Teamfight Tactics: Everything you need to know (Rolling out now on mobile)

The auto-battler craze kicked off by the Dota 2 mod Auto Chess took the gaming world by surprise in 2019. It was just a matter of time before other companies tried to cash in on the phenomenon. Riot Games, the company behind the incredibly popular MOBA League of Legends, was one of the biggest companies to do so with a new strategy game called Teamfight Tactics (or TFT).

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Those familiar with the world and characters of League of Legends instantly recognize much of Teamfight Tactics, although actual gameplay couldn’t be further from Riot’s initial title. We’ve put together this guide that explains everything you need to know about Teamfight Tactics.

What is Teamfight Tactics?

Teamfight Tactics (or TFT) is a strategy game based in the world of League of Legends. Gameplay borrows heavily from Auto Chess, although there are a number of unique elements that differentiate it from the Dota 2 mod. However, the basic goal remains the same: Be the last player standing in an eight-way free-for-all battle.

Teamfight Tactics was released on Windows and MacOS on June 26, 2019. It’s slated for limited release on March 20, 2020 on Android and iOS.

What is the gameplay like?

Like other auto-battlers, gameplay in Teamfight Tactics is divided into rounds. Before each round, each player builds a team and places them strategically on hexagonal spaces of the battleground. Teams are built using coins or via a shared draft system, where each player takes turns selecting a champion from a collective pool.

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During each round, players are randomly matched against each other or AI opponents. Their teams battle automatically, with the loser taking damage for each remaining champion on the winning side. When a player’s health drops to zero, they are removed from the battlefield.

Throughout the match, players can also collect, upgrade, and equip items to champions to make them more powerful or give special attributes. There are also other strategies, like saving gold instead of spending it, which accrues interest.

How long are Teamfight Tactics matches?

Teamfight Tactics match length depends on how many rounds it takes to eliminate all but one player. Typically, each game takes 30-40 minutes, but slower matches can take 45 minutes or more.

How to play Teamfight Tactics

To play Teamfight Tactics on Windows or MacOS, all you need to do is download the League of Legends client and log into a free Riot account. From there, you can select TFT from the top menu, or create a new lobby via the Play button in the top left corner.

To play Teamfight Tactics on mobile phones, you need to download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store. There is no dedicated tablet build for the game, but it will work on Android tablets and iPads. Download the client when it becomes available via the links below, but please note that the game won’t release in Southeast Asia until Fall 2020.

Is it free?

Yes. Like League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics is free-to-play and supported by in-game purchases like Little Legends (avatars), arena skins, and booms (damage animations). These are all cosmetic and have no effect on gameplay.

Start with TFT: Galaxies on March 20, Teamfight Tactics also has a pass system similar to Fornite and others. Both the free and premium passes unlock cosmetic rewards, with the premium TFT Galaxies Pass Plus costing 1350 RP (roughly $10). The first season lasts about three months, finishing June 9, 2020.

The premium pass can be purchased on both the LoL PC client and mobile apps. However, the full store is only available on the PC client for now.

Does it have crossplay?

Yes. Teamfight Tactics features full crossplay and shared progression between the PC and mobile clients. You can log in to the same account on any device, but only one device can be logged in at a time.

That’s everything there is to know about the League of Legends spin-off Teamfight Tactics! Stay tuned for more TFT mobile guides coming soon.