Teamfight Tactics patch 18.4 has arrived, and it's a big one. With the set now a few patches old, the development team is taking a significant swing to shake up the meta. The focus is on enabling a wider variety of compositions and strategies through trait adjustments, buffs for underperforming low-cost units, and targeted nerfs to dominant tactics. This larger patch sets the stage for a more focused 18.5 update, which will handle smaller tweaks to fine-tune the game.

Systems and Trait Adjustments

In a quality-of-life change, combat arrival and departure phase times have been reduced by one second each. This saves about two seconds per fight, adding up to nearly a minute per game. For players frequently finishing at the bottom, that's an extra game every twenty or so matches. More importantly, traits are receiving substantial adjustments to bring Origins and Classes closer in power. Deep vertical Origins that required heavy investment are getting buffs, while some overperforming Classes are being toned down to reduce the dominance of certain Emblems.

  • Blossom: AD/AP increased at higher breakpoints (50/55% at 7/9) to make deeper verticals more rewarding.
  • Coven: The 130 essence cashout is being reduced in value to curb its consistency and safety.
  • Eclipse: Initial execution delay reduced from 10 to 8 seconds to make the trait more impactful earlier in fights.
  • Elderwood: (7) Deepwood Protector gets mana and resist buffs, while (9) health multiplier is nerfed to balance Emblem-linked strategies.
  • Fae: Trait power reduced, but three Fae units receive buffs to compensate.
  • Juggernaut: Durability decreased at higher tiers to make the frontline less oppressive.
  • Lunar: AP incentives increased for deeper verticals, making Lunar Lux more appealing.
  • Sprykin: BFF buff at (7) now grants 55% HP and AS instead of 45%, benefiting all Sprykins.

Unit Buffs: Tier 1 and 2

Struggling 1 and 2-cost units are receiving buffs to promote reroll compositions. Camille gets increased damage on her 3 and 4-star forms, while Kobuko's AP ratio is boosted to make him a more viable item holder. Xayah and Rakan both receive AD/AP ratio buffs, aiming to revive the Solar reroll line. Varus gains attack speed to cast more consistently, and Veigar, despite being the best 1-cost reroll carry, is nerfed to require stronger starts or specific artifacts.

In Tier 2, Gromp's AD form casts faster, and his AP form deals more splash damage. Kayle and Shen get minor buffs to enable Solar and other low-cost reroll lines. Teemo's AOE damage is increased at higher star levels.

Unit Adjustments: Tier 3 and 4

Mama Beak receives a damage buff, and with the Riftbeast (7) buff, she could become a reroll star. Rammus gets a slight shield nerf at 3-star but remains a strong tank. Rengar's 3-star AD is increased to make rerolling more worthwhile. Tristana's damage is boosted as part of the Fae compensation. Hecarim's mana is adjusted to cast more frequently.

For Tier 4, Brambleback's consistent cast damage is increased while leap damage is reduced, making him less reliant on perfect positioning. Ezreal gets a small buff to reduce reliance on Executioner Emblem. Nidalee's AP form is buffed, while her AD form is slightly nerfed. Sivir's damage is increased.

Tier 5 Quality-of-Life Changes

Ashe and Draven, two 5-costs whose abilities can occasionally miss, now refund mana when they do, allowing them to cast again sooner. This ensures that high-cost units remain reliable, unlike some lower-cost counterparts.

Source: Riot Games - Teamfight Tactics Patch 18.4. For full details, visit the official patch notes.