Neutral items are unique items that drop from neutral creeps in the jungle. They cannot be bought or sold, and each player can only carry one at a time, with a dedicated neutral item slot. They add a significant layer of strategic depth to the game.
How They Work:
- Drop Chance: Neutral creeps have a chance to drop a neutral item. The chance increases with game time.
- Tiers: Neutral items are categorized into 5 tiers, with higher tiers dropping as the game progresses (Tier 1 at 7 minutes, Tier 2 at 17 minutes, etc.).
- Limited Drops: Only a certain number of neutral items from each tier can drop per game.
- Shared Stash: Dropped neutral items go into a shared team stash, accessible by all allies.
- Dedicated Slot: Each hero has a dedicated neutral item slot. You can swap neutral items from your backpack, but only one can be active.
Strategic Considerations:
- Who Gets What: Decide which hero on your team benefits most from a particular neutral item. A carry might want damage, a support might want utility or mana.
- Timing: Some neutral items are powerful early, while others scale better into the late game.
- Countering: Some neutral items can indirectly counter enemy heroes or strategies (e.g., a neutral item providing status resistance against heavy crowd control).
- Jungle Farming: Encourages more jungle farming to find these valuable items.
- Team Coordination: Communicate with your team about which neutral items have dropped and who should take them.
Neutral items can provide unexpected power spikes and turn the tide of battles, making their acquisition and proper distribution a key strategic element.