With the Inkborn Fables upon us, now is a great time to check out Riot Games‘ Teamfight Tactics. With great strategic depth and lots of variance built into its systems, starting can be a bit intimidating. That’s why I’ve assembled six quick Teamfight Tactics pointers for new players. I hope these will help you in your quest to become a great tactician, and have fun doing it!
Set Reasonable Goals
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There is an unspoken golden rule when it comes to gaming. It’s generally more fun when you are winning. But while nothing beats the thrill of a hard-earned victory, new players must be realistic when approaching TeamFight Tactics.
If you are a new player joining a match with seven other random players, odds are they are all more experienced than you. Familiarity with the rules and the current set’s choice of units, traits, augments, and other special features is critical to winning a match. If you go into your earliest games gunning for a win, you will likely get frustrated and quit long before you get there. Rather than shoot for the moon, aim small. Your first several games just focus on not coming in last. Once you can consistently do that, focus on being fourth or fifth. Top three. And so on. I’ve played dozens of games, and I still consider any game where I place fourth or higher in a win.
Know What Equipment To Give A Character
Equipping characters with the proper gear can make or break a list. For the longest time, I didn’t know how to find out what gear should be equipped for which character. Then, I discovered something that will transform Teamfight Tactics for all new players.
When playing on mobile, select a character to open their information tab. About halfway down the tab, there is a class icon. (see above image). Tap that icon and a set of recommended gear for the selected character will appear, including the basic components combined to build each item. In the PC client, there will be a two-word description in roughly the same place. It will say something like “attack carry” or “magic tank.” Hover over the description, and the same pop-up will appear. Proper utilization of this when you don’t know what to build will greatly elevate your game.
Never Be Afraid To Let Go Of Old Traits
You’re early in the game. You’ve picked up a few characters and currently have three to four traits at the bronze level among your characters. You see a great character in your shop. To fit them in your team, you’d have to forfeit one of your traits. This can feel like a step backward, but it is generally necessary. If the new character is better than the other, you have to let go sometimes. Especially if it will help get one of your other traits to silver or, later, gold. It can be hard, but thank the champion for their service, then drag ’em off the board.
Don’t Try To Force A Team Build
You may find yourself gravitating towards a certain build whenever you play. Maybe it fits your playstyle, and perhaps you’ve had success with it in the past, you heard it’s the hot strategy right now, or you just love the characters in the trait grouping from playing one of Riot’s other games. Whatever the reason may be, you may find yourself trying to force a build. *cough* Me trying to force K/DA during the Remix Rumble set.*cough* Whatever the reason, nothing can sink a game faster than trying to force a build that isn’t coming together. The most likely reason a build isn’t coming together is other players are drafting it. Doesn’t matter how great a build is, if you notice early on that three other players are trying to draft it, you aren’t going to get the pieces you need to make it work. A fully formed idea will serve you better than a third of the best idea and whatever else you could tack onto it.
Try To Build Balanced Teams
When you are new, the best approach to general team building is often to try to have some of everything. A couple of front-line tanks to soak up damage, a couple of attack carries to deal out damage, and some magic characters that thrive on the power of their abilities. This will keep you from having any glaring weaknesses opponents can exploit. Plus, basic equipment components are generally geared strongly towards certain characters. Having a little bit of everything can make utilizing whatever components you use easier.
HAVE FUN!
Games are meant to be fun. If you are banging your head against a wall, frustrated with the results you are getting, a break may be in order. Losing the fun is a quick way to lose interest in the game. Even if you are a highly competitive player who is more interested in winning than fun, frustration can severely decrease the quality of your play. Step back, watch a movie, go for a walk, or whatever helps you relax. Release the stress and come back when you are level. Once calm, consider what was going wrong and how to avoid it. The convergence is there for tacticians to enjoy. Don’t drive yourself into the dirt trying to get that win. Have fun, enjoy all the victories, big or small, and attempt to take the setbacks in stride.
There are a few quick Teamfight Tactics tips for new players. With these tips and some solid practice, I hope you will find yourself gaining skills and reaching new goals in your games of Teamfight Tactics. Good luck out there, and I expect to see you in the convergence!
