Dota 2 Introduces Hero Base Cosmetic Slot to Enhance Arcana Skins

The highly anticipated Crownfall Act 3 update finally arrived on July 9 in Valve’s calendar, bringing with it two cosmetic updates that have left Dota 2 skin enthusiasts in awe.

Dota 2 Hero Base for Arcana Effects

The new Hero Base is a cosmetic slot now available for select heroes like Juggernaut and Pudge, allowing players to equip special effects from their Arcana skins—Bladeform Legacy and The Feast of Abscession, respectively. What makes this update even more exciting is that it’s not just about the Arcana’s particles or ambient effects. Both Arcanas are now divided into multiple parts, such as Juggernaut’s Arcana headpiece and Pudge’s hooks on chains backpiece, which can be equipped in their respective slots.

This change allows for more cohesive set combinations using the Arcana effects and design cues. Traditionally, high-quality sets with good masks for Juggernaut or back pieces for Pudge were less appealing because they replaced the Arcana skin in those slots.

The Hero Base Feature and Crownfall Collector’s Cache

The Hero Base feature is part of the Crownfall Collector’s Cache, which coincidentally includes ultra-rare sets for Juggernaut and Pudge. These new sets look phenomenal and are highly sought after.

Expanding Hero Base to Other Arcanas

The concept of Hero Base for Juggernaut and Pudge has received widespread praise from the Dota 2 community, which is now calling for this feature to be extended to every hero with an Arcana. This includes heroes like Rubick, Zeus, Shadow Fiend, and especially Lina.

Lina’s Arcana was the first ever released and, while great at the time, is now outdated compared to newer Arcana skins in terms of particles and customized skill effects. A Hero Base for Lina, maintaining her iconic fiery hairstyle, would rejuvenate her appeal. Additionally, Dota 2 offers a wide range of skins, with some heroes even having Personas as alternative skins, like Pudge.

This isn’t the first time the Dota 2 dev team has introduced such a feature. Previously, Immortal items’ customized skill effects could be equipped without the Immortal item itself, allowing players to enjoy their favorite Collector’s Cache sets without compromising on design.

Market Impact

With the introduction of the Hero Base slot, prices for fancy Juggernaut headpieces on the Steam Market have reached all-time highs. Players looking to mix and match cool Juggernaut headpieces with the Arcana as the Hero Base should be prepared to pay a premium.

Overall, the new Hero Base slot adds an exciting layer of customization to Dota 2, making Arcana skins even more desirable and allowing for greater creativity in hero appearance.