Why is Glimmer Cape so strong in Dota 2?

Jaxon Published February 18, 2025

Players are always on the lookout for the best items they can use in Dota 2 to turn the tides in their favor and Glimmer Cape is becoming the go-to magical item for many top players.

Dota 2 tournaments offer large prize money and fame, which many talented players compete for. This is why professional players strategize different plays and use items to get the upper hand. Some players may want to stick to the tried and tested methods, but others look for new advantages and edges wherever they can find them.

One such opportunity is Glimmer Cape, which isn’t new but has recently been used differently by top players. A Tundra Esports player used the item to get an 87% win rate in the BLAST Slam 2. But why is this item becoming so popular, and why do many players believe it will soon be nerfed?

Glimmer Cape is the cheapest and best magic shield

Many artifacts have been nerfed or made overly expensive in Dota 2, and the general consensus is that Glimmer Cape is currently the most viable item providing magic resistance. 

Glimmer Cape is an item in Dota 2 that offers players invisibility for a short duration of time and is typically used by support heroes to protect core players from damage. With a low cooldown active, Glimmer Cape is a viable option if players need to protect units from magic attacks or make a quick getaway. The item has recently become quite popular among pro players with many across different teams using it in high-level tournaments.

During BLAST Slam 2 pro players from various teams such as Tundra Esports and Gaimin Gladiators used the Glimmer Cape. Tundra Esports offlaner Neta “33” Shapira was the first player to buy Glimmer Cape. He used it in four out of six games in the tournament and others also began using it after seeing his success. Tundra Esports went on to win the tournament with many crediting the use of Glimmer Cape as a key element in the victory.

Former Tundra Esports offlaner Roman “RAMZES666” Kushnarev explained why pro players are using Glimmer Cape in a Twitch stream. He stated the item is a cheap way of getting magic resistance without purchasing the more expensive Piper of Insight. The pro player said other items such as Eternal Shroud have been nerfed, so they aren’t as strong an option in matches. He claimed these factors have led to players purchasing Glimmer Cape for early-game play, potentially selling the item later when it no longer is as useful or when that item slot might be better used with a different purchase more suited to carry play.

Support players are bracing for an expected nerf to the Gimmer Cape, with many fearing the potential effects it could have on support play if the item becomes more expensive or otherwise difficult to use.