This gem tracks the number of demon and undead killed and changes the item's quality to Corrupted. It was released during the Frostivus 2013. The counter increases by 1 for each demon or undead hero killed (Doom, Queen of Pain, Lion, Shadow Fiend, Shadow Demon, Terrorblade, Undying. Wraith King, Abaddon).

• Dreamer's Gem - could be obtained with a ticket to ASUS ROG DreamLeague Season 1. Counts the number of wins. Adds an Ethereal effect to an item. Originally designed to count dream-related abilities (Dream Coil, Nightmare, Echo Stomp, Song of the Siren).

• Dormant Compendium Gem of The International 2014 - This gem was given with The International 2014 compendium. After the tournament, it changed depending on the owner's compendium level.

• Victory Prediction Gem - Tracks the number of wins predicted in a row in a game. A missed prediction will cause the gem's counter to reset. This gem can be found in the Victory Prediction Amulet, which can be obtained by purchasing a Dota Plus subscription (you can find it in your arsenal: in the treasury section, in the amulets category). Predicting 3, 6 , 10 wins in a row you will get the corresponding trophy.

How to save money on buying Dota 2 cosmetic items

Sets that are released by Valve have a fixed price and can be purchased in the game client. You can buy the same items from other players on the Steam Market at a more favorable price. For example, Valve's Arcana set for Rubick costs $33 and contains an Arcana item itself, an Arcana voice, and a chat emoticon. These items individually can be purchased on the Steam Market for $23. So, you can save money on any Dota 2 set by buying them piecemeal on the Steam Market rather than as a set.

It's important to pay attention to the quality of the item as well. If you go to the item page on the Steam Market through the game client, you will be taken to a standard quality item. But, sometimes, Inscribed or Autographed quality items can cost less than a standard item. By accessing the Steam Market via the Communities tab in the Steam menu, you can sort items using a number of filters and compare prices for the same item of different quality.

You can also save money on cosmetic items by using various online services. There you can also sell items to withdraw money. But trust only trusted services with a good reputation and reviews, so as not to fall for scammers.

Combination of visual effects from different cosmetic items

Finally, we want to tell you about one feature of cosmetic items in Dota 2. In some cases, if you have two items on your character that change the same ability, their effects will be combined. This way, you can achieve spectacular and unique ability animations. This usually works when combining Arcana with Immortal, or an item that contains a Kinetic Gem. For example, Arcana for Juggernaut + an item with Bladekeeper's Bladefury Kinetic Gem or Arcana for Faceless Void + Immortal Bracers of Aeons/Jewel of Aeons.

Click to zoom

Click to zoom