TFT Patch 18.5 Meta Report: Best Comps and Tier Changes

By PivotTFT · Updated 22 October 2026 · 8 min read

The state of Teamfight Tactics patch 18.5 on PivotTFT's tier lists: the strongest comps, items and augments, and every tier change the editors made since the lists moved to this patch on 22 October 2026.

What changed this patch

Riot's 18.5 trimmed Azir, Kha'Zix, Blackthorn, Rapidfire and the top steps of Riftbeast and Elderwood, and buffed Tristana, Fae, Caitlyn and several Ability Power carries. On its first day and a half of games at Master and above, Kha'Zix Reroll, Riftbeast Reroll, Elderwood Aphelios, Alune Fast 9 and Veigar Reroll held S, while Flora Azir Reroll and Nidalee Aphelios settled to A.

Rapidfire Aphelios fell to B after the Rapidfire nerf, and Azir Reroll, Blackthorn Veigar, Invoker Nidalee and Vanguard Rengar Reroll to C. Yunara Reroll, rebuilt around Karma, who takes the ability power items in most of its games, climbed from C to A, and Invoker Morgana rose to A. Caitlyn Reroll and Fae Tristana, now with Rammus and Kobuko for Sprykin 3, climbed from C to B, and Akali Camille Reroll settled to B.

The Fae Emblem and Hellfire Hatchet rose a tier while the Blackthorn Emblem and Talisman of Ascension fell one; Rapid Firecannon rose and Aegis of Dawn fell, and among the Radiants, Guinsoo's Rageblade and Infinity Edge rose while Deathblade and Morellonomicon fell. Item Extraction, which no longer gives a Veigar, and Pandora's Bench, down to 1 gold, left S. Forge A Friend and Construct a Companion joined the augment list, Pandora's Items II now has a version for each stage, and Investment Strategy II fell to C.

What Riot changed in 18.5

Patch 18.5 (21 October 2026) follows up on 18.4 with smaller, targeted changes. Riot trimmed Azir and the traits around his strongest board (Blackthorn and Flora Fatalis), toned down Rapidfire, Riftbeast (7) and Elderwood (9), and buffed Tristana, Fae and several Ability Power carries so that more of the AP lines are worth playing.

Traits

Blackthorn (6) bonus: 60% stronger → 50% stronger
Blackthorn Ability Power sacrifice: 12% Damage Amp → 10% Damage Amp
Elderwood (9) plant Health bonus: 140% → 125%
Fae (2/4) heal per Pixie: 2.5/4% → 3/5%
Flora Fatalis max Health heal: 8% → 7%
Rapidfire Attack Speed per attack: 3/5/8/12% → 3/5/7/10%
Riftbeast (7) AD and AP growth: 6% → 5%

Fae's later Pixie thresholds also come sooner (25,000, 60,000 and 100,000 instead of 30,000, 70,000 and 110,000), which smooths the move to Golden Pixies. The game's own data also moves Solar's last step, a 3-star champion ascending to 4-star, from 7 unique 3-stars to 8; the notes do not list it.

Champions

Buffed: Caitlyn (2-cost); Tristana and both forms of Master Yi (3-cost); Brambleback, Malphite, Morgana, Sett, Sivir and Soraka (4-cost); Ashe, Taric and Alune's damage (5-cost).
Nerfed: Azir and Kha'Zix (3-cost), and Sentinel without items: his stun lasts 0.5 seconds instead of 1, though his shield is a little bigger. Alune's Attuned trait gives 5% Durability instead of 7% while the moon is at or below half full.
Mama Beak's mana lock now ends when her Tiny Beaks start to leave, about a second sooner, and her damage comes down a little to pay for it: a small buff overall.

Tristana mana: 60 → 50
Tristana damage per attack: 10/15/25 AD → 12/18/28 AD
Azir ability damage: 46/69/110 AP → 43/65/105 AP
Caitlyn empowered attack: 190/285/470 AD → 200/300/490 AD
Master Yi (AD form) Attack Damage: 60 → 63
Master Yi (AP form) ability damage: 125/190/285 AP → 135/200/320 AP
Morgana first curse damage: 60/90 AP → 70/105 AP
Soraka first star damage: 225/335 AP → 235/355 AP
Taric empowered attacks: 100/150 AP → 130/200 AP
Ashe damage over time: 9/14 AD → 11/16 AD

Items

Radiant Adaptive Helm Mana Regen: 7 → 6
Radiant Adaptive Helm AD and AP (not on Tanks and Fighters): 40% → 35%
Radiant Blue Buff base AD and AP: 30% → 25%

Augments

Augments made for AD or AP boards now show up less often when you are playing the other kind.
Pandora's Items II now comes in three versions by stage: at 2-1 with 1 gold (it was 4), Pandora's Items II+ at 3-2 with 4 gold, and Pandora's Items II++ at 4-2 with 6 gold. The Pandora's Items augments no longer come up together.
Buffed: Build A Bud (9 gold instead of 6), Consuming Flora (its holder gets 70% more from Flora Fatalis instead of 50%), Embiggen (18% AD and AP up front instead of 10%), Cooking Pot (70 Health instead of 60), Malicious Monetization and Nesting Anvils (6 gold instead of 4), Patience Is A Virtue (5 rerolls up front instead of 4), and Challenger's Grace (30% Attack Speed, for when it returns).
Nerfed: Investment Strategy I and II (3 and 6 gold instead of 6 and 10), Pandora's Bench (1 gold instead of 4), Prismatic Destiny (2 gold instead of 4), Omega Riftbeast (Alphas now gain 8% Health and Attack Speed), Dark Ritual (less Ability Power from the smaller cash-outs), Expected Unexpectedness (less gold and one 5-cost fewer), Flowing Tears (7,000 mana instead of 6,500), Seraphim's Staff (110% Ability Power needed instead of 90%), Cry Me A River, Bronze For Life II and Promised Protection.
Heart of Steel is switched off again while Riot fixes a bug, Item Extraction no longer gives a Veigar, Electrocharge II now deals the damage it should, Cooking Pot no longer comes up alongside Coronation, Spreading Roots+ or The Trait Tree+, and U.R.F no longer alongside Coronation or any Spreading Roots or Trait Tree.

The game's data also raises Jeweled Lotus I's Critical Strike Chance from 10% to 15% and lowers Retribution's from 25% to 15%, which the notes do not list.

Wisps

Wisps that check how many of your champions hold items now count your bench too, and Wisps that check roles look at your board from the last fight rather than as it stands.
Abandon Ship costs 2 gold (it was free) and Blood and Iron 4 (its 3 was a bug). Hand of Baron drops from 6 gold to 4 but gives much less: 22/33 Health and 2/3% of each stat instead of 33/55 and 3/5%, and 6/8% Critical Strike Chance instead of 10/15%.
Heroic Sacrifice gives less bonus Health (1,000/1,250 instead of 1,200/1,500), Beggar's Wisp pays 2 or 3 gold instead of 3 or 5, and Returning Friend and Grove Armor can now show up in stage 3. Life Debt's missing Health condition works again.

What it means: Azir's boards take the hit Riot aimed for, and Flora Azir Reroll and Azir Reroll both drop on our tier list. Tristana's buffs lift Fae Tristana, and Caitlyn Reroll climbs with Caitlyn. Kha'Zix Reroll and the Riftbeast and Elderwood boards keep their places at the top despite their trims.

Source: Teamfight Tactics patch 18.5 notes (Riot Games). This is PivotTFT's summary; the official notes list every change.

Best comps in patch 18.5

S Alune Fast 9 Fast 9, Medium, level 9
Vanguard 4 at level 9: Alune and Morgana cast from behind Sentinel, Taric, Hecarim and Diana, Diana turns on Lunar for Alune, and Lillia and Fiddlesticks add Defender 2. One of the best-placing level 9 boards since 18.4b.
S Elderwood Aphelios Fast 8, Easy, level 8
Six Elderwood units and the Elderwood Emblem most games put on Aphelios make Elderwood 7 at level 8: the plants, Stonebark Trees and a Lifebloom, come with the Deepwood Protector while Aphelios and Ezreal share the damage. One of the best-placing boards since 18.4b.
S Kha'Zix Reroll Reroll, Medium, level 7
Kha'Zix three-star isolates a target and deletes it, behind both Flora Fatalis units and Executioner 2: at high ranks one of the best-placing rerolls, even after 18.5 trimmed his damage.
S Riftbeast Reroll Reroll, Easy, level 5
Riftbeast 7 around two three-star 1-costs: Pebbles with Ability Power items and Cinderling with Attack Damage items carry behind Krug, Scuttlecrab and Sentinel. At level 9, Elder Dragon and Taric come in and Cinderling's items move to the Dragon.
S Veigar Reroll Reroll, Hard, level 5
Veigar three-star with Spellweaver 4 and Elderwood 3: his Ability Power ramps with every kill. It was one of the best-placing boards at high ranks in 18.3b, and 18.4 trimmed his damage a little.
A Coven Morgana Fast 9, Medium, level 9
Morgana and Alune cast behind Vanguard 4, with Coven 3 from Cassiopeia and Elise, and Elder Dragon's two Riftbeasts plus Sentinel for Riftbeast 3. Pushed to level 9 for its 5-costs, it places well at every rank, and best below Diamond.
A Draven Fast 9 Fast 9, Hard, level 9
Draven and Ezreal on an Elderwood frame at level 9: Elderwood 3 with Alistar and Gnar, Executioner 3 with an emblem on Draven, and the late 5-costs in front.
A Elder Dragon Fast 9 Fast 9, Hard, level 9
The most played line at Diamond and above: Draven and Elder Dragon at level 9, with Maokai, Amumu, Sentinel and Taric in front and Kennen and Ivern between. Elder Dragon takes two team slots and counts as two Riftbeasts, so he and Sentinel turn on Riftbeast 3. It places better at high ranks than below them.
A Elderwood Ezreal Fast 8, Medium, level 8
Elderwood with Ezreal carrying: six Elderwood units at level 8 and seven once Gnar arrives, plus Flora Fatalis 2 from Soraka and Fiddlesticks. An Elderwood Emblem, which most games build, reaches Elderwood 7 a level early.
A Elderwood Teemo Reroll Reroll, Medium, level 6
Teemo three-star on Invoker 3 and Sprykin 3, with LeBlanc as a second caster and Elderwood 3 from Alistar, Hecarim and LeBlanc. Cheap to reroll, and at high ranks it places a little better than Invoker Teemo Reroll, the other Teemo line.
A Executioner Ezreal Ahri Fast 8, Medium, level 8
Executioner 4 with both Flora Fatalis units: Ezreal and Ahri deal the damage from behind Sett, Alistar and Ornn, and an Executioner Emblem on Ahri is the fourth Executioner.
A Flora Azir Reroll Reroll, Medium, level 7
Azir three-star with both Flora Fatalis units and Sprykin 3: Rammus holds the front, Fiddlesticks and Soraka turn the fight, and the Summoner soldiers do the rest. Patch 18.5 cut Azir's damage and the Flora Fatalis heal, which took it down a step.
A Invoker Ahri Morgana Fast 8, Medium, level 8
Invoker 4 keeps Ahri and Morgana casting nonstop behind Sett, Sentinel, Krug and Taric. Most games put an Invoker Emblem on Ahri: she is the fourth Invoker.
A Invoker Morgana Fast 8, Easy, level 8
Invoker 4 keeps Morgana casting while Sentinel, Hecarim and Diana hold the front, and Alune adds a second caster. It places well across the whole ladder, but a step lower at Diamond and above.
A Invoker Teemo Reroll Reroll, Medium, level 6
Teemo three-star on Invoker 4, with Sprykin 3 from Rammus and Veigar and Riftbeast 3 from Pebbles, Krug and Sentinel: Invoker keeps Teemo and Morgana casting while Rammus and the Riftbeasts hold. A new line in 18.4b that places better below Master than at the top.
A Lunar Kayle Reroll, Hard, level 6
Kayle three-star on Solar 3 and Rapidfire 3, with Inferno 3 from Varus, Shen and Amumu, and Lunar 2 from Aphelios and Diana: the Lunar units beside Kayle speed her up while Leona, Sejuani, Shen and Amumu hold.
A Master Yi Reroll Reroll, Medium, level 7
Adaptor 3 and Blossom 3 around a three-star Master Yi, with Kog'Maw as the second carry; most games give Yi a Brawler Emblem, and artifacts make him far stronger.
A Nidalee Aphelios Fast 8, Medium, level 8
One of the most played boards at Diamond and above: Nidalee and Aphelios share the damage behind a cheap, sturdy front of Amumu, Vi, Diana and Sentinel, with a pair of every trait they need.
A Rengar Master Yi Reroll Reroll, Medium, level 7
Rengar and Master Yi at three stars carry together behind Vi and Sett; Blossom 3, Adaptor and Primal round out a board built from 3-costs.
A Riftbeast 10 Fast 9, Hard, level 10
Ten Riftbeasts at level 10: Elder Dragon counts as two, and Riftbeast 10 adds two team slots, so Taric and Gnar make a twelve-slot board. Every five seconds of every fight, the Riftbeasts grow.
A Warwick Reroll Reroll, Medium, level 6
Warwick three-star with Blackthorn 4 and Ravager 4: a level 6 reroll that fights through the whole enemy board, with Malphite in front.
A Yunara Reroll Reroll, Hard, level 5
Karma and Yunara three-star on Solar 3 and Blossom 3: Karma carries with the ability power items and Yunara with the attack damage ones, while Solar's shield and magic damage grow with each unique three-star, so Sejuani and Leona three-star join them. Many copies to find.

See every comp, with its board and game plan, on the comp tier list.

Tier changes so far

Comps

Moved up

Moved down

Items

Moved up

Hellfire Hatchet B → A
Radiant Infinity Edge B → A
Fae Emblem C → B
Radiant Guinsoo's Rageblade C → B
Rapid Firecannon C → B

Moved down

Radiant Morellonomicon A → B
Talisman of Ascension A → B
Aegis of Dawn B → C
Blackthorn Emblem B → C
Radiant Deathblade B → C

Augments

Moved down

Item Extraction S → A
Pandora's Bench S → A
Investment Strategy II B → C
Pandora's Items II B → C

New on the list

Forge A Friend A
Construct a Companion B
Pandora's Items II+ B
Pandora's Items II++ B

Every change, by date

22 October

7 item notes updated
Pandora's Items II B → C; note updated
Investment Strategy II B → C
Construct a Companion added at B
Dark Ritual note updated
Pandora's Items II++ added at B
Pandora's Items II+ added at B
Forge A Friend added at A
Pandora's Bench S → A
Item Extraction S → A; note updated
Consuming Flora note updated
Radiant Morellonomicon A → B
Radiant Deathblade B → C
Radiant Infinity Edge B → A
Radiant Guinsoo's Rageblade C → B; note updated
Fae Emblem C → B; note updated
Blackthorn Emblem B → C; note updated
Talisman of Ascension A → B; note updated
Aegis of Dawn B → C; note updated
Rapid Firecannon C → B; note updated
Hellfire Hatchet B → A
Unrivaled Kha'Zix Rengar guide updated
Defender Rengar Reroll guide updated
Coven Morgana guide updated
Fae Tristana C → B; board, units and items and guide updated
Yunara Reroll C → A; board, units and items and guide updated
Vanguard Rengar Reroll B → C
Blackthorn Veigar B → C
Akali Camille Reroll A → B
Invoker Nidalee B → C
Invoker Teemo Reroll guide updated
Elderwood Teemo Reroll guide updated
Caitlyn Reroll C → B
Azir Reroll B → C
Elder Dragon Fast 9 guide updated
Alune Fast 9 guide updated
Elderwood Aphelios guide updated
Rapidfire Aphelios S → B
Ashe Fast 9 guide updated
Juggernaut Zyra guide updated
Invoker Morgana B → A
Veigar Reroll guide updated
Kha'Zix Reroll guide updated
Nidalee Aphelios S → A; guide updated
Flora Azir Reroll S → A; guide updated

Strongest items

Brawler Emblem: The third item most Master Yi Reroll games give Yi; one of the best-placing emblems.
Dawncore: Mana engine for Cassiopeia and Veigar.
Elderwood Emblem: Elderwood 7 for the Ezreal and Aphelios comps: 18.4 made that step stronger, and the emblem has placed among the best since.
Gargoyle Stoneplate: The default tank item; slam it early on your main frontliner.
Guinsoo's Rageblade: Core on every attack-speed carry: Draven, Azir, Caitlyn, Master Yi.
Infinity Edge: The crit core for Aphelios, Nidalee and Elder Dragon.
Jeweled Gauntlet: Best AP crit item: Ahri, Veigar, Soraka and Alune all use it.
Lich Bane: Best on Akali reroll.
Luden's Tempest: Splash damage for AP casters, and one of the best-placing artifacts.
Rabadon's Deathcap: Raw AP, and the item the patch's best rerolls share: Kha'Zix, Veigar and Pebbles.
Radiant Adaptive Helm: Flexible Radiant for casters or tanks.
Radiant Blue Buff: Radiant: 20% more AD and AP from every source.
Radiant Giant Slayer: Into tank lobbies on AD carries.
Radiant Hand of Justice: Omnivamp Radiant for divers.
Radiant Rabadon's Deathcap: Raw AP; best on reroll casters.
Radiant Thief's Gloves: Two Radiant-quality random items every round; the best-placing Radiant in 18.3b.
Rapidfire Emblem: On Brambleback it makes Rapidfire 5 for Rapidfire Aphelios; one of the best-placing emblems in 18.4b, before 18.5 trimmed Rapidfire.
Recurve Bow: Builds Guinsoo's, Kraken's and Giant Slayer: the most valuable component.
Silvermere Dawn: Crowd control for bruisers; in 18.4 games it places among the best artifacts.
Spear of Shojin: The best mana item of the set: every caster and Ashe want it first.
Tear of the Goddess: Builds Shojin, Blue Buff, Archangel's and Void Staff; every caster wants it.
Vanguard Emblem: An extra Vanguard for the Aphelios, Morgana and Alune boards; one of the best-placing emblems.
Warmog's Armor: Flat health that pairs with any tank item; great first tank slam, and the tanks of most top comps hold it.

The full ranking is on the item tier list; recipes are in the item guide.

Strongest augments

Baron's Lair: A random tank item, and after 8 seconds of combat your team keeps gaining Attack Damage and Ability Power: for boards that win long fights.
Beast Within: Primal gets a second Blessing, with a Vi now and a Nidalee or a Sivir three rounds later: take it on Primal boards such as Primal Nidalee.
Beast Within+: A second Primal Blessing with a Vi and a Nidalee or a Sivir at once: the stronger Beast Within, for any Primal board.
Booster Pack+: Random champions with a 4-cost among them: instant board strength, and whatever you do not field sells back for gold.
Booster Pack++: A big batch of random champions with a 5-cost in it: strong tempo, and whatever you do not field sells back for gold.
Branching Out: A random emblem: put it where it adds a trait step, or let it point you to a comp. Strong because it fits almost any board.
Branching Out+: A random emblem and a Reforger to turn it into another one if it misses (use it on a unit holding only the emblem).
Epic Rolldown: A big batch of free rerolls when you reach level 8, kept until you use them: the Fast 9 lines such as Ashe Fast 9 take it.
Explosive Growth: XP now and at the start of the next three rounds: an early level spike, best for plans that level fast.
Frontline Foundation: A 2-star 1-cost tank and its class emblem: an early front line and a trait step in one. Juggernaut Zyra boards take it.
Latent Forge: An artifact anvil after eight fights: a strong item for your carry later. Take it when your board can hold until then.
Level Up!: Every XP purchase gives extra XP, plus some now: the best augment for the Fast 9 lines such as Ashe and Draven.
Magic Roll: Three dice decide a pile of loot by their total. Random, but strong on average, and it fits any comp.
Portable Forge: Pick one of four artifacts now: a strong unique item early. Choose it for your carry; Master Yi Reroll loves it.
Rolling For Days: A batch of free rerolls at once: reroll lines spend them on their 3-stars, and Fast 9 lines keep them for the big roll.
Seraphim's Staff: An Archangel's Staff that also speeds up mana once its holder has enough Ability Power: for casters like Ahri, Zyra and Cassiopeia.
Spreading Roots: A random emblem now and another three fights later: more trait steps for flexible boards such as Flora Malphite.
Spreading Roots+: Two random emblems at once and a little gold: big trait steps right away for flexible lines such as Elderwood Aphelios.
Tactician's Kitchen: A random emblem now and a Tactician's Cape three rounds later, which fields one more unit. Strong on any board.
The Trait Tree: Three random emblems and a little gold: several trait steps at once. Build toward the comp they point to.
The Trait Tree+: Three random emblems and a Reforger to change one that misses: the most flexible emblem augment.