Dota 2 Emoticons and Chat Wheels: Permanent or Temporary?
Check what a line unlocks before you pay for your favourite one.
Project editor:GrassKnuckles
Whether a Dota 2 chat line is permanent depends on how you unlock it. Valve documented permanent talent voice lines in September 2022, hero lines can depend on Dota Plus, and event lines follow the event’s own terms. First identify what you want (a text emoticon, hero line, talent line or event line), then check what unlocks it.
Access first, settings second
A text emoticon is a visual chat expression, and you can browse them in the emoticon and tool list. A chat wheel selects prepared messages or voice lines. Dota Plus describes hero-level voice-line unlocks and membership-based access, while an event reward or talent purchase can use different conditions. A screenshot of another player’s wheel hides how they unlocked a line.
The 2017 Battle Pass page gives a historical example of an event chat wheel. In September 2022, Valve’s talent announcements described permanent lines: first by applying the relevant Holo or Gold talent sticker, then through a direct purchase. Some lines are therefore permanent, but each paid line needs its own check.
If the line is missing, check in order
- Identity: the exact line, talent or hero, language and release.
- Unlock: whether the item or purchase grants the line itself, rather than a sticker image or another chat feature.
- Progress and duration: the hero tier, active membership or stated expiry conditions.
- Assignment: open the chat-wheel settings and put the unlocked line in a slot.
- Control: check the wheel keybind and test the selection without disrupting a match.
If the client shows the line as locked, rebinding the wheel will not unlock it. If the line is available but unassigned, another purchase is unnecessary. If your purchase should have unlocked the line but the line is missing, keep the transaction and item details for support instead of buying unrelated stickers.
A favourite line can be a bad package
If a package interests you for one line only, judge its full price against that line, not against extras you will skip. Listen to the full line in your language first. For a sticker-based route, read the application warning, because using the item may change what you can still trade.
The 2022 announcements cover those permanent lines. Check that the route you need is still on sale, since an old advertisement proves nothing about access today.
Use favourite lines sparingly. They can be fun without drowning out calls, and paying for a sound is no licence to harass another player. For sticker identity and display, see the sticker guide.