Elder Dragon in TFT Set 18: Two Slots, Two Riftbeasts and Where He Fits
Elder Dragon is the only Set 18 champion that takes two team slots: a 5-cost Riftbeast whose own trait, Apex Predator, makes him count twice. That changes how you build around him, from your unit count to your traits, so it's worth knowing exactly how he works before you roll for him.
Apex Predator: two slots, two Riftbeasts
The trait reads: Elder Dragon takes up 2 team slots and grants +2 to the Riftbeast trait. In practice he takes up two of your team slots and counts as two Riftbeasts towards Riftbeast, whose steps are 3, 5, 7 and 10.
What it means for your board
- One unit fewer. At level 9, a board with Elder Dragon has eight units, not nine. He replaces one champion and eats the slot the level gave you.
- Riftbeast 3 from two units. Elder Dragon plus one more Riftbeast, like Sentinel, turns on the first Riftbeast step, which is why so many Fast 9 boards run him with only one other Riftbeast.
- Riftbeast 10 is a level 10 board. Eight Riftbeasts and Elder Dragon fill ten slots and make ten Riftbeasts; the last step adds two team slots for two more units.
Tip Our team builder and comp pages count Elder Dragon as two slots and two Riftbeasts, so the level and traits they show match the game.
His items
Across the 5 comps that give him items, Elder Dragon holds:
- Infinity Edge in 5 of 5
- Deathblade in 4 of 5
- Striker's Flail in 4 of 5
- Sterak's Gage in 1 of 5
Infinity Edge gives Precision, which lets his ability crit, and the other two add damage or staying power. Build them on a holder before he shows up.
The comps that play him
| Comp | Carry | Carry's items |
|---|---|---|
| Coven Morgana A Fast 9 · level 9 | Morgana | |
| Elder Dragon Fast 9 A Fast 9 · level 9 | Elder Dragon | |
| Riftbeast 10 A Fast 9 · level 10 | Elder Dragon | |
| Blossom Elder Dragon Fast 9 B Fast 9 · level 9 | Elder Dragon | |
| Morgana Elder Dragon Fast 9 B Fast 9 · level 9 | Morgana | |
| Ashe Elder Dragon Fast 9 C Fast 9 · level 9 | Ashe |
He also joins Riftbeast Reroll as a level 9 upgrade.
Getting him in a game
- Plan for level 9. As a 5-cost he shows up mostly at levels 8 and 9, and your board needs room for his two slots.
- Keep one Riftbeast next to him. Sentinel or Cinderling is enough for Riftbeast 3 once he's in.
- Decide who carries. In most lines he shares the damage with another carry: Draven or Ashe for attack damage, Morgana for Ability Power. Build for whichever one you hold first.