Teamfight Tactics

An auto-battler strategy game requiring economy management, composition building, and adaptive positioning to outlast seven opponents.

Teamfight Tactics (TFT) is a round-based strategy game where eight players compete by building teams of champions on a shared board. Success demands mastering economy management (gold interest, leveling tempo), composition building (synergies, carry selection, item optimization), and adaptive decision-making (scouting, pivoting, positioning). Each game is a unique puzzle requiring you to read the lobby, manage resources, and adjust plans in real time.

Games & Strategy

7 Levels

Published: Feb 21, 2026 · Updated: Apr 8, 2026 · v6

Levels

You understand the round structure (PvE, PvP, carousel), how to purchase and place champions on the board, and the concept of star upgrades (combining 3 copies). You recognize that traits activate when you field enough champions of the same type and can navigate the shop, bench, and board. You complete games and begin to notice why some teams feel stronger than others. (Approximately Iron-Bronze rank)

Can explain the round structure including PvE rounds, PvP rounds, and carousel rounds
Can purchase champions from the shop and place them on the board
Can combine 3 copies of the same champion to create a 2-star upgrade
Can identify at least 3 trait synergies and explain what bonuses they provide
Can equip items onto champions by dragging components from the bench
Can complete a full 8-player game from start to finish

What Comes Next

If you've checked off most of this list, you're ready for the Bronze-Silver stage, learning economy management and intentional team building. The LUDUS(AAAI) balance framework suggests that foundations are established when you observe and analyze multiple game experiences to systematically understand round structure and synergy mechanics.

References

Riot GamesRating System

Official 9-tier ranked system (Iron through Challenger) with LP-based promotion and placement mechanics directly used for level boundary design across all seven levels

TFT Ranked System - Riot Games

Riot GamesCompetency Framework

Official TFT esports platform documenting regional qualifiers, world championship format, and professional competitive standards referenced in upper-level checklist design

TFT Esports - Riot Games

MetaTFT (Community)Curriculum

Community-driven analytics platform providing composition win rates, augment statistics, and item optimization data used by players for the data-driven decision-making referenced across levels 3-6

MetaTFT - Statistics & Analytics

AAAI (Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence)academic_research

Peer-reviewed paper presenting a framework that combines automated playtesting with global search to optimize auto battler card balance, providing academic grounding for game-system-based level design

LUDUS: An Optimization Framework to Balance Auto Battler Cards

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Teamfight Tactics

Levels

Level 1#BasicMechanics#ChampionPlacement#Iron-BronzeUnderstanding the basic rules of TFT, placing champions on the board, and completing a full game.

Level 2#EconomyBasics#TraitSynergies#Bronze-SilverManaging basic economy (interest thresholds, level timing) and building teams with intentional trait synergies.

Level 3#CompositionPlanning#ItemCrafting#Silver-GoldPlanning and executing full compositions with optimized items, consistent top-4 placements in ranked games.

Level 4#Pivoting#Scouting#Gold-PlatinumScouting opponents, pivoting compositions mid-game, and controlling tempo to maximize placement.

Level 5#LobbyAnalysis#Mentoring#Master-GrandmasterReading full lobby dynamics, mentoring other players, and maintaining high-rank consistency across sets.

Level 6#MetaDiscovery#Coaching#Grandmaster-ChallengerDiscovering new compositions and strategies before the mainstream, coaching at a high level, and contributing to community knowledge.

Level 7#CompetitiveLegacy#GameInfluence#TFTWorldsCompeting at the highest level of TFT esports, shaping game design discussions, and building a lasting legacy in the community.

References

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