TFT Comps Tier List for Patch 18.5: Enchanted Wilds Meta
This TFT comps tier list covers patch 18.5 of Set 18, Enchanted Wilds, released on October 21, 2026. It’s our editorial assessment, not win rate or placement statistics: we rank comps by what Riot’s balance team says about them in the official notes and by the size of each change. Riftbeast and Elderwood capstone boards stay on top after small nerfs, Blackthorn Azir drops after three separate hits, and Tristana, Soraka and Caitlyn reroll are the comps on the rise.
How we rank TFT comps for this tier list
No placement data here. Stats sites show average placements, but they vary by rank and by how many games people have played with a comp, and a number without a source doesn’t help you decide what to force. We read the official TFT patch 18.5 notes instead, where Riot explains why it changed each trait or unit.
Put simply, the rules are short. If Riot calls something too strong and only trims it, it stays high. If Riot nerfs the same comp from several directions, it drops. A big buff with a stated goal (“a major threat”, “a viable primary carry”) moves a comp up. That’s our read of the notes, and we redo it each patch.
TFT comps tier list for patch 18.5
| Tier | Comp | What changed in 18.5 |
|---|---|---|
| S | Riftbeast (7) | AD/AP bonus 6% to 5%, Riot: “slightly too strong” |
| S (if you hit it) | Elderwood (9) with Emblems | Summon health 140% to 125%, Riot: “almost an auto-win” |
| A | Blackthorn (6) Azir | Nerfed in the trait, in Flora Fatalis and in Azir’s own damage |
| A | Rapidfire vertical | Attack speed per attack 3/5/8/12% to 3/5/7/10% |
| A | Fae with Rakan and Lillia | Heal 2.5/4% to 3/5%, cheaper late Golden Pixie thresholds |
| Rising | Tristana, Soraka AP, Caitlyn reroll | Direct buffs with a stated goal |
| Rising | Vertical Blossom (Ashe, Sett) | Ashe’s damage over time and Sett’s heal ratio up |
| Falling | Dark Ritual super-tank Elise, Flora Fatalis Rammus | Augment and trait healing nerfed |
Why Riftbeast and Elderwood are still S tier
Riftbeast (7) loses one point of AD and AP, 6% down to 5%. Riot’s own wording was that the trait is “slightly too strong” now that players can build it from several angles, and a one-point trim is exactly that: slight. We’d still play it whenever the units line up.
Elderwood (9) is a different animal. Riot said it’s “almost an auto-win if you have the Emblems and two-stars”, then cut the 9-piece summon bonus health from 140% to 125%. Will a 15% trim stop an auto-win? Probably not, but you need the Emblems first, which is why it’s S only when you actually hit it. And how often do you get every Emblem you need? Not often.
What happened to Blackthorn Azir in TFT 18.5?
Riot hit it three times. Blackthorn (6) loses enhanced bonus (60% to 50%) and the base AP sacrifice drops to 10% damage amp, Flora Fatalis heals 7% instead of 8% of max health, and Azir himself deals less ability damage (46/69/110 AP down to 43/65/105). Riot called this Blackthorn’s “current strongest comp” and said the trait change alone was meant to look small. Put together, though, it’s a clear step down, so we move it from the top to A.
Rammus boards that lean on Flora Fatalis healing lose some of the same power. Honestly, super-tank strategies in general had a rough patch: Dark Ritual now grants less AP at its early stages, aimed squarely at the super-tank Elise strategy.
Which TFT comps are rising in patch 18.5?
Tristana is the one Riot singled out. Her ability damage per attack rises from 10/15/25 to 12/18/28 AD, which Riot said should make her “a major threat when her traits and items come online”.
Soraka gets more initial and additional star damage, with Riot saying she should open up “as a viable primary carry in AP lines”. Caitlyn’s empowered auto rises to 200/300/490 AD as a reroll Rageblade user. In vertical Blossom, Ashe’s damage over time goes to 11/16 AD after Riot admitted it “over-nerfed” her last patch, and Sett’s heal ratio climbs too.
A few quieter buffs are worth knowing: Malphite’s shield grows to 735/885 AP, Morgana’s curse damage rises to help her get through frontlines, and Taric becomes tankier (70 resists) with a much higher AP ratio on empowered attacks.
Which augments and Wisps change the TFT tier list?
Consuming Flora’s bonus effectiveness rises from 50% to 70%, and Riot even suggested Veigar might come back with it. Expected Unexpectedness and Pandora’s Items give less gold, while Build-A-Bud gives more (6 to 9). On the Wisp side, Hand of Baron gets cheaper (6 to 4 gold) but much weaker, and Abandon Ship now costs 2 gold instead of 0.
In practice, the Wisp filtering change matters more for most players than any single number: Wisps that count itemized champions now include your bench too, so the old bench tricks are gone.
How to use this TFT comps tier list
Look, don’t force one comp every game. Look at your opener, then pick the closest comp from the S or A rows, and treat the “Rising” row as your pivot options. If you also play Summoner’s Rift, our LoL tier list for patch 26.22 uses the same method, and the TFT patch notes overview explains how Riot’s patch schedule works. We’ll update this TFT comps tier list when Riot publishes the patch 18.6 notes. Playing ranked on the Rift as well? See how the LoL rank tiers line up.
FAQ
What is the best TFT comp in patch 18.5?
In our editorial assessment, Riftbeast (7) is the strongest comp after only a small nerf, and Elderwood (9) is the best capstone when you have the Emblems and two-star units.
Are the TFT comps on this tier list ranked by win rates?
No. It is our assessment of Riot’s official patch 18.5 notes and the size of each change. We do not publish win rates or average placements.
What set is TFT on right now?
Set 18, Enchanted Wilds, which launched with patch 18.1 in late August 2026. Patch 18.5 went live on October 21, 2026.
Was Azir nerfed in TFT patch 18.5?
Yes. Azir’s ability damage, the Blackthorn (6) trait bonus and Flora Fatalis healing were all reduced, which together weaken the Blackthorn Azir comp.
Which units were buffed in TFT 18.5?
Buffed units include Caitlyn, Tristana, Master Yi, Malphite, Morgana, Sett, Soraka, Ashe, Taric and Alune’s damage, among others.
