Teamfight Tactics
Officially Teamfight Tactics (TFT)
RIOT GAMES' AUTO-CHESS spin-off of League of Legends, released JUNE 26, 2019 as PC game mode; standalone iOS/Android mobile version launched March 2020. 8 PLAYERS compete simultaneously in FREE-FOR-ALL matches — buy Champions from shared pool, position on grid, watch battles auto-resolve; last player standing wins. Rotating SETS every 3-4 months completely refresh champion roster + traits/synergies + mechanics. Set 15 (Emanations of the Depths) currently active in 2026. 300M+ REGISTERED PLAYERS. Strong esports scene: TFT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP annual ($1M+ prize pool).
What is Teamfight Tactics?
TEAMFIGHT TACTICS (TFT) is RIOT GAMES' AUTO-CHESS / AUTO-BATTLER spin-off of LEAGUE OF LEGENDS, released as a LoL game mode JUNE 26, 2019 (during LoL Patch 9.13) — Riot's response to Chinese Dota 2 custom map DOTA AUTO CHESS (Feb 2019) which pioneered the auto-chess genre. STANDALONE iOS + Android MOBILE VERSION launched MARCH 19, 2020 — allowed dedicated mobile play with cross-progression to PC. GAMEPLAY: 8 PLAYERS COMPETE simultaneously in FREE-FOR-ALL matches lasting 30-40 minutes. Each player has: (1) SHARED SHOP that rotates every round; buy CHAMPIONS from LoL universe (60-70 champions per Set, tier 1-5, cost 1/2/3/4/5 gold); (2) 3x7 hexagonal GRID board (front 4 rows for units); (3) STARTING 100 HP that ticks down when losing rounds; last player with HP > 0 wins. UNITS AUTO-ATTACK + AUTO-CAST spells; player controls POSITIONING + COMPOSITION but not real-time actions. TRAITS/SYNERGIES: each champion has 2-3 TRAITS (origin + class); collecting multiple traits unlocks TRAIT BONUSES (e.g., 3 Vanguard = tanks gain 50 armor, 6 Bruisers = attack speed bonus, 4 Star Guardian = mana per cast). Building compositions around traits + item synergies is core strategy. UNITS UPGRADE from 1-star (base) → 2-star (3 copies of same unit) → 3-star (9 copies) — 3-star units are power spike. ITEM SYSTEM: 8 base components combine into 45+ full items (e.g., Sword + Sword = Deathblade attack, Bow + Rod = Guinsoo's Rageblade attack speed on hit); equip on units. GOLD ECONOMY: earn interest on gold hoards (max 50g interest cap = 5g/round bonus); balance leveling XP (increase board size 1-9), rerolling shop for units, buying units, saving gold. ROTATING SETS: every 3-4 months TFT gets a completely NEW SET refreshing champion roster + traits + mechanics + theme (Set 1 Origins June 2019, Set 2 Rise of the Elements Sept 2019, ... Set 10 Remix Rumble late 2023, Set 11 Inkborn Fables March 2024, Set 12 Magic n' Mayhem July 2024, Set 13 Into the Arcane Nov 2024, Set 14 Cyber City March 2025, Set 15 Emanations of the Depths July 2025 current). Each Set introduces UNIQUE MECHANICS (Set 3 Galaxies, Set 4 Chosen, Set 5 Cosmic Radiance/Divine, Set 8 Hero Augments, Set 10 Headliner headliner spatula, Set 13 Encounters). 300M+ REGISTERED PLAYERS worldwide (Riot 2024 announcement). STRONG ESPORTS SCENE: annual TFT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ($1M+ prize pool since 2023) + regional finals in NA, EMEA, LATAM, KR, CN, PBE. Top pros: Setsuko (JP), Kurumx (KR), ItzChoco (US), Souless (BR), Uraaa (KR).
Quick facts
Category
Esports
Type
Individual
Players
8–8
Duration
~35 min
Where played
indoor
Field / court
PC + peripherals or mobile
Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Estimated origin
June 26, 2019 PC (LoL mode); March 19, 2020 iOS/Android mobile; Set 15 current 2026
Olympic
No
Popularity
global
How it works
Objective
Be last player standing (HP > 0). Buy champions, position units, upgrade star levels, collect traits, itemize to build strongest team.
Rules
Basic rules
8 players free-for-all; start with 100 HP
Lose rounds → lose HP based on remaining enemy units + strength.
Shared shop of 5 units rotates each round; buy champions (1/2/3/4/5 gold cost)
Higher-cost units appear more at higher player levels.
3 copies of same champion = 2-star; 9 = 3-star (huge power spike)
Roll shop with 2g to reroll.
Collect traits (2-3 per champ); trait bonuses at 2/4/6/8 units
Build compositions around trait synergy.
Items combine 8 basic components into 45+ full items; equip on units
Item choice hugely impacts unit strength.
Level up (spend XP or gold) to increase board size 1-9 units
Higher level = more slots + higher-cost units in shop.
Auto-battle rounds against other player boards; damage taken from surviving enemy units
Positioning + composition determine outcome.
Scoring
Placement-based (1st-8th). Ranked LP gains/losses based on placement. 8-player free-for-all format.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| 1st-4th place (top half) | Gain LP in Ranked |
| 5th-8th place (bottom half) | Lose LP in Ranked |
| Reach 3-star unit (9 copies) | Huge in-game power spike |
| Complete 8-piece trait bonus | Major team buff |
| Ranked LP → tier climb (Iron → Bronze → Silver → Gold → Platinum → Emerald → Diamond → Master → Grandmaster → Challenger) | Season rank progression |
Win condition · Be last player standing (HP > 0) after all others eliminated.
Playing area
Called
PC + peripherals or mobile
Dimensions
Any monitor or phone/tablet
PC (Riot Client), iOS, Android. Cross-progression + cross-play between PC + mobile.
Equipment
TFT is FREE-TO-PLAY on all platforms
No barrier to entry
Little Legend / Arena skins (cosmetic microtransactions)
Cosmetic only; no gameplay advantage
Pass Battle Pass ($10 per Set)
Additional cosmetic rewards
iOS/Android device or PC
Cross-progression between all platforms
Strategies
Flex play: play what shop gives you
Don't force one composition; pivot based on 2-star units found.
Economy: build up to 50g for max interest (5g/round)
Powerspike at 8 → level to 9 late.
Positioning matters — put carries in back corner
Cluster vs spread depending on opponent AOE.
Item priority: Deathblade/Guinsoo/JG/Runaan on carry
Item slam early or save components.
Study meta on Metatft.com, Lolchess.gg, MetaTFT app
Meta shifts weekly with patches.
Terminology
- Comp (composition)
- Team build focused on specific traits.
- Trait / Synergy
- Champion tag; grants bonuses at 2/4/6/8 stacks.
- Reroll / Slam
- Reroll shop for 2g; slam items to build immediately.
- Carry
- Primary damage-dealer with items.
- Frontline / Backline
- Front-row tanks / back-row DPS.
- Star level (1★/2★/3★)
- Champion upgrade tier.
- Augment
- Player-chosen buff (Set 6+); 2-1/3-2/4-2 augment stages.
- Encounter (Set 13)
- Random game-changing event.
- PBE
- Public Beta Environment; test upcoming patches.
- Champion cost
- 1-cost (common) to 5-cost (legendary); rarity in shop.
Major competitions
TFT World Championship / Reckoning / Set Championship (annual)
annual · worldwide · since 2020
TFT Regional Finals (NA, EMEA, KR, CN, LATAM, PBE)
seasonal · regional · since 2020
TFT Set Championship (per Set)
quarterly · worldwide · since 2020
Chinese TFT Pro League (highest concentration of top players)
seasonal · China · since 2020
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Riot Games (developer + publisher)
Founded 2006 · Los Angeles, California, USA
Tencent (majority owner of Riot since 2011)
Founded 1998 · Shenzhen, China
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Setsuko (Japan) — 4x TFT champion; considered greatest TFT player
- Kurumx (South Korea) — Multiple World Championship top-8s
- ItzChoco (US) — NA legend + streamer
- Souless (Brazil) — LATAM top pro
- Uraaa (South Korea) — Korean grandmaster
- Robinsongz (US) — NA scene founder + top pro
- Milala (China) — Chinese TFT Pro League champion
- Frodan / Mortdog (US) — Popular casters + Mortdog is TFT's game director
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
Download TFT free on PC (Riot Client) or mobile
No cost to try.
- 2
Play tutorial + normal games
Learn UI + basic composition building.
intermediate
- 1
Learn Meta comps for current Set from Metatft.com
Study top compositions.
- 2
Play Ranked; aim for Gold+
Middle-tier ranked play.
advanced
- 1
Follow Mortdog + TFT pros on Twitch
Learn advanced play.
- 2
Aim for Master+ rank + Set Championship qualification
Competitive play.
Frequently asked
What is Teamfight Tactics?+
RIOT GAMES' AUTO-CHESS / AUTO-BATTLER spin-off of LEAGUE OF LEGENDS, released June 2019 as PC game mode; standalone mobile launched March 2020. 8 PLAYERS compete simultaneously in FREE-FOR-ALL — buy Champions from shared pool, position on grid, watch battles auto-resolve; last player standing wins. Rotating SETS every 3-4 months completely refresh champion roster + traits + mechanics. Set 15 (Emanations of the Depths) currently active in 2026. 300M+ REGISTERED PLAYERS. Strong esports scene: TFT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP annual ($1M+ prize pool). FREE-TO-PLAY on PC + iOS + Android with cross-progression.
TFT vs Auto Chess vs Underlords — which auto-battler?+
TFT IS THE DOMINANT AUTO-BATTLER in 2026. History: Chinese DOTA AUTO CHESS Dota 2 custom map (Feb 2019) invented the genre; Drodo Studios then released standalone Auto Chess (game). Valve made Dota Underlords (2019, abandoned 2020). Riot made TFT (June 2019) — became the biggest by far. TFT wins because: (1) massive League of Legends brand + champions; (2) rotating Sets keep game fresh every 3-4 months; (3) free-to-play with only cosmetic monetization; (4) rock-solid mobile port; (5) strong esports scene. AUTO CHESS (Drodo) still exists but small. UNDERLORDS abandoned. RECOMMENDATION: TFT for 99%+ of auto-battler players.
Sources & provenance
- Riot Games — TFT— Riot Games
- Wikipedia — Teamfight Tactics— Wikipedia