Label

Element

Value

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Document Type

dei_DocumentType

485BPOS

Document Period End Date

dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate

Sep. 30, 2014

Registrant Name

dei_EntityRegistrantName

VIRTUS OPPORTUNITIES TRUST

Central Index Key

dei_EntityCentralIndexKey

0001005020

Amendment Flag

dei_AmendmentFlag

false

Trading Symbol

dei_TradingSymbol

VOT

Document Creation Date

dei_DocumentCreationDate

Jan. 26, 2015

Document Effective Date

dei_DocumentEffectiveDate

Jan. 28, 2015

Prospectus Date

rr_ProspectusDate

Jan. 28, 2015

Virtus Emerging Markets Debt Fund

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

Virtus Emerging Markets Debt Fund

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment Objective

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The fund has an investment objective of total return from current income and capital appreciation.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

Fees and Expenses

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

The tables below illustrate the 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 214 of the fund’s prospectus and “Alternative Purchase Arrangements” on page 108 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 39%of the average value of its portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

39.00%

Expenses Deferred Charges [Text Block]

rr_ExpensesDeferredChargesTextBlock

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

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. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same and that the expense reimbursement arrangement remains in place only for the period indicated. 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

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in fixed income (debt) securities issued by governments, government-related entities and corporations located in emerging market countries. The fund may invest without limit in high yield debt securities and related investments rated below investment grade (that is, securities not rated Baa/BBB or above by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”), or, if unrated, determined to be of comparable credit quality by the subadviser). Below investment grade securities are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.” These investments include, but are not limited to, instruments designed to restructure outstanding emerging market debt such as participations in loans between governments and financial institutions. The fund manages duration utilizing a duration neutral strategy. Under normal circumstances, the average duration of the fund’s portfolio will vary within 3 years (plus or minus) of the duration of its benchmark, the JP Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index (EMBI) Global Diversified. As of September 30, 2014, the modified adjusted duration of the JP Morgan EMBI Global Diversified was 7.09 years. The fund is non-diversified under federal securities laws.

The fund intends to invest in at least three emerging market countries, which are countries that, at the time of investment, are represented in the JP Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Global Diversified or categorized by the World Bank in its annual categorization as middle- or low-income. In determining “location” of an issuer, the subadviser primarily relies on the country where the issuer is incorporated. However, the country of risk is ultimately determined based on analysis of the following criteria: actual building address (domicile), primary exchange on which the security is traded and country in which the greatest percentage of company revenue is generated. This evaluation is conducted so as to determine that the issuer’s assets are exposed to the economic fortunes and risks of the designated country.

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. The principal risks of investing in the fund are:

>

• Credit Risk.  The risk that the issuer of a security will fail to pay interest or principal in a timely manner, or that negative perceptions of the issuer’s ability to make such payments will cause the price of the security to decline.

>

• Emerging Market Investing Risk.  The risk that prices of emerging markets securities will be more volatile, or will be more greatly affected by negative conditions, than those of their counterparts in more established foreign markets.

>

• Foreign Investing Risks.  The risk that the prices of foreign securities in the fund’s portfolio will be more volatile than those of domestic securities, or will be negatively affected by currency fluctuations or economic, political or other developments.

>

• Geographic Concentration Risk.  The risk that events negatively affecting the geographic location where the fund focuses its investments will cause the value of the fund’s shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.

>

• High-Yield/High-Risk Fixed Income Securities (Junk Bonds) Risk.  The risk that the issuers of high yield-high risk securities in the fund’s portfolio will default, that the prices of such securities will be volatile, and that the securities will not be liquid.

>

• Interest Rate Risk.  The risk that when interest rates rise, the values of the fund’s debt securities, especially those with longer maturities, will fall.

>

• Liquidity Risk.  The risk that certain securities may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and price beneficial to the fund.

>

• Loan Participation Risk.  The risk that there may not be a readily available market for loan participation interests and, in some cases, the fund may have to dispose of such securities at a substantial discount from face value. Loan participations also involve the credit risk associated with the underlying corporate borrower.

>

• 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.

>

• Non-Diversification Risk.  The risk that the fund will be more susceptible to factors negatively impacting the securities in its portfolio to the extent that each such security represents a significant portion of the fund’s assets.

>

• Unrated Fixed Income Securities Risk.  The risk that the subadviser will be unable to accurately assess the quality of an unrated fixed income security, so that the fund invests in a security with greater risk than intended, or that the liquidity of unrated fixed income securities in which the fund invests will be hindered, making it difficult for the fund to sell them.

>

• 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.

Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]

rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus

Non-Diversification Risk.  The risk that the fund will be more susceptible to factors negatively impacting the securities in its portfolio to the extent that each such security represents a significant portion of the fund’s assets.

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 the life of the fund. 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 that reflects the market sectors in which the fund invests. 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 the life of the fund. 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 that reflects the market sectors in which the fund invests.

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: Q2/2014: 5.25% Worst Quarter: Q2/2013: -6.34%

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended 12/31/14)

Performance Table Does Reflect Sales Loads

rr_PerformanceTableDoesReflectSalesLoads

Returns reflect deduction of maximum sales charges and full redemption at end of periods shown.

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 Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index measures the U.S. investment grade fixed rate bond market. The EMBI Global Diversified Index is a uniquely-weighted version of the J.P. Morgan EMBI Global Index. The index limits the weights of those countries with larger debt stock by only including specified portions of these countries’ eligible current face amounts of debt outstanding. The countries covered in the EMBI Global Diversified Index are identical to those covered by the EMBI Global Index. The EMBI Global Index tracks total returns for U.S. dollar-denominated debt instruments issued by emerging market sovereign and quasi-sovereign entities: Brady bonds, loans, Eurobonds. 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 Emerging Markets Debt Fund | Class A

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Trading Symbol

dei_TradingSymbol

VEDAX

Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

3.75%

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds)

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

none

Management Fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.75%

Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.25%

Total Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.52%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.52%

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

524

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

837

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,173

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

2,120

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

524

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

837

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

1,173

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

2,120

2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

(4.80%)

2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

1.13%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best Quarter:

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2014

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

5.25%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst Quarter:

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2013

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(6.34%)

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

Return Before Taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(2.66%)

Since Inception

rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception

(0.93%)

Inception Date

rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate

Sep. 05, 2012

Virtus Emerging Markets Debt Fund | Class C

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Trading Symbol

dei_TradingSymbol

VEDCX

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%

^[1]

Management Fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.75%

Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

1.00%

Total Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.52%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

2.27%

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

330

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

709

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,215

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

2,605

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

230

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

709

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

1,215

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

2,605

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

Return Before Taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

0.37%

Since Inception

rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception

(0.07%)

Inception Date

rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate

Sep. 05, 2012

Virtus Emerging Markets Debt Fund | Class I

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Trading Symbol

dei_TradingSymbol

VIEDX

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

0.75%

Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

none

Total Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.52%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.27%

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

129

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

403

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

697

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

1,534

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

129

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

403

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

697

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

1,534

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

Return Before Taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

1.38%

Since Inception

rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception

0.91%

Inception Date

rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate

Sep. 05, 2012

Virtus Emerging Markets Debt Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Class A

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

Return After Taxes on Distributions

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(4.56%)

Since Inception

rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception

(2.86%)

Inception Date

rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate

Sep. 05, 2012

Virtus Emerging Markets Debt 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

(1.47%)

Since Inception

rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception

(1.52%)

Inception Date

rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate

Sep. 05, 2012

Virtus Emerging Markets Debt Fund | Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text]

rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes

(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

5.97%

Since Inception

rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception

1.81%

Inception Date

rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate

Sep. 05, 2012

Virtus Emerging Markets Debt Fund | JP Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Global Diversified Index

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text]

rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes

(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

JP Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Global Diversified Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

7.43%

Since Inception

rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception

2.47%

Inception Date

rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate

Sep. 05, 2012

[1] The deferred sales charge is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed during the first year only.