Best Aghanim’s Shards in Dota – Top 5 to Pick

The introduction of the Aghanim’s Shard in patch 7.27 has been a game-changing addition to Dota 2, creating additional depth, as if the game needed any more already. This innovative item grants every hero in the game a unique upgrade, which enhances abilities or adds a completely new one.

Since every hero has a unique Aghanim’s Shard upgrade, it is easily the most popular item in the game and changes how Dota 2 is played. On top of Tormentors rewarding teammates with Shards, you’ll see at least five heroes with an Aghanim’s Shard upgrade at the end of every game.

While obtaining an Aghanim’s Shard for free via the Tormentor is possible, some upgrades reward heroes with immense value, making it a must-buy. In this guide, we’ll explore the six best Aghanim’s Shard upgrades that stand out exceptionally.

Lich

In patch 7.37, Lich has quickly become one of the most popular support picks, and his Aghanim’s Shard upgrade is the icing on the cake. 

What Does The Aghanim’s Shard Do?

Effect: Grants the Ice Spire ability. 

• Creates an Ice Spire at the target spot, slowing enemies around it. Can take 5 hero hits or 10 creep hits and when destroyed it will create a Frost Blast around it.

• Chain Frost can bounce to the Spire if there are no other enemies in range.

• Lich can cast Frost Shield on the Spire. Each Frost Shield tick will heal the spire by 1 hero attack.

Why Is It Useful?

As a Lich player myself, Ice Spire is one of the most obnoxiously annoying abilities in the game, so it’s the perfect item to annoy the enemy team. Still, its functionality cannot be questioned either.

Lich doesn’t have the most tremendous burst damage against a single opponent, as Chain Frost requires multiple targets to bounce on. However, you no longer have to worry about this concept, as Chain Frost bounces to the Ice Spire.

One thing I love doing is planting the Ice Spire deeper on the enemy team’s side during a fight and placing my Frost Shield on it, assuming none of my teammates need it. This is a great way to cancel Blink Daggers and be a nuisance overall.

Lina

If you love one-shotting enemy heroes, Lina is the girl for you. However, deleting your opponents is only possible with the Aghanim’s Shard upgrade, and here’s why.

What Does The Aghanim’s Shard Do?

Effect: Fiery Soul upgrade.

• Lina’s abilities deal 25 more damage for each Fiery Soul Charge. 

Why Is It Useful?

Lina can obliterate enemy players with a single Laguna Blade, only if she has the proper items, including Kaya, Aghanim’s Scepter, Ethereal Blade, and Aghanim’s Shard.

The Aghanim’s Shard upgrades Fiery Soul, allowing Lina’s abilities to deal 25 more damage per stack. Normally, Lina has access to a maximum of 7 Fiery Soul stacks, which is an additional 175 damage for every one of her spells, including Laguna Blade. Though this might not sound like a lot, this is before we amplify the damage with Kaya and Flame Cloak, which provide 10 and 35% spell amplification, respectively, with another boost from Ethereal Blade available, too.

Remember that using Laguna Blade will also temporarily increase your Fiery Soul stacks to 12, meaning more damage for your other spells.

Earthshaker

Earthshaker has been gaining popularity, as he can now be played in the support and core role, making him a highly-contested pick.

What Does The Aghanim’s Shard Do?

Effect: Fissure upgrade.

• Reduces Fissure cooldown and allows Earthshaker to walk on it. When he casts any ability, an Aftershock is released along its path that suns for a shortened duration.

Why Is It Useful?

My personal favorite Aghanim’s Shard in the game is Earthshaker’s. Typically, most support Earthshakers have the task of blinking in, hoping to get a good Echo Slam. However, the Aghanim’s Shard upgrade allows players to go for a completely different approach – playing for Fissures instead of Echo Slams.

Instead of praying for a highlight clip, I prefer playing in the back lines, throwing out Fissures and chain-stunning enemies by pressing Enchant Totem on the ground. Playing for Fissure allows me to be more patient and wait for a good Echo Slam opportunity to show up, while being able to have impact despite the prolonged patience.

Walking on top of Fissures also allows Earthshaker to walk up and down cliffs and is a lovely bonus, but I’d still purchase this Shard as a second item even if this feature was removed. That’s how good this upgrade is.

Legion Commander

Legion Commander is a fantastic hero for beginners, as she can solo-carry games from the offlane. If you’re trying her out, don’t forget to purchase the Aghanim’s Shard. 

What Does The Aghanim’s Shard Do?

Effect: Overwhelming Odds upgrade.

• Gives 100 bonus radius when cast during Duel.

Effect: Duel upgrade.

• Increases Duel damage by 8 per win. Applies retroactively. 

Why Is It Useful?

What’s better than one upgrade? Two. Legion Commander gets two of his spells upgraded by Aghanim’s Shard, which already provides a lot of value off the bat. But, let’s take a deeper look, starting with Overwhelming Odds.

Now, Legion Commander can cast Overwhelming Odds in the middle of a Duel. The Shard upgrade increases the effect radius, which might not sound like a big deal, but it sort of is. With a larger radius, Legion Commander can catch more units with Overwhelming Odds, which will give him additional bonus damage, also giving an all-damage barrier if you take the Stonehall Plate facet.

But of course, the main highlight of the Aghanim’s Shard is the additional 8 Duel damage per win, which applies retroactively. The scaling potential for Legion Commander becomes insane, as she’ll be raking in 38 damage per Duel at max level.

Necrophos

Necrophos isn’t the most popular hero in the meta at the moment, but one thing still stands – he has one of the best Aghanim’s shards in the game.

What Does The Aghanim’s Shard Do?

Effect: Grants the Death Seeker ability. 

• Necrophos turns into a large Death Pulse towards the target unit’s position. Once it arrives to the location, the Death Pulse spreads towards nearby enemies and allies. 

Why Is It Useful?

Though Necrophos possesses a wave-clearing ability in the form of Death Pulse, he still isn’t the most proficient farmer in the game since the spell doesn’t kill a creep wave completely. However, with the Death Seeker ability, you now have two Death Pulses, and can clear waves and camps instantly. The mana regeneration from his passive also allows him to use both spells for farming purposes.

Though the farm value is nice, the real reason why Death Seeker is considered S-Tier is because it provides Necrophos with an escape mechanism. The best way to counter a Necrophos in the late-game is to buy a Nullifier, as Ghost Shroud, Eul’s Scepter, or Force Staff won’t save him – it’s game over.

However, Death Seeker ignores Nullifier and allows Necrophos to travel to his allies to buy time for the dispel effect to end. From this perspective, the value his Shard grants is simply insane.