Offering a free arcana is usually how Dota 2 scammers open up conversations, but Valve has made the classic grift a reality.
Dota 2 has released a new Swag Bag update for The International 2022 that includes a free battle pass boost, a month of Dota Plus, and a free arcana for every player. While free, players still need to be actively playing during TI11 to claim the goodies. The Swag Bag arrived after weeks of fan complaints, so some could interpret this as an apology for Valve.
To get the free arcana from the battle pass, players will need to play at least ten games during The International 2022 season. Once they have clocked in ten matches, players can claim their arcana from the battle pass menu. Since the Swag Bag also includes a free battle pass for every player, this offer effectively applies to all Dota 2 accounts.
Notably, this offer does not extend to previous battle pass-locked arcanas like Spectre or Drow Ranger. The list of free arcana choices includes the following heroes.
- Ogre Magi
- Rubick
- Juggernaut
- Monkey King
- Zeus
- Crystal Maiden
- Phantom Assassin
- Shadow Fiend
- Techies
- Terrorblade
- Legion Commander
- Lina
Valve apologizes for TI11 issues with free arcana and battle pass
The free arcana, Dota Plus, and other Swag Bag goodies may be Valve’s apology for all the issues with The International 2022 battle pass.
The Dota 2 community has ripped The International 2022 to shreds since its release. The schedule has cut the prize pool of TI11 in half compared to the previous year. The tournament itself has also featured multiple technical problems partially due to casters behind literally across the world. Several beloved features also haven’t been implemented for the battle pass. These problems led to a massive outcry from both the general fanbase and professional Dota 2 personalities.
Valve has repeatedly stated its intention to further grow Dota 2 as both a casual and competitive game. The next Dota Pro Circuit includes common pro players requests while the second half of the battle pass is also entirely dedicated to casual play with the return of Diretide. By releasing the Swag Bag during a down period at The International, Valve is effectively apologizing for all the issues during the battle pass season.
