TFT Fast 9 Guide: When to Go Level 9 and Which Comps Play It
Fast 9 means saving and levelling past 8 to hit level 9, where 5-costs show up a lot more and your board gets a ninth slot. A Fast 9 board ends the game stronger than almost anything else, but it needs a healthy start and a board that holds on the way there.
The plan
- Stages 2 and 3: save. Play the strongest pairs you hit, sit on 50 gold for interest when you can, and don't roll for small upgrades.
- 4-1: level 8. Stabilise with the 4-costs your line uses, and only roll enough to stop losing big rounds.
- 5-1: level 9. Buy the XP, then roll for your 5-costs and two-star upgrades.
The exact timing depends on your health and gold: a strong board can wait and save more, a weak one levels earlier to stabilise. Every comp's guide gives its own timing.
Holding a board on the way
The dangerous part of Fast 9 is stage 3 to stage 5, when your gold goes into XP instead of upgrades. Build your carry's items early, even on a holder: a Guinsoo's Rageblade or a Spear of Shojin on a 4-cost now moves to your 5-cost carry later. Keep your best tanks two-star, and take a few losses rather than rolling away your level 9 gold.
Tip Hold the items, not the unit. A Fast 9 carry like Ashe or Draven often shows up late, so its items should already be built.
The 5-costs it wants
Elder Dragon takes two team slots, so a level 9 board with him has eight units; the Elder Dragon guide explains how he counts.
Every Fast 9 comp this patch
| Comp | Carry | Carry's items |
|---|---|---|
| Alune Fast 9 S Medium · level 9 | Alune | |
| Coven Morgana A Medium · level 9 | Morgana | |
| Draven Fast 9 A Hard · level 9 | Draven | |
| Elder Dragon Fast 9 A Hard · level 9 | Elder Dragon | |
| Riftbeast 10 A Hard · level 10 | Elder Dragon | |
| Ashe Fast 9 B Medium · level 9 | Ashe | |
| Blossom Ahri Fast 9 B Medium · level 9 | Ahri | |
| Blossom Ashe Fast 9 B Hard · level 9 | Ashe | |
| Blossom Elder Dragon Fast 9 B Hard · level 9 | Elder Dragon | |
| Executioner Fast 9 B Hard · level 9 | Ezreal | |
| Lunar Aphelios Fast 9 B Hard · level 9 | Aphelios | |
| Morgana Elder Dragon Fast 9 B Hard · level 9 | Morgana | |
| Ashe Elder Dragon Fast 9 C Hard · level 9 | Ashe | |
| Pebbles Invoker Fast 9 C Easy · level 9 | Pebbles |
When to go 9, and when not to
- Go 9 when you're healthy. Fast 9 pays off late, and with plenty of health you've got the time it needs.
- Go 9 when your 5-costs are free. If two other players already hold the 5-costs your line needs, finishing at level 8 is safer.
- Don't go 9 at low health. When the next few rounds decide the game, spend your gold on the board you've got.
Augments that help
- Level Up! makes every XP purchase worth more, so you hit 8 and 9 sooner.
- Epic Rolldown gives free rolls when you reach a set level, which pays for your level 9 roll.
- Late Game Scaling gives XP every round and makes your 5-costs tankier and faster.
- Upward Mobility makes XP cheaper and gives you health and rolls every time you level.