In the fast-paced environment of Defense of the Ancients, clear communication is essential for team coordination. Over years of competitive play and community development, players have adopted shorthand for almost every item in the game. Using these nicknames is standard practice in chat, as it saves precious seconds during intense team fights.
Below is a curated reference list of common item shorthand. While these terms are widely accepted, always ensure your teammates understand your intent, especially when coordinating item-based cooldowns like Mekansm or Black King Bar.
Dota Item Nicknames and Shorthand
- Aegis of the Immortal: Aegis
- Aghanim's Scepter: Scepter, Aghanim's
- Ancient Tango of Essifation: Tango, tree eater
- Animal Courier: Chicken
- Arcane Ring:
- Battle Fury: BF
- Belt of Giant Strength:
- Black King Bar: BKB
- Blade Mail:
- Blades of Alacrity:
- Blades of Attack:
- Boots of Elvenskin:
- Boots of Speed: Boots, BoS
- Boots of Travel: BoT
- Bracer:
- Broadsword:
- Buriza-do Kyanon: Buriza
- Chain Mail: Chain
- Circlet of Nobility: Circlet
- Clarity Potion: clarity, mana pot
- Claymore:
- Cranium Basher: Basher
- Crow Courier: Crow
- Crystalys: Crys
- Dagon:
- Demon Edge: DE
- Diffusal Blade: Diffusal
- Divine Rapier: Divine, Rapier, DR
- Eaglehorn: Eagle
- Empty Bottle: Bottle
- Energy Booster:
- Eul's Scepter of Divinity: Eul's
- Eye of Skadi: EoS, Skadi
- Flask of Sapphire Water: Flask, Water
- Gem of True Sight: Gem
- Gauntlets of Ogre Strength: Gauntlets
- Gloves of Haste: Gloves
- Guinsoo's Scythe of Vyse: Guinsoo's, sheepstick
- Hand of Midas: HoM, Midas
- Headdress of Rejuvination: Headdress
- Heart of Tarrasque: HoT, Heart
- Helm of Iron Will: Helm
- Helm of the Dominator: HotD, HoD
- Hyperstone: Hyper
- Ironwood Branch: branch, gg branch, ironwoods
- Kelen's Dagger of Escape: Dagger, blink dagger, DoE
- Linken's Sphere: Linken's
- Lothar's Edge: Lothar's
- Maelstrom: Mael
- Manta Style: Manta
- Mantle of Intelligence: Mantle
- Mask of Death: Mask
- Mask of Madness: MoM
- Mekansm: Mek, Meka
- Messerschmidt's Reaver: Reaver, messer, messerschmidt
- Mithril Hammer: Hammer
- Mjollnir:
- Monkey King Bar: MKB
- Mystic Staff:
- Necronomicon: Book, necro book, nomicon
- Netherezim Buckler: Buckler
- Null Talisman: Null
- Oblivion Staff: Oblivion
- Observer Wards: obs wards
- Ogre Axe:
- Perseverance: Pers
- Planeswalker's Cloak: Cloak
- Plate Mail:
- Point Booster:
- Power Treads: Treads
- Quarterstaff:
- Radiance:
- Refresher Orb: Refresher
- Ring of Basilius: RoB
- Ring of Health: RoH
- Ring of Protection:
- Ring of Regeneration: RoR
- Robe of the Magi: Robe
- Sacred Relic: relic, sacred
- Sange:
- Sange and Yasha: S&Y, SnY, S+Y
- Satanic:
- Scroll of Town Portal: scroll, tp scroll
- Sentry Wards: wards
- Slippers of Agility:
- Sobi Mask: Sobi
- Soul Booster:
- Staff of Wizardry:
- Stout Shield: Stout
- Stygian Desolator: Deso, Desolator, Styg, Stygian
- The Butterfly: Butterfly, Butter
- Ultimate Orb: Ulti orb, Orb
- Vanguard:
- Vitality Booster:
- Vladmir's Offering:
- Void Stone: Void
- Wraith Band: Wraith
- Yasha:
Note: Always refer to official game documentation for the most accurate item stats and build recipes, as these can shift significantly between game versions.