Trading & Gifting Guide - Nikko's Dota Shop

🔄 Gifting vs Trading: What's the Difference?

Understanding this is the first step to sending items correctly!

Think of it this way: Gifting is like giving a birthday present to a friend. Trading is like swapping toys with a friend.

Feature	Gifting	Trading
Main Purpose	Sending items to friends as presents	Exchanging items with other players
Item Types	Items marked "Giftable"	Items marked "Tradable"
Re-sending	Usually restricted (once only)	Can be traded again after cooldown
Market Selling	Gifted items cannot be sold on market	Tradable items can be sold
Best For	Giving presents to friends	Item exchanges and purchases

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Gifting is perfect when you want to give an item to a friend without getting anything back

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Trading is perfect when you want to exchange items or buy/sell with other players

🎁 How to Gift Items to Friends

Follow these simple steps to send giftable items to your friends:

Check if you can be friends

You need to be Steam friends with the person for 30 days before you can gift them items. Add them as a friend first if you haven't already!

Find your item in Dota 2

Open Dota 2 and go to your Armory (your item inventory). Look through your items to find the one you want to gift.

Check if it's giftable

Right-click on the item. If you see "Gift Wrap Item" in the menu, that means you can gift it! Some items say "May be gifted" which also means you can send them.

Send the gift

Click "Gift Wrap Item," select your friend from the list, and confirm. The item will be sent directly to their inventory!

Important Warning: Once gifted, items cannot be reclaimed. Always double-check the recipient before sending. Gifted items are permanently locked to the recipient's account and cannot be traded or sold on the market.

Pro Tip: Some items need to be "unbundled" before gifting. If you see a "Bundle" tag, you might need to open it first before gifting individual pieces.

🤝 How to Trade Items with Other Players

Trading allows you to exchange items with other Steam users. Here's how:

Get your Trade Offer URL ready

When you purchase from shops, you'll need to provide your Trade Offer URL. You can find this in your Steam settings under "Inventory" and "Trade Offers".

Initiate a Trade

Go to your Steam Friends list, right-click on a friend, and select "Invite to Trade." Or visit their profile and click "Trade".

Select items to exchange

Both players select items from their inventories to offer. The trade window shows what each person will give and receive.

Review and confirm

Check the trade carefully to make sure you're happy with the exchange. Once both click "Make Trade," the exchange is permanent!

Safety Tip: Always double-check trade windows before confirming. Scammers sometimes try to quickly change items at the last moment.

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Good to know: Most items from our shop are immediately tradable, but some might have a short cooldown period.

⏱️ Understanding Item Restrictions

Dota 2 items have various restrictions to prevent abuse. Here's what to look for:

Common Restrictions

Not Tradable or Marketable: Can only be used on your account
Tradable & Marketable After [Date]: Becomes tradeable after a specific date
Giftable Only Once: Can be gifted once but never traded

Limit Alert: You can only gift 8 items to the same person within 24 hours due to Dota 2 restrictions.

Items that cannot be gifted: Tools, pennants, treasures, music packs, emoticons, weathers, effigy blocks, effigies, style unlock items, and various gems.

Steam Guard Requirement

To prevent fraud, Steam requires that you have Steam Guard enabled for at least 15 days before you can trade. This adds an extra layer of security to your account and items.

📚 Key Terms Glossary

Here are explanations of common terms you'll encounter:

Tradable: An item that can be exchanged with other players through Steam Trading.
Giftable: An item that can be sent to a friend but cannot be traded or sold.
Marketable: An item that can be sold on the Steam Community Market for Steam Wallet funds.
Armory: Your personal collection of Dota 2 items, cosmetics, and other inventory contents.
Trade Cooldown: A waiting period during which a recently acquired or traded item cannot be traded again.
Steam Guard: Steam's security feature that helps protect your account and is required for trading.
Bundle: A collection of items that can be opened to get individual pieces.

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Remember: Always check an item's description to see what restrictions apply before buying or sending it.

Dota 2 Trading & Gifting Guide