Dota 2 Madstone: How To Craft Neutral Items

Want to know more about Madstone in Dota 2? You're in the right spot! Patch 7.38 introduced a major overhaul to the Neutral Item system, replacing random item drops with a brand-new mechanic involving Madstone. But what is it and how exactly does this new crafting system work?

This guide explains everything you need to know about Madstone in Dota 2, including how it works, how to obtain it, and how to craft Neutral Items in the latest update.

What is Madstone In Dota 2?

Madstone is a new resource in Dota 2 that replaces the previous Neutral Token system. Instead of receiving random Neutral Items from creep camps, players must now collect Madstone (subject to a maximum cap) and use it to craft their preferred Neutral Items.

To obtain Madstone in Dota 2, players must fully clear a Neutral Creep Camp. When the last creep in a camp dies, Madstone is dropped and automatically collected under these conditions:

• If there are no enemy heroes within an 800-unit radius, and at least one allied hero is within 1200 units.
• If enemy heroes are nearby, the Madstone drops to the ground and can be collected by either team.

Note: If a player has already reached their Madstone cap, any excess Madstone they would have received is evenly distributed among their teammates.

How To Craft Neutral Items with Madstone In Dota 2

Instead of receiving random Neutral Items, Dota 2 players must craft their own items using the Madstone they've collected. At least 5 Madstones are required to craft Tier 1 items, with each subsequent Tier costing 10 Madstones each (with an escalating cost for additional recrafting).

The new system also divides Neutral Items into Artifacts and Enchantments:

• Artifacts: Provide active or passive abilities (e.g., Essence Ring for healing, Arcane Ring for mana regeneration).
• Enchantments: Offer passive stat bonuses like lifesteal, attack speed, health, or mana boosts.

When crafting a Neutral Item, players can choose from four Artifacts (three options from the current tier and an option to keep the existing Artifact) and four Enchantments (four options from the current tier and an option to keep the existing Enchantment).

What Are The Madstone Storage Limits In Dota 2?

It's important to note that Dota 2 players cannot collect an unlimited amount of Madstone—instead, the storage cap increases at fixed time intervals as the game progresses:

• 0:00 – Initial cap: 0
• 5:00 – Cap increases to 5 (enough to craft Tier 1 Neutral Items)
• 15:00 – Cap increases to 15 (enough to craft Tier 2 Neutral Items)
• 25:00 – Cap increases to 25 (enough to craft Tier 3 Neutral Items)
• 35:00 – Cap increases to 35 (enough to craft Tier 4 Neutral Items)
• 60:00 – Cap increases to 45 (enough to craft Tier 5 Neutral Items)
• 70:00+ – Cap is removed, allowing for unlimited Madstone collection (this means players can recraft Tier 5 Neutral Items an infinite number of times)

And that's everything to know about Madstone in Dota 2. Overall, the new Neutral Item Crafting System introduces skill-based decision-making instead of relying on random drops.

Do you enjoy reading my content? If so, please take a moment to check out my other guides. It's completely free! Your support makes a huge difference (sort of like hitting the like or subscribe button on YouTube). It also makes me look a lot cooler in editorial meetings.