Patch 18.4 in short: Patch 18.4 is a large balance patch. It reworks several traits, lifts many one-cost and two-cost units, and trims a few strong Emblem-based and tank-heavy plans. Expect more reroll options and less reliance on the most dominant boards.
Based on Teamfight Tactics patch 18.4 by Riot Games, published 6 October 2026.
Riot describes this as a big swing rather than a routine tweak. The notes say most comps had settled into clear lines, so the team targeted trait power, weak cheap units and the strongest strategies all at once. The goal is more varied boards. For players, this matters now because the early game and the trait choices you made last patch may no longer be the best path. Riot also plans a smaller follow-up, 18.5, for detailed tuning, so the figures here are a first draft of the new meta.
Trait changes reshape the Emblem-heavy boards
The trait work is the core of this patch. The notes say some deep vertical Origins were not meeting their power bar, while a few vertical Classes were giving too much combat power and producing strong Emblems. Elderwood shows the balance in one place. The seven-unit Deepwood Protector gets a sturdier body, with Mana moving from 20/70 to 20/60 and Resists from 65 to 70. The nine-unit version's health multiplier for growing plants falls from 155% to 140%. This probably means Elderwood stays a frontline plan but leans less on its Emblem, whose Resists drop from 35 to 25.
Coven gets the opposite treatment. Riot calls its cashout at 130 essence too consistent and safe for a cashout trait, so several rewards shrink. Two Components become one Component plus six gold, and the Elise and Cassio option trades down to one Component plus a two-star Elise. Sprykin's seven-unit form rises from 45% HP and 45% AS to 55% for both, which helps every Sprykin on the board. Eclipse executes arrive sooner, with the initial delay cut from 10s to 8s. Blossom's damage ratios also climb, from 12/30/45/50% to 12/30/50/55%.
Cheap units get the biggest lift
Most of the one-cost and two-cost work is buffs, aimed at making more reroll lines viable. Camille's three-star damage moves from 375 to 400 AD, and her four-star form from 640 to 665 AD. Varus gets a lower Mana cost, from 30/120 to 20/110, plus faster attacks, with Attack Speed rising from .7% to .75%. Veigar is the clear exception: his ability damage drops from 200/300/450/765 to 190/285/430/725. Riot says he should still succeed with strong starts and specific Artifacts, but the bar is higher. Taken together, this suggests Veigar's reroll line becomes less automatic.
Two-cost units receive the broadest help. Alistar's spell damage roughly jumps, going from 100/150/225 AP to 180/270/420 AP, and his heal goes from 200/260/320 AP to 230/300/400 AP. Warwick's spell damage moves from 215/325/500 AD to 230/345/535 AD, and his healing from 20% to 25%. Gromp's AD form loses its Mana cost, from 20/80 to 0/70, while its AP form splash rises to 435 at three stars. Teemo's third-star AOE jumps from 130 to 155, and his fourth-star value from 215 to 240. Expect these units to appear in more boards, especially where they were previously skipped.
Nerfs, economy and Wisps trim the edges
Several strong units lose a little. Ashe gets a real consistency change: her arrow now refunds 70% Mana if it hits no enemies, but her percent health damage drops from 2/3% to 1.5%. Kennen's shield AP ratio falls from 250/350 AP to 230/300 AP, which probably makes him less durable when the enemy backline burns. Ivern's Greenfather hexes lose Damage Amp, from 8/12% to 6/10%, and the Rock hexes gain Resists. Crownguard's bonus AP on shield expiry drops from 25 to 20. Spirit Visage gets a durability increase, from 8% to 10%, which probably makes it more useful as a flexible tank.
The economy and Wisps shift too. Search Party's cost falls from 3/1g to 1/0g, while Three Me rises from 9g to 10g. The notes also remove high-risk Wisps when you are low on HP, and add zero-cost Wisps for players with under 10 gold. Heart of Steel is temporarily disabled to address a bug. Lux's Solar bonus now starts at 15% and adds 12% for each unique three-star champion, which probably makes her the top damage Lux variant.
Who benefits
- Camille, one-cost reroll boards: Her three-star damage rises from 375 to 400 AD and her four-star form from 640 to 665 AD, so her hits land harder when they connect.
- Alistar, two-cost frontline and healing plans: Spell damage moves from 100/150/225 AP to 180/270/420 AP and healing from 200/260/320 AP to 230/300/400 AP, a large lift for a two-cost.
- Elderwood at seven units: Deepwood Protector gains Resists, rising from 65 to 70, and its Mana cost drops from 70 to 60 at the second breakpoint, making the trait more playable without its Emblem.
- Solar Lux builds: The new Solar bonus gives 15% bonus damage plus 12% per unique three-star champion, which probably makes her the highest damage Lux variant.
Who loses
- Veigar reroll players: His ability damage falls at every star, from 200/300/450/765 to 190/285/430/725, so early reroll starts need more luck or the right Artifacts.
- Elderwood Emblem builds: The Emblem's Resists fall from 35 to 25, which probably trims the value of stacking the Emblem onto Elderwood boards.
- Ivern mushroom and Rock hex players: Damage Amp on the Greenfather hexes drops from 8/12% to 6/10%, while the Rock hexes now lean toward defence instead of damage.
- Kennen frontline plans: His shield ratio drops from 250/350 AP to 230/300 AP, so the shield absorbs less when the fight turns on him.
What to do about it
- Try Camille or Alistar on reroll boards before committing to a slower plan.: Both received large numerical lifts, so the notes suggest they will show up more often and reward early investment.
- Be cautious with Coven cashouts that depend on the old rewards.: The cashout is now lower value, so a plan built around its previous return will likely pay less.
- Reduce your reliance on Elderwood and other Emblem-linked boards.: The Elderwood Emblem's Resists drop to 25, and the notes say Emblem-linked strategies are a target of this patch.
- Value Spirit Visage more on tanks when you have the choice.: Its durability rises from 8% to 10%, which probably makes it a stronger flexible option than before.
- Plan your low-gold rounds with the new Wisp options in mind.: Search Party now costs 1/0g and the zero-cost Wisps appear under 10 gold, so you can no longer rely on one repeated Wisp pick.
- Test Lux in Solar comps when you have several three-star champions.: Her bonus rises by 12% for each unique three-star champion, so the value grows with your board's variety.
Key numbers at a glance
| What | Change | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Combat Arrival and Combat Departure phases | 1 second each | Each fight loses a second at both ends, which adds up over a long game. |
| Blossom AD/AP | from 12/30/45/50% to 12/30/50/55% | Upper breakpoints rise, making deeper Blossom builds more rewarding. |
| Coven cashout | from 2x Components to 1x Component + 6 gold | The early Coven payoff is smaller, reducing the value of a safe cashout. |
| Eclipse execution | Initial Delay before execution from 10s to 8s | Executes start sooner, so the trait has a better chance to matter mid-fight. |
| Elderwood Emblem | Resists from 35 to 25 | The Emblem gives less defence to its carrier. |
| Camille | Damage AD from 150/225/375/640 to 150/225/400/665 | Her higher stars hit harder when they connect. |
| Alistar | Spell Damage from 100/150/225 AP to 180/270/420 AP | A large jump that turns him into a real damage threat at two cost. |
| Ashe | Percent Health Damage from 2/3% to 1.5% | Her health-based damage falls, while her mana refund on a missed arrow is new. |
| Ivern Greenfather hexes | Damage Amp from 8/12% to 6/10% | Mushroom hexes lose some of their damage multiplier. |
| Lux Solar bonus | 15% bonus damage, plus 12% per unique three-star champion | Solar Lux gains a clearer payoff as your board of three-stars grows. |
| Trait Ladder | 4 Trait Cashout Gold Granted from 6 to 5 | Smaller gold payouts on several cashouts, with the notes citing poor low-lobby results. |
| Search Party Wisp | Cost from 3/1g to 1/0g | This Wisp becomes almost free, which may encourage more of it in low-gold rounds. |
What we are unsure about
- The notes give Camille's four-star damage in one list but do not restate every form consistently, so check the in-game numbers before you rely on them.
- Riot says the mid-patch rollout starts on PC with mobile to follow, but the notes do not say whether mobile values or timing will differ.
- The Trait Ladder placement figures come from Riot's own data, and we cannot check how the changes will move them until new games are played.
How this article was made
This is an original analysis of the official notes, written with AI assistance and checked automatically: every number in it appears in the official text, and copy overlap with it is capped. We do not play-test patches ourselves. Found a mistake? Tell us and we will correct it. How we work: editorial policy.
Frequently asked questions
Is patch 18.4 a small patch?
No. Riot calls it a big swing, with trait changes, many cheap-unit buffs and several nerfs to dominant plans. Patch 18.5 is planned as a smaller follow-up for detailed tuning.
Should I still play Elderwood after this patch?
Probably yes, especially the seven-unit version, which gains Resists and a lower Mana cost. The Elderwood Emblem is weaker, so you may want to build the trait without leaning on it as heavily.
Which cheap units should I try first?
Camille and Alistar both received large numerical buffs. Veigar is weaker, so treat him as a harder reroll line than before.
