Dota 2: The International 2016 Battle Pass packs in so much stuff
You'll have RSI in your scrolling finger by the end of it.
Dota 2: The International 2016 Battle Pass packs in so much stuff
Every year, Valve offers Dota 2 fans a chance to contribute to the prize pool of annual global championship The International by purchasing a Battle Pass. These passes offer virtual front row seats to all the action, as well as various bonuses and reward schemes.
This year's version is, wow. It's huge. Let's start with the initial line of goodies:
- Three Immortal Treasures
- Exclusive seasonal terrain
- Taunt
- Weather effect
- Music pack
- Cursor pack
- Evolving Courier
- Evolving Ward
- Emoticon pack
- HUD
- Loading screens
- Effigy Block
- Announcer pack
The Pass also includes the return of a quest system. Prior to each game you play, choose a Path and complete an assignment to earn Battle Points and unlock new quests. Earning Battle Points increases your Battle Pass level and unlocks new rewards.
The system has changed a little since last time: Paths now have three difficulty tiers offering different rewards. If you complete all three difficulties you'll receive a style upgrade. If you reach level 255 you'll unlock a special Legion Commander Prestige item,and a unique Quest Path designed specifically for her. Completing this path nets a visually-unique enhancement for her Prestige item.
Wagering and tipping also return. You'll score an extra 500 tokens per week when you pass level 119; another 500 at level 235; and a further 1,000 at level 395. Reaching level 199 also unlock a wager limit of 500 tokens.
Community challenges will run throughout the Battle Pass season. Completing the challenge objectives in winning matches will contribute to the community progress bar. When the community collectively completes enough challenges to fill the bar, all Battle Pass owners will receive three fireballs to drop in Lina's Battle Blaze for a chance to win additional Battle Points. You'll get three free fireballs to give you a taste of this.
The Battle Pass costs $10. You can buy-in at level 50 for $27, and buy levels in packs of five ($2.50), 11 ($5) and 24 ($10). 25% of the purchase price on all of this goes directly to The International prize pool, which is currently sitting at over $2 million.
If the total prize pool passes last year's watermark ($18,429,613), every Battle Pass owner will receive three Trust of the Benefactor treasure rewards. Each offers a chance to receive a 2016 Immortal Treasure, a Random Hero Set, an Arcana Set, or an ultra rare chance at one of a stack of limited-run prizes.
And that's not even all of it! There's really so much going on this season, which kicks off sometime in June. Visit the Dota 2 website for more information.