Dota 2 Arcanas are some of the rarest skins in the game. But they’re generally more than just skins. Arcanas come with extra particle effects, different animations, alternate ability images and more. Only 24 heroes have received them so far.
Traditionally, Arcanas were released during the yearly The International Battle Pass. After Valve stopped creating Battle Passes for Dota 2 in 2023, it was almost a full year before the next was released during the Crownfall event. Now it’s expected that any future Arcanas will be released in large events rather than during Battle Passes.
All Dota 2 Arcanas and Details
Below are details on all Dota 2 Arcanas, both currently available and locked. As more Arcanas are added this list will be updated.
Crystal Maiden – Frost Avalanche
Credit: Valve / Dota 2
Initial release date: Feb. 12, 2015
Available now: Yes
Price: $35 USD
Crystal Maiden is a classic position 5 hero with a tonne of skins available. She has a Persona which turns her into a dog, an Immortal and a bunch of other skins. But the Arcana is the true collectible. There are a number of variations to her dog companion and her shawl/shoulder pads, giving you an extra level of customization.
Drow Ranger – Dread Retribution
Credit: Valve / Dota 2
Initial release date: 14th December 2021
Available now: No
Drow Ranger’s arcana was one of the first that matches the anime character style. Unlike Dragon Knight and Mirana, whose anime styles came as personas, Drow’s arcana is a rarity. You won’t be able to get hold of it without trading on Steam at the moment. Dota doesn’t often bring back arcanas after their first availability. But if we see another Swag Bag like in the 2022 battle pass, you may be in luck.
Earthshaker – Planetfall
Credit: Valve / Dota 2
Initial release date: 24th May 2019
Available now: No
Earthshaker is a pretty popular hero who usually disappears in the meta every year until TI is ready to go. You had to reach level 375 of the 2019 battle pass in order to unlock the main form. The alternate form requires 500 kills or assists with his ultimate, Echo Slam. This is probably why along with all of the custom spell icons, you’ll also get a custom blink dagger effect. The trusty Blink Slam combo should get you the alternate in no time.
Faceless Void – Claszian Apostasy
Credit: Valve / Dota 2
Initial release date: 1st September 2022
Available now: No
As one of the newer arcanas on our list, Faceless Void’s Claszian Apostasy is also one of the most detailed. The tentacle theme is added to his character model and abilities including Time Lock and Chronosphere. Unfortunately, unless you were grinding hard back in 2022, you won’t be able to get hold of this arcana.
IO – Benevolent Companion
Credit: Valve / Dota 2
Initial release date: 18th May 2017
Available now: No
IO is one of those heroes that has just never had many skins. There are only 3 in the game and one of them is the Benevolent Companion arcana, which is based on the Companion Cube from Valve’s Portal games. As arcanas go, this one is pretty basic but still includes some unique animations. As to if and when it’ll ever be available again, we don’t know.
Juggernaut – Bladeform Legacy
Credit: Valve / Dota 2
Initial release date: 15th March 2017
Available now: Yes
Price: $35 USD
It’s no real surprise that Juggernaut got his own arcana a few years ago, including . While he’s not exactly popular in the pro scene, Jugg is one of the most played heroes at lower levels. After being released with the Bladeform Legacy update back in 2017, you can still buy Jugg’s arcana in the in game Dota 2 store now.
Legion Commander – Blades of Voth Domosh
Credit: Valve / Dota 2
Initial release date: 12th December 2013
Available now: Yes
Price: $35 USD
Blades of Voth Domosh is one of the oldest arcanas in the game. Dota 2 was only released fully in 2013, so Legion Commander was one of the first heroes to get immortalized with an Arcana. Still, it holds up, and we still see people rocking this iconic skin.
Lina – Fiery Soul of the Slayer
Credit: Valve / Dota 2
Initial release date: 7th March 2013
Available now: Yes
Price: $35 USD
Lina’s Slayer Arcana is probably one of the most iconic skins in the entire game. While it’s looking a little dated now, we’d still recommend picking this one up if you’re a Lina fan.
Monkey King – Great Sage’s Reckoning
Credit: Valve / Dota 2
Initial release date: 12th December 2016
Available now: Yes
Price: $35 USD
Ogre Magi – Flockheart’s Gamble
Credit: Valve / Dota 2
Initial release date: 18th December 2019
Available now: Yes
Price: $35 USD
Phantom Assassin – Manifold Paradox
Credit: Valve / Dota 2
Initial release date: 20th November 2014
Available now: Yes
Price: $35 USD
Pudge – Feast of Abscession
Credit: Valve / Dota 2
Initial release date: 3rd April 2018
Available now: Yes
Price: $35 USD
Queen of Pain – Eminence of Ristul
Credit: Valve / Dota 2
Initial release date: 11th June 2020
Available now: No
Razor – Voidstorm Asylum
Credit: Valve / Dota 2
Initial release date: 17th November 2022
Available now: No
Rubick – Magus Cypher
Credit: Valve / Dota 2
Initial release date: 19th December 2018
Available now: Yes
Price: $35 USD
Shadow Fiend – Demon Eater
Credit: Valve / Dota 2
Initial release date: 25th September 2014
Available now: Yes
Price: $35 USD
Skywrath Mage – Crownfall: The Devotions of Dragonus
Image Credit: Esports.net
Initial release date: April 18, 2024
Available now: No
As part of the Crownfall event in 2024, Valve released two new Arcanas for Skywrath Mage and Vengeful Spirit. Both offer complete overhauls of the character’s model, bringing them up to modern standards. Devotions of Dragonus also featured an alternative style unlocked by completing Crownfall.
Spectre – Phantom Advent
Credit: Valve / Dota 2
Initial release date: 24th June 2021
Available now: No
Techies – Swine of the Sunken Galley
Credit: Valve / Dota 2
Initial release date: 4th September 2014
Available now: Yes
Price: $35 USD
Techies is the hero everyone loves to hate. But enough people loved this hero to vote for Techies to receive an arcana back in 2014, long before he was reworked into an entirely different hero. You likely won’t see much of his arcana these days though as the cute little elephant from the Techies immortal skin is objectively better to look at.
Terrorblade – Fractal Horns of Inner Abysm
Credit: Valve / Dota 2
Initial release date: 6th February 2014
Available now: Yes
Price: $35 USD
Terrorblade has one of the more lowkey arcanas on the list, which is likely because it’s one of the oldest. Terrorblade is a consistently popular late game carry hero who can become truly unstoppable. Some players do have a little trouble with his illusions while playing with the alternate blue form arcana but the red is just as good.
Vengeful Spirit – Crownfall: The Resurrection of Shen
Image Credit: Esports.net
Initial release date: April 18, 2024
Available now: No
Added as part of Crownfall in 2024, the Resurrection of Shen featured a full overhaul for Vengeful Spirit’s model, an amazing new set of animations, and three style changes which could be unlocked with Crownfall progress. The third style transformed Shen into her sister, Queen Imperia.
Windranger – Compass of the Rising Gale
Credit: Valve / Dota 2
Initial release date: 4th September 2020
Available now: No
Windranger’s arcana is one of the most popular on the list. Arcanas might not bring any in game advantages but if you can get the alternate styles, you’ll be in a very small minority. To unlock the alternate Windranger arcana, you’ll need to do 1 million Focus Fire damage in either ranked or unranked matches. Who knows, you might even hit Grand Master tier in the process!
Wraith King – One True King
Credit: Valve / Dota 2
Initial release date: 25th May 2020
Available now: No
As well as a whole new character model, Wraith King’s arcana also comes with the throne pedestal. Disappointingly, it doesn’t follow you around the battle field but it still looks pretty cool on the loadout. You had to reach level 375 in the 2020 battle pass to unlock this one, which is no mean feat. And with no news on if and when it’ll ever come back, this is one of the best Dota 2 skins for collectors.
Zeus – Tempest Helm of the Thundergod
Credit: Valve / Dota 2
Initial release date: 16th December 2015
Available now: Yes
Price: $35 USD
The Zeus arcana is one of the most model changing in the game. Not only does the hero have a completely different look but all of his abilities do too. All of this does mean that Zeus doesn’t come with alternate styles, but you really won’t miss them. If you love a Zeus mid, his arcana is a great investment.