Dota 2 Dark Carnival ‘Midnight Run’ adds five automaton personas

Valve launched the Dark Carnival story event for Dota 2, opening the first chapter titled ‘Midnight Run.’ The chapter begins with a comic prologue and full voice acting and places players aboard a spider-legged circus train where Legion Commander and Hoodwink attempt to reach the front while avoiding traps set by the Ringmaster.

The event is structured as a campaign. Players move along a route through multiple carriages, clear rooms, complete objectives, unlock new areas and reveal plot details. Progress in the campaign also grants in-game items and cosmetics tied to the story.

Progression uses a ticket system linked to the heroes players choose. Each hero is associated with three ticket types. Winning a regular match awards all three of that hero’s tickets; a loss grants one random ticket. Matches in Turbo mode award two tickets for a win and none for a loss. A trade mechanic lets players exchange three matching spare tickets or four different tickets to obtain tickets tied to other heroes.

Along the route players collect Discount Coins, Candy and Treasures of Wonder. Ten Discount Coins can be redeemed for a store saving; the value varies by region, listed as $7.99 in the United States and £5.89 in the United Kingdom. The item or bundle purchased must cost at least that amount to qualify; if an item is priced exactly at that threshold the discount covers it in full.

Treasure of Wonder chests award one of 15 new hero cosmetic sets. Examples include Drow Ranger’s harlequin-style ‘Motley Marauder,’ Queen of Pain as ‘Mistress of Ceremonies,’ Monkey King’s ‘Bonobo the Clown,’ Primal Beast’s ‘Mane Attraction,’ Io as ‘Madame Scrio,’ and Dark Willow’s ‘Fairy Godmummer.’ Opening a chest may also grant a Toy Pudge persona bonus for players who do not already own it.

The event introduces five automaton persona overhauls for Axe, Oracle, Legion Commander, Morphling and Bristleback. Each persona includes new animations, visual effects, ability icons and reworked voice lines. Valve priced these persona sets at $14.99 in the United States and £11.09 in the United Kingdom; they qualify for the Discount Coins saving. Four additional themed sets for Phantom Assassin, Crystal Maiden, Invoker and Magnus are hidden within the train and must be discovered while progressing through the story.

Other features include the return of the Candyworks mechanic and a Secret Rooms Pack priced at $14.99/£11.09 that grants immediate access to themed creeps, an event music pack and several Secret Room Tickets for bonus sections of the map. Valve noted, “All Dota players are free to explore the main story event, but there are hidden areas to explore as well, filled with secrets and side quests.”

The first two carriages of the Dark Carnival are live now. Another pair of carriages will open in two weeks, with the final two becoming available two weeks after that.