Most Expensive Dota 2 Items: Baby Roshans, Couriers and Rare Variants
The rarest Dota 2 items, where they came from and why they cost so much.
Project editor:GrassKnuckles
The most expensive Dota 2 items are rare Baby Roshan couriers from one-off events, such as Dark Moon, Desert Sands, Platinum and Golden. Next come Unusual versions of rare couriers, early Immortal sets in Golden, Crimson and Genuine forms, and signed copies of scarce items. Each one is expensive because very few exist. For today’s prices, open the Top Items and Records pages.
Why some Dota 2 items cost so much
Almost every top-priced item shares one of three traits:
- A one-off release. It came from a short event or a single year’s Battle Pass and Valve never sold it again.
- A tiny drop pool. It was an extra-rare reward or a small fixed allocation, such as the 50 Ice and 50 Lava Baby Roshans on Valve’s 2017 Trust of the Benefactor list. That is one year’s allocation, not the total supply.
- A premium version. It is the Golden, Unusual, Genuine or Autographed copy of an already scarce item.
Rarity labels do not rank the list. Some Mythical items list for four figures, while many Immortals cost a few dollars. What matters is the story of the item. Items this rare also sell only rarely, so a listing shows what a seller asks, not what a buyer has paid.
The main groups at a glance
| Kind of item | Examples | Why it is scarce |
|---|---|---|
| Event Baby Roshans | Golden, Platinum, Dark Moon, Gingerbread | Prizes from limited events, often for top players or at a very low chance |
| Battle Pass Baby Roshans | Desert Sands, Genuine Lava, Genuine Ice | Extra-rare rewards from the 2017 pass or special promotions |
| Unusual couriers | Unusual Baby Roshan, Unusual Platinum Baby Roshan, Unusual Drodo the Druffin | Only a small share of treasure openings give an Unusual, and rare models multiply the effect |
| Early Immortals | Transversant Soul of the Crimson Witness, Golden Silent Wake | Golden and Crimson versions of old Battle Pass Immortals, which were already rare bonus drops or viewer rewards |
| Genuine promo items | Genuine Axe of Phractos, Genuine Monarch Bow | Tied to physical merchandise from years ago |
| Autographed TI items | Trove Carafe 2019 (Autographed copies) | A signature rune on top of a scarce base item |
Baby Roshans: one name, many prices
A plain Baby Roshan is a common courier. The editions below are not, and they are the answer to searches like “Dark Moon Baby Roshan price” or “Golden Baby Roshan”.
- Golden. A Diretide 2012 prize for holding the fastest Roshan-kill record in the event’s Sugar Rush Hall of Fame.
- Platinum. A follow-up Diretide prize in 2013 for the top players in the event’s Hall of Fame.
- Dark Moon. A reward from the Dark Moon event in early 2017, won on a reward wheel at a very low chance.
- Desert Sands. Valve called it an extremely rare reward from Siltbreaker’s Treasure in the 2017 Battle Pass.
- Ice and Lava. Valve’s 2017 Trust of the Benefactor list had 50 of each. The Genuine Ice and Lava Baby Roshans are a different supply: they came from Perfect World promotions on the Chinese servers.
- Gingerbread. A low-chance Frostivus event reward.
Other editions, such as Honey Heist, have their own pages. Do not use the price of one edition for another; the courier price page lists them all.
Unusual couriers and effect gems
An Unusual courier carries a particle effect set by an gem">Ethereal gem and a colour set by a Prismatic gem. Wikis put the drop chance from certain treasures at roughly 1–2%. Combine that with a rare model and the price climbs: Unusual Platinum and Unusual Golden Baby Roshan stack two scarcities. Drodo the Druffin and Lockjaw the Boxhound, which Valve listed at 100 copies each on its 2017 Trust of the Benefactor list, also dropped from older treasures and exist as Unusual couriers.
The effect gems sell separately too, and a few of them cost a lot. See the couriers and Unusual effects guide for how the system works.
Early Immortals and their Golden, Crimson and Genuine copies
Immortals from the 2015–2018 Compendiums and Battle Passes sit in many top-price lists. They came from treasures where the best items had ultra-rare odds, and the Golden versions were even rarer bonus drops. The Treasure of the Crimson Witness, a yearly drop for TI viewers, adds red-effect versions of older Immortals. Genuine items such as Genuine Axe of Phractos came with merchandise like WETA Workshop figurines and swords. Even some of the treasures themselves are pricey, such as the 2018 Treasure of the Crimson Witness. The Immortal items guide and the Immortals price page go deeper.
What about arcana prices?
Searches for “Dota 2 arcana price” often expect four figures, but arcanas cost far less than the rarest couriers. Arcana is the top rarity tier, yet it is a large category, and most arcanas trade for a small fraction of what the rarest couriers list for. Compare every arcana on the arcana price list or read how they ranked in the retired and priciest arcanas guide.
Buying and selling very rare items
If you collect, decide what the item means to you and set a budget you can live with, because a quick resale is not guaranteed. If you plan to sell, remember that marketplace fees cut what you receive. The fee calculator shows the amount after fees, and the safe trading guide covers the steps for a large trade. Match the exact version first, because a Golden, Genuine or Unusual copy and its plain version can differ in price by a large factor.
How to check a price today
- Open the Top Items list for the current ranking.
- Open the item page and compare Steam and marketplace prices.
- Check the price history and 30-day volume. A 30-day volume of zero means the price is a guess.
- Use the Records page to see each item’s peak price and how far it has fallen.
- Confirm the exact version, including quality and gems, before you pay.
Quick answers
What is the most expensive item in Dota 2?
The top spot moves. Rare Baby Roshans such as Desert Sands, Platinum and Dark Moon are regularly near the top. Check the Top Items page for today’s order.
Why is the Dark Moon Baby Roshan so expensive?
Valve gave it out at a very low chance during one event in early 2017, so few players ever got one. Collectors compete for the rare copies that come up for sale.
Are arcanas the most expensive Dota 2 items?
No. The rarest event couriers and early Immortals list for far more than arcanas.
What does Genuine mean on a Dota 2 item?
Genuine is a quality given to items from special releases and promotions, such as merchandise tie-ins. Some Genuine items are rare, but the label alone does not set the price. See the Genuine quality page.
Can I trust the price of a very rare item?
Treat it as a starting point. Rare items sell rarely, so look at the history and recent volume on the item page before you rely on a number.
Sources and examples
- Valve: 2017 Battle Pass, Desert Sands Baby Roshan and the Trust of the Benefactor extra-rare list
- Dota Ledger price table
- GosuGamers: the Dark Moon event
- Liquipedia: Dark Moon Baby Roshan
- Liquipedia: Gingerbread Baby Roshan
- Liquipedia: Lava Baby Roshan
- Liquipedia: Unusual quality
- Liquipedia: Treasure of the Crimson Witness
- PCGamesN: the Diretide event and the Golden courier
- GosuGamers: a beginner’s guide to Diretide and its Hall of Fame prize