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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Document Type dei_DocumentType 485BPOS
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Sep. 30, 2013
Entity Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName VIRTUS OPPORTUNITIES TRUST
Entity Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0001005020
Amendment Flag dei_AmendmentFlag false
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol vot
Document Creation Date dei_DocumentCreationDate Jan. 27, 2014
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate Jan. 28, 2014
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Jan. 28, 2014
VIRTUS DYNAMIC ALPHASECTOR FUND
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading
Virtus Dynamic AlphaSector® Fund
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading
Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock
The fund has an investment objective of long-term capital appreciation.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading
Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock
The tables below illustrate all fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Virtus Mutual Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor and under “Sales Charges” on page 215 of the fund’s prospectus and “Alternative Purchase Arrangements” on page 103 of the fund’s statement of additional information.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading
Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock
The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 137% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 137.00%
Expenses Deferred Charges [Text Block] rr_ExpensesDeferredChargesTextBlock
Generally, Class A Shares are not subject to any charges by the Fund when redeemed; however, a contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed on certain redemptions (i) within 18 months on exchanges from a Virtus non-money market fund into a Virtus money market fund; and (ii) on purchases on which a finder’s fee has been paid. The 18-month period begins on the last day of the month preceding the month in which the purchase was made. The maximum deferred sales charge is imposed on Class B Shares redeemed during the first year; thereafter, it decreases 1% annually to 3% during the third and fourth years and to 0% after the sixth year. The deferred sales charge is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed during the first year only.
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text] rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts
You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Virtus Mutual Funds.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount $ 50,000
Expenses Restated to Reflect Current [Text] rr_ExpensesRestatedToReflectCurrent
Restated to reflect current expenses.
Expenses Not Correlated to Ratio Due to Acquired Fund Fees [Text] rr_ExpensesNotCorrelatedToRatioDueToAcquiredFundFees
The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expense to average net assets appearing in the Financial Highlights tables, which tables reflect only the operating expenses of the fund and do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading
Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. In the case of Class B Shares, it assumes that your shares are converted to Class A Shares after seven years. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same.Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading
Investments, Risks and Performance
Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock
The fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by taking long and short positions in ETFs and/or stocks representing the nine primary sectors of the S&P 500​® Index. The primary sectors of the S&P 500​® Index are: consumer discretionary, consumer staples, energy, financials, healthcare, industrials, materials, technology, and utilities. Allocations are based on a proprietary, quantitative model that seeks to evaluate trends within each sector by adjusting for changing levels of volatility in the market.
 
The fund intends to employ leverage in the form of borrowing on its long positions in circumstances where the fund has determined to take long positions representing four or more sectors. The fund intends to take short positions in sectors projected to have negative absolute performance, up to approximately 5.5% of the fund’s net assets, for each such sector. In the event that all nine sectors are projected to have negative absolute performance, the fund may take short positions worth up to 50% of the fund’s net assets, with the remainder of the fund’s assets remaining in cash and cash equivalents.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading
Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock
The fund may not achieve its objective, and it is not intended to be a complete investment program. The value of the fund’s investments that supports your share value may decrease. If between the time you purchase shares and the time you sell shares the value of the fund’s investments decreases, you will lose money. Investment values can decrease for a number of reasons. Conditions affecting the overall economy, specific industries or companies in which the fund invests can be worse than expected, and investments may fail to perform as the subadviser expects. As a result, the value of your shares may decrease. Purchase and redemption activities by fund shareholders may impact the management of the fund and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s). The redemption by one or more large shareholders or groups of shareholders of their holdings in the fund could have an adverse impact on the remaining shareholders in the fund including by accelerating the realization of capital gains and increasing the fund's transaction costs. In addition, you will also be subject to the risks associated with the principal investment strategies of any ETFs in which the fund invests. The principal risks of investing in the fund are:
 
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  • Equity Securities Risk. The risk that events negatively affecting issuers, industries or financial markets in which the fund invests, will impact the value of the stocks held by the fund and thus, the value of the fund’s shares over short or extended periods. Investments in a particular style or in small or medium-sized companies may enhance that risk.
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  • Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) Risk. The risk that the value of an ETF will be more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities the ETF is designed to track, or that the costs to the fund of owning shares of the ETF will exceed those the fund would incur by investing in such securities directly.
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  • Leverage Risk. The risk that the value of the fund’s shares will be more volatile or that the fund will incur a loss greater than the fund’s investment in a given security when leverage is used.
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  • Market Volatility Risk. The risk that the value of the securities in which the fund invests may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies and/or general economic conditions. Price changes may be temporary or may last for extended periods.
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  • Model Portfolio Risk. The risk that investments selected using quantitative models may perform differently from the market as a whole or from their expected performance. There can be no assurance that use of a quantitative model will enable the fund to achieve positive returns or outperform the market.
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  • Portfolio Turnover Risk. The risk that the fund’s principal investment strategies will result in a consistently high portfolio turnover rate. See the Portfolio Turnover section above for more information about the impact that portfolio turnover can have on fund performance.
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  • Sector Focused Investing Risk. The risk that events negatively affecting a particular industry or market sector in which the fund focuses its investments will cause the value of the fund’s shares to decrease, perhaps significantly. To the extent that the fund invests a significant portion of its portfolio in ETFs representing one or more of the primary sectors of the S&P 500 ® Index (such as consumer discretionary, energy, healthcare) or in an ETF representing U.S. Treasuries, the fund is more vulnerable to conditions that negatively affect such sectors as compared to a fund that is not significantly invested in such sectors.
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  • Short Sales Risk. The risk that a fund may experience a loss if the price of a borrowed security increases between the date of a short sale and the date on which the fund replaces the security.
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  • U.S. Government Securities Risk. The risk that U.S. Government securities in the fund’s portfolio will be subject to price fluctuations, or that an agency or instrumentality will default on an obligation not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney
If between the time you purchase shares and the time you sell shares the value of the fund’s investments decreases, you will lose money.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading
Performance Information
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the potential risks of investing in the fund. The fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future.
 
The bar chart shows changes in the fund’s performance from year to year over a 10-year period. The table shows how the fund’s average annual returns compare to those of a broad-based securities market index and a more narrowly-based benchmark. Updated performance information is available at virtus.com or by calling 800-243-1574.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns
The bar chart shows changes in the fund’s performance from year to year over a 10-year period. The table shows how the fund’s average annual returns compare to those of a broad-based securities market index and a more narrowly-based benchmark.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone 800-243-1574
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress virtus.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture
The fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading
Calendar year total returns for Class A Shares
Bar Chart Narrative [Text Block] rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock
Returns do not reflect sales charges and would be lower if they did.

Annual Return (%)
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads
Returns do not reflect sales charges and would be lower if they did.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
 
Best Quarter:
 
 
Q1/2013:
 
 
13.50%
 
 
Worst Quarter:
 
 
Q3/2011:
 
 
-6.00%
 
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading
Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended 12/31/13; includes returns of a predecessor fund)
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred
Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold fund shares in tax-deferred accounts or to shares held by non-taxable entities.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown
After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares; after-tax returns for other classes will vary.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher
In certain cases, the Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares for a period may be higher than other return figures for the same period. This will occur when a capital loss is realized upon the sale of fund shares and provides an assumed tax benefit that increases the return.
Performance Table Narrative rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock
Returns reflect deduction of maximum sales charges and full redemption at end of periods shown.
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock
The S&P 500® Index is a free-float market capitalization-weighted index of 500 of the largest U.S. companies. The index is calculated on a total return basis with dividends reinvested. The Dynamic AlphaSector® Linked Benchmark consists of the S&P 500® Index; performance of the Dynamic AlphaSector® Linked Benchmark prior to February 6, 2012 is that of the Citigroup 90-Day Treasury Bill Index. The indexes are unmanaged and not available for direct investment.
 
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares; after-tax returns for other classes will vary. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold fund shares in tax-deferred accounts or to shares held by non-taxable entities. In certain cases, the Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares for a period may be higher than other return figures for the same period. This will occur when a capital loss is realized upon the sale of fund shares and provides an assumed tax benefit that increases the return.
VIRTUS DYNAMIC ALPHASECTOR FUND | Class A
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol EMNAX
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 5.75%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 1.00% [1]
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 1.91% [2]
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Dividends on Short Sales and Interest Expense rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.39%
Remainder of Other Expenses rr_Component3OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.29% [3]
Total Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.68%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.22% [4]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 3.06%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 866
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 1,466
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 2,089
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 3,755
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 866
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 1,466
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 2,089
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 3,755
2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 4.40%
2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 (0.09%)
2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 (5.40%)
2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 (2.28%)
2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (6.09%)
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 9.05%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 (0.49%)
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (11.60%)
2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 6.69%
2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 36.01%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Mar. 31, 2013
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 13.50%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (6.00%)
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return Before Taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 28.19%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.58%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.74%
VIRTUS DYNAMIC ALPHASECTOR FUND | Class B
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol EMNBX
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 5.00% [5]
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 1.91% [2]
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Dividends on Short Sales and Interest Expense rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.39%
Remainder of Other Expenses rr_Component3OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.29% [3]
Total Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.68%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.22% [4]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 3.81%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 783
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 1,364
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,962
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 3,883
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 383
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 1,164
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,962
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 3,883
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return Before Taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 30.96%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.83%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.56%
VIRTUS DYNAMIC ALPHASECTOR FUND | Class C
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol EMNCX
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 1.00%
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 1.91% [2]
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Dividends on Short Sales and Interest Expense rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.39%
Remainder of Other Expenses rr_Component3OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.29% [3]
Total Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.68%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.22% [4]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 3.81%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 483
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 1,164
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,962
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 4,045
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 383
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 1,164
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,962
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 4,045
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return Before Taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 35.08%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.04%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.59%
VIRTUS DYNAMIC ALPHASECTOR FUND | Class I
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol VIMNX
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 1.91% [2]
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Dividends on Short Sales and Interest Expense rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.39%
Remainder of Other Expenses rr_Component3OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.29% [3]
Total Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.68%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.22% [4]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.81%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 284
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 871
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,484
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 3,138
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 284
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 871
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,484
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 3,138
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return Before Taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 36.34%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 6.46%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Oct. 01, 2009
VIRTUS DYNAMIC ALPHASECTOR FUND | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Class A
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return After Taxes on Distributions
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 28.17%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.48%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.61%
VIRTUS DYNAMIC ALPHASECTOR FUND | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Class A
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 15.97%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.39%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.35%
VIRTUS DYNAMIC ALPHASECTOR FUND | S&P 500 ® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel S&P 500® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 32.39%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 17.94%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 7.40%
VIRTUS DYNAMIC ALPHASECTOR FUND | S&P 500 ® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class I
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 17.20%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Oct. 01, 2009
VIRTUS DYNAMIC ALPHASECTOR FUND | Dynamic AlphaSector Linked Benchmark (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Dynamic AlphaSector Linked Benchmark (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 32.39%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 7.55%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.30%
VIRTUS DYNAMIC ALPHASECTOR FUND | Dynamic AlphaSector Linked Benchmark (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class I
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Dynamic AlphaSector Linked Benchmark (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 8.90%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Oct. 01, 2009
[1] Generally, Class A Shares are not subject to any charges by the Fund when redeemed; however, a contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed on certain redemptions (i) within 18 months on exchanges from a Virtus non-money market fund into a Virtus money market fund; and (ii) on purchases on which a finder's fee has been paid. The 18-month period begins on the last day of the month preceding the month in which the purchase was made.
[2] Management Fees exceed the contractual percentage rate because the Advisory Agreement, as amended, calculates fees based on Managed Assets rather than based on net assets although the table shows the percentage rate as applied to net assets. Managed Assets means the total assets of the fund, including any assets attributable to borrowings, minus the fund's accrued liabilities other than such borrowings. In the future, performance fee adjustments may increase or decrease the management fee by up to +/- 1.00% of the average net assets of the fund during a rolling 36-month period (or cumulative period since the implementation of the principal investment management changes).
[3] Restated to reflect current expenses.
[4] The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expense to average net assets appearing in the Financial Highlights tables, which tables reflect only the operating expenses of the fund and do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.
[5] The maximum deferred sales charge is imposed on Class B Shares redeemed during the first year; thereafter, it decreases 1% annually to 3% during the third and fourth years and to 0% after the sixth year. The deferred sales charge is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed during the first year only.