The Aegis of Champions is the championship trophy awarded to the winners of The International, the premier annual Dota 2 tournament. It is a large, shield-inspired perpetual trophy that is engraved with the names of each winning team and, historically, returned so that it endures from year to year as a lasting record of the competition’s champions. It is one of the most storied trophies in esports.
At Fabit in Antwerp, we look to landmark pieces like the Aegis of Champions to understand what gives a perpetual trophy its lasting power, and we apply those lessons to build original bespoke trophies for our clients. Here we describe the Aegis factually and explain how we create comparable perpetual and championship pieces.
What the Aegis of Champions is
The Aegis of Champions is the top prize of The International, the flagship event in the Dota 2 competitive calendar and historically home to some of the largest prize pools in esports. The trophy takes the form of a substantial shield, rich with detail and symbolism drawn from the game’s world. Winning teams are recorded on the piece, giving it the character of a living historical record.
As a perpetual trophy, its power comes from continuity. Each champion joins a lineage inscribed on the Aegis itself, and the piece carries the accumulated weight of every International that has come before. This is what elevates it from a mere award to a genuine artefact of the sport.
Why the Aegis works as a perpetual trophy
The Aegis of Champions embodies the qualities that make perpetual trophies so compelling. It concentrates prestige into a single iconic object. It records its champions, turning the trophy into a story that grows each year. Its distinctive shield form is instantly recognisable. And its craft and scale give it commanding presence on stage.
These principles guide our own perpetual commissions. We do not copy the Aegis, but we pursue the same outcomes: continuity, iconography, craft, and the capacity to gather history. Our work across the esports and gaming industry is built on exactly these long-term foundations.
Designing a trophy that records its champions
A defining feature of the Aegis is that it carries the names of past winners. Building this into a trophy takes forethought. There must be space and a mechanism for adding champions gracefully over many years, without the piece becoming cluttered or running out of room. When we design comparable perpetual trophies, we plan this from the outset, integrating engraving areas or dedicated bands so the trophy grows elegantly with each edition. Our custom trophy service is well suited to these enduring commissions.
Engineering for decades of handling
A perpetual trophy like the Aegis must survive far more than a single celebration. It is lifted, carried, engraved, displayed, and transported year after year. This demands the most robust materials and construction. We engineer perpetual pieces to withstand decades of handling and travel while retaining their finish, so the trophy remains as impressive in its later years as on its debut.
Scale, presence, and the lift
A shield-style or large-format trophy creates a powerful lift moment and dominates the broadcast frame. Achieving that impact safely requires careful engineering of weight and grip. Our XL esports trophies are designed precisely for this, combining commanding scale with the balance needed for champions to lift the piece safely and dramatically.
Companion pieces for champions to keep
Because a perpetual trophy is typically returned, competitions often pair it with a companion piece that champions keep. This lets winners display their achievement while the perpetual trophy continues its lineage. We regularly design these companion awards alongside the main piece, and clients can explore coordinated concepts in our design studio.
Symbolism and storytelling in a shield-style trophy
Part of what gives the Aegis of Champions its resonance is the way its form draws on the world of the game it represents. A shield is rich with meaning: protection, honour, and the mark of a proven warrior. When a trophy’s form connects to the narrative universe or the values of a competition, it gains a depth that a plain cup cannot match. Fans read the symbolism instinctively, and it reinforces the sense that the trophy belongs to this competition and no other.
We bring this storytelling sensibility to every bespoke commission. Before we sketch a single form, we ask what the competition stands for and what its world looks and feels like. A trophy can echo the aesthetics of a game, the heritage of an organisation, or the character of a region. This is how a piece earns a distinctive identity rather than looking interchangeable with any other award. For perpetual trophies especially, that identity is what carries the piece across decades and lets its meaning accumulate.
How Fabit builds and delivers comparable pieces
We create original bespoke trophies that achieve the qualities that make the Aegis of Champions so revered, always tailored to the client’s competition. From our Antwerp workshop we design, produce, and deliver worldwide, with bespoke protective cases and a 24-hour response to every enquiry. We bring an advisory approach to these significant, long-horizon commissions.
- Perpetual model: one enduring piece carrying a champion lineage.
- Champion records: integrated space to engrave winners over time.
- Iconography: a distinctive form tied to the competition.
- Durability: engineered for decades of handling and travel.
- Presence: scaled for a commanding, safe lift moment.
Frequently asked questions
Can Fabit build a perpetual trophy like the Aegis of Champions? Yes. We create original perpetual trophies that achieve the same continuity, craft, and presence, tailored to your competition rather than copying an existing design.
How are champions recorded over the years? Through engraving areas or dedicated bands that we plan into the design from the start, so the trophy grows elegantly.
Do champions keep the trophy? With perpetual pieces, usually not, so we often design companion awards that winners keep permanently.
Do you deliver worldwide? Yes. From Antwerp we ship globally with protective cases and respond to every enquiry within 24 hours.
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