Quick answer: Teamfight Tactics patch 18.4, published October 6, is a large balance update aimed at moving power away from overly dominant traits and back into individual units. Riot is buffing multiple struggling 1- and 2-cost reroll lines, trimming strong verticals such as Juggernaut and Executioner, changing several Augments, and adding new low-cost Wisp options. Combat arrival and departure phases are also one second shorter each.
Last checked: October 7, 2026.
TFT 18.4: the changes that matter most
| Area | Key change | Likely effect |
|---|---|---|
| Combat flow | Arrival and departure phases are each 1 second shorter. | Games move faster with less dead time between rounds. |
| Blossom | Higher AD/AP at deep breakpoints. | More reason to commit to 7/9 Blossom instead of only splashing it. |
| Juggernaut | Durability reduced at higher tiers. | Less universal frontline value from an easy vertical. |
| Lunar | Higher AP at deeper breakpoints. | More incentive to chase the vertical. |
| Low-cost reroll | Buffs to units including Camille, Kobuko, Rakan, Xayah, Varus, Gromp, Kayle, Shen and Teemo. | More viable reroll lines and better early/mid-game carry options. |
| Augments | Large pass including Dark Ritual, Chosen of the Sun, Trait Ladder and economy/combat options. | Changes both risk/reward and lobby-specific decision making. |
Riot’s goal: move power from traits into units
Riot’s patch introduction is unusually direct: 18.4 is meant to broaden the set’s viable compositions by reducing the amount of power concentrated in traits and giving more of it back to champions. The practical result is that several deep trait breakpoints are being retuned at the same time as underperforming units receive direct buffs.
This matters for flex players. When traits supply too much of a board’s power, an Emblem or specific vertical breakpoint can dictate the entire game. Stronger individual units make it easier to pivot, use temporary item holders and build around what the shop actually gives you.
Important trait changes
Blossom
Blossom’s AD/AP values at the deeper tiers increase from 45/50% to 50/55% while the early values stay at 12/30%. This is aimed at making 7 and 9 Blossom more rewarding rather than leaving the trait mainly as a strong splash.
Coven
The 130 Essence cashout is made less generous and less consistent. Several outcomes lose value, such as double components becoming one component plus gold. Riot’s stated concern is that the Stage 2/3 cashout was too safe compared with other cashout approaches.
Eclipse
The initial delay before the execution effect drops from 10 seconds to 8 seconds, helping the trait matter earlier in fights.
Elderwood
Elderwood 7 gets a stronger Deepwood Protector through lower mana requirements and higher resists, while the 9-piece plant health scaling is reduced. That makes 7 more functional without letting the top vertical scale unchecked.
Executioner and Juggernaut
Executioner bleed damage is reduced at its higher tiers, while Juggernaut durability falls from 33/45% to 30/42% at the upper breakpoints. Both changes target high-value vertical power and Emblem-driven boards.
Lunar, Riftbeast and Sprykin
Lunar receives stronger AP scaling at deeper tiers, Riftbeast 7 gains slightly more recurring AD/AP/AS, and Sprykin 7 raises its HP and Attack Speed bonus from 45% to 55%. These are the kinds of buffs that can create new end-game vertical incentives without touching every unit in the trait.
Low-cost reroll gets a major push
The 1- and 2-cost section is mostly buffs. That is one of the biggest strategic signals in the patch because reroll metas depend on whether cheap units scale strongly enough to justify spending gold before level 8.
- Camille: higher damage at 3 and 4 stars.
- Kobuko: stronger healing AP ratios across star levels.
- Rakan: larger shields.
- Xayah: higher ability damage.
- Varus: Attack Speed rises from .70 to .75.
- Veigar: receives a nerf to normal and low-HP ability damage after outperforming other 1-cost reroll lines.
- Gromp: AD form casts sooner and AP splash improves at higher stars.
- Kayle: ability damage increases.
- Shen: both self and ally shields are stronger.
- Teemo: higher 3- and 4-star AOE damage.
The message is not “reroll everything.” It is that there should be more viable low-cost lines instead of one obvious best 1-cost option.
Three-cost and four-cost standouts
Rengar’s 3-star damage is increased, Tristana gets a clear damage buff, and Mama Beak receives more 3-star scaling. Brambleback gets more damage in the reliable part of the cast but less leap damage, which Riot describes as an overall consistency buff. Ezreal’s small cast is stronger, AP Nidalee improves, AD Nidalee is trimmed, and Sivir’s damage rises.
These are important because they create more viable item destinations as you level. A healthy patch is not only about which final comp wins; it is also about whether the transition board has enough strong units to carry items without hemorrhaging health.
Five-cost consistency changes
Ashe now refunds 70% mana if her arrow hits no enemies, while Draven refunds 50% if his axes miss everything. That reduces some of the harshest “whiff” outcomes for expensive units. Ashe simultaneously loses some percent-health damage, and Draven gets a stronger bleed ratio.
Ivern’s hexes are rebalanced, Kennen’s shield scaling is reduced, and Solar Lux gains a new bonus-damage structure that scales with unique 3-star champions fielded.
Item changes
Crownguard loses some post-shield Ability Power, moving from 25 to 20. Spirit Visage receives more durability, increasing from 8% to 10%, while its Radiant version goes from 15% to 18%. The intention is to narrow the gap between the best and weakest tank options rather than replace the item hierarchy completely.
Elderwood Emblem also loses resists, falling from 35 to 25, which matters alongside the direct Elderwood 7 buff: Riot is shifting some power away from the Emblem and into the actual trait/unit structure.
Augment changes to watch
Patch 18.4 re-enables Construct-A-Companion, Dark Ritual and Forge-A-Friend. Dark Ritual returns with weaker AP cashouts at multiple tiers. Chosen of the Sun moves from Gold to Silver. Omega Riftbeast now grants Alpha Riftbeasts bonus HP and Attack Speed. Several economy and scaling Augments are also rebalanced.
Trait Ladder is one of the most important high-skill changes. Riot notes a large performance gap between average players and Grandmaster+ lobbies, then reduces multiple cashout rewards. That should lower its ceiling in optimized play without deleting the fantasy entirely.
Wisp changes
Polymorph Wisps are limited to the opening two seconds of the planning phase. Several risky economy/stat Wisps are removed from the offer pool when the player is below 20 HP, and Riot adds new zero-cost Wisps for later stages when a player has under 10 gold.
This targets a frustrating edge case where low-gold players could see very narrow options and effectively force specific low-cost outcomes. More zero-cost choices should make desperate late-game rolls less deterministic.
What comps should you watch first?
Rather than declaring a final tier list before enough live data exists, the smartest first-day watchlist is based on the largest direction changes:
- Solar reroll, because Xayah, Rakan, Varus, Kayle and Shen all receive help.
- Deep Blossom and Lunar, because their higher breakpoints are explicitly buffed.
- Rengar and Tristana reroll, because their 3-star damage improves.
- AP Nidalee fast-8 lines, because her AP form receives a targeted buff.
- Juggernaut-heavy and Executioner-heavy boards, because the trait power is reduced.
- Coven cashout boards, because the safe 130 Essence outcomes are weaker.
TFT patch 18.4 FAQ
When was patch 18.4 published?
Riot published the patch notes on October 6, 2026.
Is 18.4 a small patch?
No. Riot explicitly describes it as a large patch, with 18.5 expected to be more focused.
Are low-cost reroll comps buffed?
Several 1- and 2-cost champions are buffed, so Riot is clearly trying to open more low-cost reroll lines. That does not guarantee every reroll comp becomes top tier.
What changed with combat timing?
Combat arrival and departure phases are each one second shorter, saving roughly two seconds per round.
Source
All numerical balance changes in this guide were checked against Riot Games’ official TFT patch 18.4 notes.
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