On Wednesday, the new patch 9.18 for Teamfight Tactics was released, and since then, there has been much discussion about the meta. This time, several builds have qualified for the top.
Who currently dominates the meta? Currently, there are three factions fighting for the top of the meta:
- Void creatures + Assassins
- Rangers + Ice beings
- Shape-shifters
However, knights have also sneaked into many combos, which were strengthened with patch 9.18. Additionally, there’s an item called the Swordbreaker that has become useful for rangers since the buff.
About the list: This tier list comes from personal experiences, initial discussions on the TFT Reddit, and watched streams. It makes no claim to completeness, and the order was chosen randomly.
Comments and personal experiences are welcome!
Assassins, Void Creatures, Ninja
What does the combo consist of? The first combo we want to present is quite easy to create. It uses the true damage of the void creatures and the damage of the assassins.
It also benefits from the fact that since the changes to item distribution, you often get spatulas for Youmuu’s Ghostblade.
It consists of:
- Cho’Gath – Void Creature/Brawler
- Kassadin – Void Creature/Mage + Assassin via Youmuu’s
- Kha’Zix – Void Creature/Assassin
- Zed – Ninja/Assassin
- Evelynn – Demon/Assassin
- Pyke – Pirate/Assassin
- Rengar – Wild/Assassin
What synergies does it have? The combo relies on the bonuses from:
- 3x Void Creature
- 6x Assassin
- 1x Ninja
What makes it so strong? The combo effectively utilizes true damage, has strong assassins in the team, and is also very easy to obtain. You only need 7 champions, resulting in a significantly lower level than many other endgame combos.
Moreover, the meta is currently a bit slower with knights and shape-shifters, so effective burst plays an important role. Additionally, equip Kassadin with items that increase damage and attack speed. Alternatively, Rengar is also a good carry.
The team can be supplemented with more assassins, a demon for Evelynn, Rek’Sai for a bit of defense, or Warwick for buffs from Rengar and Cho’Gath.
Shape-shifters, Demons, Dragons, Protectors
What does the combo consist of? Shape-shifters have been part of the meta since patch 9.16, and even the latest patch does not remove them.
You need the following:
- Jayce – Hextech/Shape-shifter
- Nidalee – Wild/Shape-shifter
- Gnar – Wild/Shape-shifter/Yordle
- Swain – Shape-shifter/Imperial/Demon
- Elise – Shape-shifter/Demon
- Shyvanna – Shape-shifter/Dragon
- Pantheon – Dragon/Protector
- Leona – Noble/Protector
What synergies does it have? The combo relies on the bonuses from:
- 6x Shape-shifter
- 2x Demon
- 2x Wild
- 2x Dragon
- 2x Protector
What makes it so strong? The shape-shifters are defensive and can take a lot of damage. Combined with the still strong Pantheon and the protector bonus, they become almost invincible.
Moreover, the demon bonus can sometimes turn the game around when it steals mana from the right champions.
The combo is also very easy to build and modify. In the early game, you only need Elise, Jayce, and Nidalee for the shape-shifter bonus. Until you get Gnar, you can keep Warwick for the wild bonus and temporarily use Vi or Jinx for the hextech bonus.
Wild, Dragons, Shape-shifters, Mages
What does the combo consist of? The combo relies on the new 4-unit Wild bonus that was enhanced by patch 9.18. Attacks become unblockable. Due to the faster attacks, the Mages also gain mana quickly.
Used are:
- Gnar – Wild/Shape-shifter + Mage via Yuumi
- Nidalee – Wild/Shape-shifter
- Ahri – Wild/Mage
- Rengar – Wild/Assassin
- Shyvanna – Dragon/Shape-shifter
- Aurelion Sol – Dragon/Mage
What synergies does it have? The combo relies on the bonuses from:
- 4x Wild
- 3x Shape-shifter
- 3x Mage
- 2x Dragon
What makes it so strong? For the entire late-game combo, you only need six champions, and none of them are legendary. By giving Gnar the item Yuumi, he additionally benefits from the mana bonus.
The combo can be easily supplemented with more champions, thus enhancing it further:
- Pantheon + Leona for Protector bonus + an additional Dragon
- Sejuani + Poppy for Knight bonus
- Kennen and Veigar for Yordle bonus + Yuumi is not necessarily required
Rangers, Ice beings, Phantom, Knights
What does the combo consist of? The combo relies on the Rangers, who have been in the meta for many patches now. They also benefit from the Ice being and the Knight buff.
You need the following:
- Mordekaiser – Phantom/Knight
- Sejuani – Ice being/Knight
- Ashe – Ice being/Ranger
- Kindred – Phantom/Ranger
- Varus – Demon/Ranger
- Vayne – Noble/Ranger
What synergies does it have? The combo relies on the bonuses from:
- 4x Ranger
- 2x Phantom
- 2x Ice being
What makes it so strong? Rangers make the health points of opponents melt away, and the Phantom buff helps to take out the first enemy immediately.
Ashe is a strong carry and requires the appropriate items. It’s new that Swordbreaker has become useful due to the patch. So now one builds Ashe with attack speed and a Swordbreaker.
At the same time, the team has CC with the Ice beings and Sejuani. This CC can be increased with the addition of other champions:
- Braum + Leona for the Protector bonus and CC
- Braum + Anivia for the 4x Ice being bonus and thus CC
- Poppy + Garen for the 4x Knight bonus and thus more defense
Imperial, Knights
What does the combo consist of? No meta without Draven, and that’s still the case in patch 9.18. Thanks to the Knight buff, there’s again a combo where the axe thrower finds his place.
You need the following:
- Sejuani – Ice being/Knight
- Poppy – Yordle/Knight
- Kayle – Noble/Knight
- Darius – Imperial/Knight
- Draven – Imperial/Blade Master
- Swain – Imperial/Shape-shifter/Demon
- Katarina – Imperial/Assassin
What synergies does it have? The combo relies on the bonuses from:
- 4x Imperial
- 4x Knight
What makes it so strong? The combo is especially strong because Draven scales well into the endgame. Thanks to the Imperial buff, he deals extremely high damage, as do the other three champions in this faction. Kayle ideally ensures the axe thrower stays alive for a long time.
It’s important in the combo that Draven receives the items and that something is there to give him lifesteal.
This build is even stronger with Aatrox as the eighth champion and the Blade of the Ruined King, which also makes Kayle a Blade Master. This way, you can obtain the 3x Blade Master bonus and the 2x Demon bonus.
Elemental Mages, Demons, Mages, Yordles
What does the combo consist of? The combo leverages the Mage bonus for its Elemental Mages and simultaneously benefits from the Golem, which tanks enemy champions.
You need the following:
- Aatrox – Demon/Blade Master
- Swain – Demon/Imperial/Shape-shifter
- Morgana – Demon/Mage
- Brand – Demon/Elemental Mage
- Anivia – Ice being/Elemental Mage
- Kennen – Yordle/Ninja/Elemental Mage
- Veigar – Yordle/Mage
- Lulu – Yordle/Mage
What synergies does it have? The combo relies on the bonuses from:
- 4x Demon
- 3x Elemental Mage
- 3x Mage
- 3x Yordle
- 1x Ninja
What makes it so strong? The combo has a good frontline because the Golem of the Elemental Mages can take the first damage from the enemies well. Aatrox and Swain can also stand securely in the front row at first.
The Elemental Mages benefit from additional spell damage, and Brand from the demon bonus. Appropriately, the four Yordles also have a good chance to dodge attacks due to their origin.
With the upcoming patch 9.19, not only a new champion enters the game but also a new base item that many new developments can come from:
