Dota 2 introduced the Aghanim's Shard system in patch 7.28. Released on December 17, 2020, the Mistwoods Update added the Shard as a new consumable upgrade alongside numerous balance changes and the hero Hoodwink.
Unlike Aghanim's Scepter, which generally provides a powerful upgrade and costs substantially more, Aghanim's Shard was designed as a more accessible mid-game option. In its original form, it cost 1,400 gold, became available after 20 minutes, and granted every hero a unique ability enhancement or a new ability.
A common mix-up is confusing the introduction of the item with later patches that expanded or reworked individual Shard upgrades. Patches 7.29 and 7.30 added or changed many hero-specific effects, but the system itself began in 7.28.