Dota 2

The Trove of Terror arrived with 15 eldritch-themed item sets, alongside the Maw of the Megalodon Arcana for Tidehunter and the returning Drow Ranger Arcana with a new form. The International 2026 supplied the major competitive event, with its 15th-anniversary edition using a Swiss-format group stage before the Shanghai main event.

• Trove of Terror: The chest added 15 item sets, while its treasures also introduced new summonable appearances for Roshan and the Tormentor. The Maw of the Megalodon Arcana gave Tidehunter a new model, animations, effects, taunts, and voice lines, while the returning Drow Ranger Arcana gained a new grave-stalking form.
• The International 2026: The Swiss-format group stage ran in Shanghai from August 13–16, followed by the main event at SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center from August 20–23. Dota heroes also appeared at Shanghai landmarks, and community members received support for streaming their own event commentary.
• Tyrian Regalia and supporter rewards: The Tyrian Regalia Treasure returned with five refashioned Immortal items and a new Terrain Token. The International 2026 Supporter Bundles covered all 16 teams and event talent, directed 50% of sales to teams and 30% to the prize pool, and arrived alongside new Immortals, unlockable terrains, fantasy features, and Gold-tier supporter effigies.

The International Team and Talent Bundles launched on August 19, 2025, introducing new supporter bundles that contribute to the prize pool. The biggest update included the introduction of Largo, the Bard Hero, on December 16, 2025, along with a massive Dota x Monster Hunter Crossover Event that featured new sets, pets, and gameplay elements.

• New Hero: Largo joined the roster with unique abilities, expanding gameplay options.
• Crossover Event: The Dota x Monster Hunter event launched on November 10, 2025, bringing six themed item sets, a crafting system, and new monsters to hunt.
  • Expedition Pack: This pack included Rathalos for Dragon Knight, Bullfango for Beastmaster, and a music pack.
  • New Palico Courier and Pet Poogie: Players could adopt a new Palico courier and a companion pet.
• Gameplay Changes: The Midnight Run Gameplay went live on June 25, 2026, introducing a new stage for all players.
• Seasonal Events: The International 2025 tournament began on September 11, 2025, featuring a double elimination bracket, while the Dark Carnival Event launched on June 25, 2026, adding new story elements.
• Balance Changes: Over 75,000 accounts engaged in win trading and smurfing were banned on August 19, 2025, promoting fair competition.

Crownfall Act IV: The Spires of Skywrath delivered the saga’s final act on November 8, 2024, adding a large overworld map, three questing paths, and a final battle against Imperia. It arrived alongside Kez, the Skywrath exile, while Cogliostro Kettle, The Ringmaster, had joined the roster in August.

• Crownfall campaign: The event expanded substantially with four major additions:
  • Crownfall Act III: The Frosts of Icewrack introduced a northern overworld map filled with monsters, mysteries, and a barroom brawl.
  • Crownfall Act IV: The Spires of Skywrath added its final map, quest paths, Pathfinder rewards, and Imperia’s confrontation.
  • Nest of Thorns added a replayable boss battle against Queen Imperia with a shared clock and constant pressure.
  • Crownfall Archive preserved the event’s minigames and comics while keeping Crownfall reward redemption available.
• Heroes and hero customization: Kez and Cogliostro Kettle, The Ringmaster expanded the playable roster; Innates and Facets also received a broad hero update, and Kez’s Katana and Sai abilities became available in Ability Draft. Kez later received tuning to Echo Slash, Falcon Rush, Grappling Claw, Raven’s Veil, and Raptor Dance.
• Map and economy systems: Three named systems changed how matches played:
  • Madstone became a resource for crafting unique neutral items.
  • Dota 2’s river was widened, gained a movement-speed current, and received evolving amphibious creeps.
  • Wisdom Shrines replaced wisdom runes.
• Medusa and Immortal Draft: Medusa received a gameplay rework, while Immortal Draft expanded to players above 8500 MMR, added official-name registration, restricted ranked party queues, and changed MMR gain and loss calculations.
• The International 2025: The International 2025 was announced for Hamburg, Germany, with a three-day Swiss bracket followed by elimination rounds; eight teams received direct invitations, and the Road to TI 2025 qualifier schedule was revealed.
• Frostivus: Frostivus introduced the Spirit of Frostivus hat-stealing mechanic, the Frostivus Forge, and the Winter 2024 Heroes’ Hoard treasure with new sets, Immortals, taunts, and a pet wolf.

Crownfall Act II released on May 23, 2024, moving Dota 2’s story into the deserts of Druud with a new overworld map and story. It followed Crownfall Act I: The Markets of Midgate and arrived alongside Update 7.36, while Dota Labs had already added experimental tools.

• Crownfall content: Crownfall Act I launched with new story content, two Arcana, cosmetic sets, taunts, creeps, and rewards; Crownfall Act II added new characters, minigames, cosmetics, and the continued Druud storyline.
• Gameplay overhaul: Update 7.36 Gameplay Patch introduced Innate Abilities and Hero Facets, expanding heroes’ inherent powers and build choices.
  • Frostivus 2023 Update introduced gameplay patch 7.35, changed Orb of Corrosion, Arcane Boots, and Bloodthorn, and removed items including Ring of Aquila and Titan Sliver.
  • Matchmaking Hero Ban Rework removed the opening ban phase and replaced it with account-stored ban preferences.
• Systems and infrastructure: Dota Labs added Overlay Map, Modifier Key Filter Bindings, and High-Visibility Local Hero Healthbar.
  • New Player Behavior and Reporting System rebuilt the tools for judging player conduct and reporting.
  • Steam Datagram Relay added secure relay routing for DDoS protection and exposed optimized routing and ping information through the Steam overlay.
  • Permanent Ban of 90,000 Smurf Accounts accompanied a new punishment system for main accounts linked to smurfing.
• Competitive scene: The International 2023 concluded with Team Spirit crowned Grand Champions.
  • The International 2024 was announced for Copenhagen from September 13–15, with six direct invites and open and regional qualifiers revealed.
  • The Dota Pro Circuit was announced as ending, with 2023 identified as its final season.

New Frontiers and Patch 7.33 delivered Dota 2’s biggest gameplay shift, expanding the map by 40%, introducing a new hero attribute, and adding hero reworks and items. The 2022 Battle Pass split its major content between its launch and Diretide: Part II, while Muerta joined the roster.

• New Frontiers / Patch 7.33: The map expansion reshaped match flow, while the Universal hero attribute, hero reworks, new items, and major balance changes refreshed the core game.
• 2022 Battle Pass and Diretide: The Battle Pass added Arcana items for Faceless Void and Razor, Personas for Phantom Assassin and Crystal Maiden, and the Primal Beast Prestige set. Part II — Diretide introduced the Diretide: Season’s Greevilings mode, Candyworks, a second Cavern Crawl map, new rewards, and Collector’s Caches; The International 2022 Swag Bag also granted players Dota Plus, a Battle Pass, and an Arcana.
• Muerta and Dead Reckoning: Muerta became the new playable hero, while the Dead Reckoning mini-game let players track souls for rewards, including the Spring 2023 Seasonal Treasure and Dead Reckoning Chest.
• Player systems:
  • Dota Plus Spring Update: Advanced Battle Stats added real-time match analytics, alongside new quests, guild rewards, and seasonal treasure.
  • Supporters Clubs: Three team-support tiers launched with badges, player packs, voice lines, sprays, and other in-game items.
  • DPC Fantasy: Regional fantasy leagues introduced roster-building and scoring based on professional player performance.
• Balance and competitive integrity: Aghanim’s Shard became available at 7:30, Infused Raindrop at 1:30, Wisdom Rune experience doubled, and Lotus Pool spawns shortened to 90 seconds. Ranked play adjusted MMR gain and loss and raised the Immortal Draft minimum from 5,620 to 6,500; the Honeypot Mechanism and permanent bans against more than 40,000 cheating accounts also strengthened matchmaking security.

Aghanim’s Labyrinth Battle Pass launched on December 15, adding the event mode and a reward track featuring the Mirana Persona and Drow Ranger Arcana. Marci joined the roster on October 28 after appearing in DOTA: Dragon’s Blood, while The International 2021 ended with Team Spirit defeating PSG.LGD.

• Aghanim’s Labyrinth Battle Pass: Added the Aghanim’s Labyrinth event mode, holiday rewards, and its associated Battle Pass progression.
• Marci, Techies, and Monkey King:
  • Marci received early balance reductions to Dispose, Rebound, Unleash, and her talent bonuses.
  • Techies had Blast Off, Reactive Tazer, and Sticky Bomb substantially retuned, including new slow effects and revised self-damage.
  • Monkey King gained the ability to transform into lane or neutral creeps through Mischief, with healthbars added to those transformations.
• 7.30e, 7.31c, and 7.31d: Gameplay Update 7.30e delivered October balance changes, Gameplay Update 7.31c arrived ahead of the Stockholm Major, and 7.31d brought another hero-focused gameplay pass.
• The International and Dota Pro Circuit:
  • The International 2021 began with 18 teams competing for the Aegis and a $40 million prize pool; Team Spirit won the final.
  • The International 2022 was announced for Singapore, with 30 teams competing across four weekends.
  • The first Dota Pro Circuit 2021–2022 Major was canceled because of COVID-19 travel restrictions, prompting changes to Regional Finals and DPC point distribution.
• Battle Report, Vulkan, and DirectX 11: Battle Report arrived for Dota Plus members, experimental Controller Support was introduced, and the Vulkan renderer received hitching-related performance improvements. DirectX 9, 32-bit systems, and Windows OpenGL support were removed as the game moved toward DirectX 11.

The 2021 Battle Pass and Nemestice launched on June 23, pairing major rewards—including the Dragon Knight Persona and Spectre Arcana—with a new event mode built around the Nemestice Storm. Aghanim’s Labyrinth and Diretide also delivered substantial standalone modes, adding a four-player roguelike and a candy-collecting Halloween return featuring Roshan.

• Battle Pass content: The Battle Pass added the Toy Butcher Persona, Disciple’s Path, and Compass of the Rising Gale, while Immortal Treasure II and The International 10 Collector’s Cache Volume II supplied new hero sets and rare items.
• Major modes and Mistwoods:
  • Aghanim’s Labyrinth introduced four-player cooperative roguelike runs against interdimensional monsters.
  • Diretide returned with candy collection, Roshan encounters, the Hallowed Chest of the Diretide, and more than 75 event rewards.
  • Mistwoods Update introduced a new hero and added Aghanim’s Shards to the game’s progression and ability-upgrade systems.
• Player and behavior systems:
  • New Player Mode added a limited hero pool, objectives, hero briefs, a glossary, guided shopping, and coaching support.
  • Overwatch System let community reviewers assess negative-behavior reports, while in-match scoreboard reporting became available.
  • MMR Reset became optional, and smurfing became a bannable offense.
• Dota Plus and team support: Grandmaster Tier let heroes progress to level 30, Shards became earnable and spendable by all players, and Supporters Clubs introduced team badges, sprays, loading screens, voice lines, and health-bar cosmetics.
• The International 10: The tournament was announced for August 2021 in Stockholm with a $40,018,195 prize pool, though its Swedish venue later became uncertain because of visa and sporting-event recognition issues.
• Balance: Dawnbreaker received reductions to base damage, movement speed, and strength gain shortly after launch, while Aghanim’s Labyrinth encounters and reward scaling were retuned to make early difficulties more approachable.

The International 10 Battle Pass launched on May 25, bringing seasonal rewards, Guilds, the Battle Gauntlet, custom terrain, and new Personas. Dota 2’s 7.23 Gameplay Update also arrived with two heroes, Snapfire and Void Spirit, while The International 10 was delayed to 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• The International 10 Battle Pass: Added the Battle Gauntlet, Guilds and group assignments, Bounty Killing bonuses, Pudge and Anti-Mage Personas, and Arcana rewards for Wraith King, Queen of Pain, and Windranger. The Eminence of Ristul Arcana bundle gave Queen of Pain a new model, animations, and more than 500 voice lines.
• New heroes and personas:
  • Snapfire and Void Spirit joined the hero roster with 7.23.
  • Acolyte of the Lost Arts introduced Invoker’s first Hero Persona through The International 2019 Battle Pass.
  • Majesty of the Colossus added a prestige item set for Tiny, while Reptilian Refuge added custom Radiant and Dire creeps.
• 7.23 gameplay overhaul: The named update delivered broad gameplay changes and reworked items and abilities, alongside the Snapfire and Void Spirit launch.
• Ranked matchmaking changes: Fast Queue rewarded players who selected all roles with quicker matchmaking and future Fast Queue games. Five-player parties were matched only against other five-player parties, Medals returned to five stars, and High-Water Mark and Immortal-party rules were adjusted.
• Competitive calendar and seasonal content: The International 10 was delayed to 2021, and Valve announced a fall restructuring of the DPC season. The International 10 Collector’s Cache later released with the 18 community-voted item sets, while New Bloom added the Treasure of Unbound Majesty and seasonal rewards.

Patch 7.20 reshaped the map and several core mechanics in November 2018, while The International 2019 Battle Pass added new modes and rewards in May. Mars and Grimstroke also joined the playable roster during this period.

• Patch 7.20: Valve reworked the map, gave Town Portal Scrolls a dedicated slot, and introduced the Leashed state for abilities such as Pounce and Dream Coil.
• Heroes: Grimstroke and Mars became playable, and Drow Ranger received a redesigned character model.
• Battle Pass activities: Jungle Expedition, living towers and weekly wagering tokens arrived with the May 7 pass. The July Wrath of the Mo’rokai mode had teams collect essence to empower their Mo’rokai.
• Battle Pass rewards: The reward track included new terrain, an evolving courier, the Tiny Prestige Item and Axe Unleashed. Earthshaker’s Planetfall Arcana added custom effects and more than 500 voice lines.
• Competitive play: OG won The International 2018 over PSG.LGD. The Kuala Lumpur Major opened the new Dota Pro Circuit Major season, while the companion app offered predictions and fantasy play. Ranked Roles gave players a dedicated matchmaking queue.

The International 2018 Battle Pass launched with Immortal Treasures, Cavern Crawl, Emerald Abyss custom terrain, and a preview of the Underhollow game mode, which arrived in June. Dota Plus also debuted as a monthly subscription, while Dark Willow and Pangolier expanded Dota 2’s hero roster.

• The International 2018 Battle Pass: Added Cavern Crawl, Emerald Abyss, new Immortal Treasures, exclusive Chat Wheel sounds and sprays, and the Lion prestige item Hell-Spar Anathema. Underhollow followed in June. The The International 2018 Collector’s Cache later added 14 subterranean-themed sets and three rare sets.
• Dota Plus: Introduced Hero Leveling, the Shards currency, hundreds of Challenges, the Plus Assistant’s real-time build recommendations, post-match graphs, and free weekly access to the Battle Cup.
• New heroes and campaign content: Dark Willow and Pangolier: Joined the playable roster with debut Immortal items in the Emblems of the Dueling Fates bundle.
  • Siltbreaker: Act II: Delivered the campaign’s final battle, alongside new achievements, completion stars, and Battle Point rewards.
  • Adventure Mode: Added a lower-difficulty way to play Siltbreaker Acts I and II, while revisions to the Artifact system improved discovery and tactical use.
• Pudge Arcana: The Feast of Abscession: Added custom animations, effects, and voice responses for Pudge, plus a second style unlocked by winning 12 games against Rubick.
• Ranked and matchmaking changes: The New Ranked Season introduced ten-game calibration, allowed larger rank movement based on performance, and added the Immortal medal tier for leaderboard players. Coaches could also remain during the pre-game draft, while new-player matchmaking prioritized opponents with high behavior scores.

Siltbreaker: Act I delivered Dota 2’s biggest playable addition, sending Battle Pass owners into a cooperative campaign against Siltbreaker with equippable Artifacts, completion rewards, and treasure drops. It arrived through the paid The International 2017 Battle Pass, while Monkey King and a sweeping map-and-progression overhaul reshaped standard matches.

• Siltbreaker: Act I: The Battle Pass-exclusive campaign launched with zone-based progression, three-star completion rewards, Battle Points, campaign Artifacts, and chances at the Immortal Desert Sands Baby Roshan courier.
• The International 2017 Battle Pass: The May package added Immortal Treasures, Dark Reef terrain, MMR Double Down, new level rewards, and later premium rewards including Io’s “Benevolent Companion” Arcana and Kunkka’s “Prize of the Saltworn Mariner.” The $1.99 The International 2017 Collector’s Cache also offered 20 aquatic-themed sets exclusively to Battle Pass owners.
• Monkey King and Underlord: Monkey King joined the roster with a custom Arcana and themed terrain, while Underlord became playable in August. The same December gameplay overhaul introduced Hero Talent Trees and extensive map changes.
• 7.03 Gameplay Update: The named gameplay update was implemented in March, and Solo Queue returned to Ranked Matchmaking in April. Party MMR also moved toward a midpoint when a player’s Solo MMR exceeded their Party MMR.
• Dark Moon: The limited-time event sent players to defend Selemene’s temple against the Dark Moon Horde, with wave survival, daily bonuses, event points, and Dark Moon Rewards.
• 2017–2018 Competitive Season: Valve announced a shift from Valve-run Majors to sponsored third-party Majors and Minors, adding Qualifying Points, a leaderboard, prize-pool requirements, and regional qualifier rules.

The Reborn Update kicked off Dota 2’s move to Source 2, with its preload and item migration rolling out in September 2015. The International 2016 Battle Pass added a substantial quest-and-reward layer, while Arc Warden joined the hero roster.

• Reborn Update: The Source 2 client gained Dota Levels, profile badges earned through trophies and matches, while Source 2 Dota Workshop Item Tools enabled hero weapons, wearables, and Source 1 material-file conversion.

• The International 2016 Battle Pass: It added Quests, Community Challenges, the Peak MMR Challenge, Wagering Tokens, two terrains, and new level rewards.

  • The International 2016 Collector’s Cache delivered 16 community-created sets, including debuts for Arc Warden, Bane, Shadow Fiend, Tinker, Undying, Winter Wyvern, and Zeus.
  • Immortal Treasure II added immortals for Windranger, Undying, Riki, Morphling, Lich, Earthshaker, Mirana, and Invoker.

• Gameplay updates:

  • 6.86 Gameplay Update introduced major gameplay changes.
  • 6.87 Gameplay Update added new items, Ranked All Pick changes, and the Scan ability.
  • 6.88 Gameplay Update delivered balance tweaks ahead of the ESL Frankfurt and International qualifiers.

• New hero and modes: Arc Warden arrived as a new hero, and Haunted Colosseum introduced a 5-on-5 territorial-control custom game with Capture Points and traps; offline solo play also became available.

• Player systems:

  • Ranked Matchmaking was enabled in the Dota 2 Reborn beta.
  • Hero-Specific Ability Bindings let players set per-hero controls.
  • Camera Control Group Hotkeys added shortcuts for camera control groups.

Dota 2 Reborn Beta launched on June 17, offering the Source 2 engine in a separate client and introducing a rebuilt dashboard; Custom Games also became playable within Dota 2. The 6.82 Balance Update delivered a broad map and hero overhaul, while The International 2015 Compendium added a major progression and rewards push around the tournament.

• Dota 2 Reborn Beta: The beta became available to everyone, offering Source 2, a redesigned dashboard, and shared match history, MMR, friends, and cosmetics with the main client. Ranked matchmaking remained disabled during testing.
• 6.82 Balance Update: The patch introduced new abilities for Bloodseeker and Phantom Lancer, significantly reshaped Roshan’s lair and the base fountains, and added a new river rune and shop item.
• The International 2015 Compendium: The tournament companion launched with Compendium Levels, match-based Challenges and Coins, new ways to earn points, stretch-goal rewards, and Immortal Treasure I, which featured items for Luna, Magnus, Sand King, Spirit Breaker, Pugna, and Huskar.
  • International 2015 Collector’s Cache: Compendium owners received access to 11 community-created Mythical sets, with a chance to obtain the tradable Faceless Rex courier.
  • The International Open Qualifiers: Teams gained a new route into the tournament through open competition.
• Oracle, Winter Wyvern, and the Arcana lineup: Two heroes joined the roster, while several major cosmetic releases expanded hero customization.
  • Oracle: The enigmatic support hero was introduced in November 2014.
  • Winter Wyvern: The icy dragon hero arrived with the New Bloom content in February 2015.
  • Demon Eater: Shadow Fiend’s Arcana added new effects, sounds, animations, icons, and voice work.
  • Manifold Paradox: Phantom Assassin’s Arcana received its evolving weapon and kill-marker upgrades.
  • Frost Avalanche: Crystal Maiden’s Arcana became available for preorder.
• Nemesis Assassin and Year Beast Brawl: These limited-time events added distinct match objectives and rewards: Nemesis Assassin used Oracle’s Nemesis Registry for hero contracts, while Year Beast Brawl let teams empower a battlefield creature with Ability Points to destroy the enemy Ancient.

Ember Spirit and Earth Spirit joined the roster on November 14, 2013, while the existing Storm Spirit received a new look. The International Compendium launched on May 10, 2014, letting players contribute to the tournament prize pool while making predictions and earning rewards.

• Three Spirits: The November update added two playable heroes and refreshed a third.
  • Ember Spirit joined the roster.
  • Storm Spirit received a new look.
  • Earth Spirit joined the roster.
• Competitive systems—Fantasy Dota, Public Leaderboards, and Live Rewind: Dota 2 expanded its tournament and spectator tools.
  • Fantasy Dota introduced leagues built around professional players’ DreamLeague Season 1 performances.
  • Public Leaderboards displayed the highest solo MMR across four geographic divisions.
  • Live Rewind let spectators pause, rewind, and jump through live-game timelines.
• Seasonal events—Diretide, Wraith-Night, and New Bloom: Diretide returned, Wraith-Night introduced holiday festivities including Harvesting of Souls, and New Bloom reached its Year Beast finale.
• Gameplay—6.81 and Treasures of Radiant Arms and Dire Arms: 6.81 delivered hero gameplay adjustments, while the new treasures added bonus-reward chances, prevented duplicate drops, and reset their item pools after full unlocks.
• Cosmetic content—Terrorblade’s Fractal Horns of Inner Abysm, Free to Play Collector’s Pack, and Free to Play Competitor Pack: Terrorblade’s Fractal Horns of Inner Abysm released as an Arcana with new animations, spell effects, icons, and voice work.
  • Free to Play Collector’s Pack added special items for Sven, Doom, and Pudge, plus exclusive bundle items.
  • Free to Play Competitor Pack became available for purchase with professional-player sets and a special courier.