With the final brush strokes applied to the “Inkborn Fables” season, Teamfight Tactics has announced its newest set, “Magic n’ Mayhem.” loaded up with new traits, new augments, and a new charm mechanic. Players have a lot to look forward to.
Champions
With a total of 58 champions, “Magic n’ Mayhem” is bringing a wide array of fan favorites to this season’s roster. Staples like Jinx return, and everyone’s favorite avatar of justice Morgana gets the upgrade from four gold to five, which comes with the unique Bat Queen trait that is visually cool, and potentially impactful to players’ games.
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But the biggest character appearance has to be the arrival of the portal-hopping Yordle Norra. Legends of Runeterra‘s long-time fans will recognize Yuumi’s owner, as she originally appeared in that game. Coming over to Teamfight Tactics, Norra brings her portals and furry friend to mix up players’ games. While Norra leans into this set portal trait, (more on that later) Yuumi’s function is similar to her other appearances.
Rather than function as a character on her own, Yuumi serves as an attachment for one of your other characters. She provides the chosen character healing and either an AD or AP buff depending on the attached character’s preference. Her casts and life span, however, are linked to Norra.
1 gold champions
- Ashe
- Blitzcrank
- Elise
- Jax
- Jayce
- Lilia
- Nomsy
- Poppy
- Seraphine
- Soraka
- Twitch
- Warwick
- Ziggs
- Zoe
2 gold champions
- Ahri
- Akali
- Cassiopeia
- Galio
- Kassadin
- Kog Maw
- Nilah
- Nunu
- Rumble
- Shyvana
- Syndra
- Tristana
- Zilean
3 gold champions
- Bard
- Ezreal
- Hecarim
- Hwei
- Jinx
- Katarina
- Mordekaiser
- Neeko
- Shen
- Swain
- Veigar
- Vex
- Wukong
4 gold champions
- Fiora
- Gwen
- Kalista
- Karma
- Nami
- Nasus
- Olaf
- Raka
- Ryze
- Tahm Kench
- Taric
- Varus
5 gold champions
- Briar
- Camille
- Diana
- Milio
- Norra & Yuumi
- Smolder
- Xerath
“Magic n’ Mayhem” is also changing how some champions play and the number of characters that will be available to players in games. Three champions, Galio, Wukong, and Elise have champion augments. Augments that work only for them and can elevate their roles in a player’s team.
Riot is also increasing the pool size for this set. More one, two, and three cost units will be available during games. This will allow more players to chase after traits and team configurations.
Traits
As with each new set, “Magic n’ Mayhem” brings a new collection of traits for players to experiment with. This set brings a wide range of traits for players, creating what seems like an interesting balance for players to master. Below are quick summaries of each of the traits featured.
- Arcana: When the arcana trait is active the player assigns one of his arcana units to be the High Arcana. The buff granted by the trait is determined by who is made High Arcana.
- Chrono: When combat begins a 16-second timer starts. Whenever a Chrono unit casts, it takes a second off. Each time the timer finishes an effect triggers. Effects range from healing to freezing time for non-chrono units.
- Dragon: Dragon characters’ attacks and abilities burn and wound opponents. The Dragon trait also boosts all Dragon character abilities.
- Druid: The druid doesn’t gain a trait bonus but has increased stats and a powerful ability.
- Eldritch: When your team has lost 20% of their health an old god is summoned. The star level among Eldritch characters increases the old god’s health and ability power.
- Fairie: Grants a health buff to fairies and allows the player to give a fairie the fairie crown. The crown grants a damaged amp.
- Frost: The first enemies slain are turned into ice soldiers. Enemies within range will prioritize attacking ice soldiers. Frost characters also gain ability power and attack damage.
- Honeymancer: Honeymancershave bees with them that deal magic damage to enemies. When a honeymancer dies, one of their bees will attach to another Honeymancer. (Personally, my favorite trait. Not only is it good, but the bee designs are adorable. Nunu riding a bee-themed Willump is just too perfect.)
- Portal: Creates a portal that sends junk periodically flying onto the battlefield, helping allies and hindering foes. Also grants a shield at the start of combat to all portal heroes.
- Pyro: Pryo characters gain attack speed and execute enemies under 15% health.
- Ravenous: Briar’s unique trait, makes the unit deal more damage for each health you are missing.
- Relic: Milio has a chance to convert a temporary relic into a permanent one. (This plays into the season’s new mechanic. More on that later.)
- Sugarcraft: After each combat, Sugarcrafters generate sugar for each item component equipped for your team. This helps them bake a cake of up to 10 layers, gaining AP and Ad with each layer. When the cake is complete, they gain a special treat for every 150 sugar gained for the rest of the game.
- Ascendant: Xerath’s unique trait causes Ascendent Zaps to show up in the shop.
- Bastion: Your characters gain armor and magic resistance, while Bastion characters gain more. Also, non-Bastion characters can’t be targeted at the max level until four Bastion characters are killed.
- Bat Queen: Morgana’s unique trait summons a flock of bats. When they kill an opponent, the player has a chance to gain a one-star version of that character on their bench or a copy of an item component they had.
- Blaster: Blasters gain bonus damage which increases temporarily after casting their ability.
- Explorer: Norra’s unique trait that grants her Yuumi.
- Hunter: Hunters gain attack damage that increases the first time they get a takedown each game.
- Incantor: Your team gains 10 Ability power and Incantors gain stacks of ability power when they attack and use their abilities to a max of 20.
- Mage: Mages echo their abilities and have modified ability power.
- Multistriker: Multistrikers have a chance to hit two additional times when they attack. The chance improves with more Multistrikers.
- Preserver: Your team heals for a percent of their maximum health. If fully healed, they gain mana instead. Preservers gain double.
- Scholar: Scholars gain bonus mana when they attack.
- Shapeshifter: Shapeshifters gain bonus max health which triples in effect after their first ability cast.
- Vanguard: Vanguard gains a shield at the start of combat and at 50% health. They also take 10% less damage while shielded.
- Warrior: Warriors gain omnivamp and bonus damage. When below 40% health, the damage is doubled.
While I didn’t get a chance to test every keyword thoroughly, what I got to play showed a lot of potential. Pairing the right keywords together seems to have a lot of reward potential, making the reward for learning the intricacies of the set high.
New Set Mechanic: Charms
Charms are magic effects that appear in the right-hand slot of your shop. Appearing every other reroll, charms have a wide range of effects that can cost from zero to upwards of twenty gold. Everything from gaining temporary items, refilling the shop with certain costs of units, and more are available through them. However, you can only purchase one charm power round. So whether you want to pick up that free charm in your initial shop offering or reroll for something better has to be considered carefully.
I love the charm mechanic. It provides lots of sudden quick decisions that can have a significant impact on a round. It also feels like they will be great for helping players get that little nudge to finish a game one spot higher than they otherwise would. Getting a timely charm could be the make or break when you are close to elimination. It also feels like it will craft more tension in the late game, as an opponent that has beaten you twice in quick succession has more to worry about when going back into a new round.
Augments
Not only is “Magic n’ Mayhem” bringing 125 new augments to players’ TFT matches, but it is also introducing high-stakes augments. These augments introduce a risk versus rewards element to their effects. This gives players who enjoy a risky strategy a way to play the game their way without being tied down to a single trait that proves this play style.
New Cosmetics
Like previous sets, “Magic n’ Mayhem” will offer players a slew of ways to make their play experience visually their own. Miss Fortune makes her way to the chibi line of tiny tacticians, along with an adorable Battle Bunny variant. Chibi Galaxay Slayer Zed and Chibi Prestige Cafe Cutie Gwen also arrive this season. This season’s big arena cosmetic pairs nicely with Gwen’s new look as it leans into the cafe aesthetic as well.
The upcoming season pass highlights include an Apprentice Sprite and a Vampire Lumie tiny tactician as well as an Enchanted Archives arena that sports a magical aura thanks to its wonderful design and excellent color palate.
These are the game mechanics and cosmetic highlights players can look forward to in “Magic n’ Mayhem.” After playing a few games with the new set, I’m excited for it to drop. There are some cool synergies between traits, and the expanded pool sizes will make the game funnier for more players.
Good luck with all your rerolls!!
