Dota 2 Item Qualities: A Guide to Prefixes
What Inscribed, Autographed, Unusual and every other quality prefix means, and how quality differs from rarity.
Project editor:GrassKnuckles
Item quality is the label in front of a Dota 2 item’s name, such as Inscribed, Autographed or Unusual. It tells you how that copy was obtained or modified. Quality is separate from rarity: rarity is the item’s tier, from Common to Arcana, while quality describes one copy of it. Quality is purely cosmetic and changes nothing in gameplay.
All Dota 2 item qualities
| Quality | What it means |
|---|---|
| Standard (Normal on the Dota 2 Wiki) | The default quality. |
| Genuine | A promotional quality. |
| Elder | A limited quality, formerly called Vintage. |
| Unusual | Adds a special particle effect. Found on couriers. |
| Self-Made | Made by its owner. Valve gives it to Workshop artists whose items it approves. |
| Inscribed | Tracks in-game stats with an Inscribed gem. |
| Cursed | Commemorates Diretide 2013. |
| Heroic | Records special events in professional games. Formerly called Tournament. |
| Favored | Given to pro players based on fan votes. |
| Ascendant | Added by an Ascendant gem. |
| Autographed | Added by an Autograph Rune. Carries the signer’s digital signature. |
| Legacy | Early randomly coloured couriers from the first unboxings. |
| Exalted | A limited “First Edition” quality for items bought from the Dota 2 Store soon after release. |
| Frozen | Commemorates Frostivus 2013. |
| Corrupted | Commemorates Frostivus 2013. Added by a gem that counts Demons Imprisoned. |
| Auspicious | Commemorates New Bloom 2014. |
| Infused | Items with upgraded ambient effects, obtained from Infusers. |
The Dota 2 Wiki also lists Completed, Valve, Community and Customized as unused. Our quality index adds Gold and Glitter, which the Wiki list lacks. Read the exact name of any copy you plan to buy.
Quality and rarity are two different labels
Inscribed Dragonclaw Hook shows both: Inscribed is its quality, and Immortal is its rarity. The prefix does not move the item to another tier. Our catalogue lists five versions of Dragonclaw Hook: Standard, Inscribed, Autographed, Corrupted and Ascendant. All five are Immortal wearables for Pudge’s Weapon slot. They are five versions of one item, not five slots.
Exalted marks a purchase window, not a count of copies. Blades of Voth Domosh, the Legion Commander Arcana, could be bought as Exalted until 3 January 2014.
Can a gem change quality?
Yes, in a few cases. An Inscribed gem makes an item Inscribed, and an Autograph Rune makes it Autographed. Historical qualities such as Genuine, Heroic or Exalted cannot be recreated with a gem. Before you modify an item, check that the gem fits it and read the warning for that action. Replacing or extracting a gem can destroy the gem or the item, so do not count on selling the parts separately.
What to check before paying extra
Compare the exact copies: full name, gem details, whether it is part of a bundle, the price and the update date. For an Unusual item, note the effect and colour as well as the model. Pay a premium only for a feature or origin you want. The rarity guide explains tiers, and the gem guide covers compatibility and destructive operations.