On the test server of Teamfight Tactics, various items have been enhanced in preparation for patch 9.14. This has led to a combination of items that makes some champions nearly invincible.
What changes were made to the items? In the current version on the PBE, there are buffs for various items. Among them are the Hextech Gunblade and Warmog’s Armor, which play a significant role in the new item combination.
The Hextech Gunblade now heals for 33% instead of 25% of the damage dealt. Warmog’s Armor heals the champion for 6% instead of 3% of their maximum health.
The combination of these two items with a Thornmail ensures that some champions become nearly invincible, as the streamer Hafu experienced herself.
Hafu loses an 8v1 duel
What happened to Hafu? In a Teamfight Tactics match on the PBE, Hafu faced off against her opponent with just one health point left. It was all or nothing.
Her team quickly managed to eliminate most of the opposing champions. Only a level 3 Shyvanna remained, who had a Hextech Gunblade, Warmog’s Armor, and Thornmail as her items.
Even though Hafu still had eight living champions, she could do nothing against Shyvanna. The champion regenerated health too quickly, and the assassins eliminated themselves through the Thornmail.
Hafu’s elemental mages were also useless, as Shyvanna counters magic damage with the dragon buff. The champion also benefited from the shapeshifter bonus.
Hafu lost the duel and finished the round in third place.
Are the items too strong? Even though Shyvanna was immune to magic damage due to the dragon buff, the adjustments to the items play a significant role in why the champion survived so long.
And not only does Shyvanna benefit from the items; other tanky champions also survive significantly longer and can deal more damage.
Many revisions and a new champion
Which items were adjusted? Besides the Hextech Gunblade and Warmog’s Armor, several other items have been changed on the PBE:
- Guardian Angel now upgrades champions by one level, even at level 4
- Red Buff and Morellonomicon now deal 13% of maximum health as damage over 5 seconds
- Runaans Hurricane now summons spirits that mirror the champion’s attacks and deal 25% of the damage
- Zeke’s Herald now increases attack speed by 15%
- Guinsoo’s Rageblade now increases attack speed by 4% per stack
- Zeke’s Herald and Amulet of the Iron Solari now affect all champions in the same row, instead of all around them.
With the upcoming patch, we will adjust our currently valid item tier list accordingly.
Riot Games also wants to remove randomness from items and is now planning guaranteed drops of items.
What else is being tested besides the items? The new champion Twisted Fate and a ranked mode are currently being tested on the PBE as well. Both are very likely to be implemented with patch 9.14.
Additionally, there have been minor adjustments to the demons and to the champion Elise, who now costs only 1 gold.
But Elise is not always kind to you, as the streamer Scarra himself experienced:
