The shop and your courier
Open the shop with the shop button in the bottom-right corner. You can buy from anywhere on the map — no need to walk home.
Your items are carried by your courier, a delivery creature of your own. It takes time to arrive and enemies can kill it, so don't send it through danger.
Your first items at the start
You start every game with a little gold. Spend it on small items that keep you alive in lane: health and mana regeneration and a few stats.
Tango
Eat a tree, heal slowly
Healing Salve
Fast healing, cancelled if you're hit
Clarity
Restores mana
Iron Branch
Cheap, small stat boost
Quelling Blade
Helps last hits and chops trees
Faerie Fire
Instant health in an emergency
Item slots
Every hero has 6 main slots that work, 3 backpack slots that don't, and dedicated slots for the TP Scroll and a neutral item from the jungle.
Many big items are built from small ones. Example: Bracer = Gauntlets of Strength + Circlet + a recipe. Check the recipe in the shop before you buy.
Buy for the situation, not from memory
An item build is a guide, not a rule. Look at what's hurting your team, then buy the answer.
Early game
Boots and small stat items.
Mid game
Teamfight items: Blink Dagger, Black King Bar, Force Staff.
Late game
Expensive items that take your hero to full power.
5 items you must know
These show up in a huge number of builds. Know what they do, even before you buy them:
Blink Dagger
Short teleport — the favourite way to start a fight
Black King Bar (BKB)
Temporary immunity to most enemy spells
Force Staff
Shoves you or an ally forward, fast
Observer Ward
An eye on the map — supports always buy them
TP Scroll
Teleport to your own buildings — always carry one
Key Points to Remember
- Shop from anywhere — your courier delivers
- 6 main slots work, 3 backpack slots don't
- Big items are built from small ones
- Buy for the game you're in, not a memorised build
- Always carry a TP Scroll
Quick quiz
What is Black King Bar (BKB) mainly for?
Want to go deeper?