TFT patch 18.5 is a smaller, more focused follow-up to the major 18.4 update, with nerfs to Azir's strongest Blackthorn setup, buffs for underperforming AP carries, Fae improvements, changes to Radiant items, a large Augment balance pass, and another round of Wisp adjustments.
The biggest changes target Azir, Kha'Zix, Blackthorn, Elderwood (9), Flora Fatalis, Rapidfire, and Riftbeast (7), while Caitlyn, Master Yi, Tristana, Brambleback, Malphite, Morgana, Sett, Soraka, Alune, Ashe, and Taric gain power. TFT patch 18.5 also introduces new Pandora's Items Augment variants, changes how Wisp filtering works, brings back the Halloween Choncc or Treat mode, fixes numerous gameplay issues, and restores another batch of converted cosmetics.
What matters most in TFT patch 18.5
Riot's official Teamfight Tactics patch 18.5 notes position this update as cleanup after the much larger 18.4 balance pass. The focus is narrower: bring down the strongest Azir line, give more AP carries a realistic path into the meta, correct changes that did not land as intended, and reduce some of the economy and Wisp optimization that had become too efficient.
| Patch area | Main change | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Azir comps | Blackthorn, Flora Fatalis, and Azir are all nerfed | The strongest super-tank Azir setup loses power from several directions at once. |
| AP carries | Master Yi, Morgana, Sett, Soraka, Alune, and Taric gain power | Riot wants more viable AP lines instead of Azir and Kha'Zix dominating that space. |
| Fae | More healing and earlier late Golden Pixies | The trait gets a second attempt at the buff that was too conservative in 18.4. |
| Reroll | Caitlyn and Tristana are buffed | More mid-cost carry lines become attractive from the right opener. |
| Radiant items | Radiant Adaptive Helm and Blue Buff are nerfed | Two high-end AP options lose part of their generic power. |
| Augments | Many economy rewards are reduced while weaker combat options improve | Augment power becomes less concentrated in free gold and high-roll economy. |
| Wisps | Filtering is harder to manipulate, Abandon Ship gains a cost, and Hand of Baron loses stats | Wisp decisions depend less on last-second bench and board optimization. |
| Choncc or Treat | Halloween version of Choncc's Treasure | The limited mode adds themed encounters, including Avatar Lux starts. |
| Cosmetics | 52 converted cosmetics return | More previously unavailable content is restored after TFT's client transition. |
For more Enchanted Wilds coverage, visit RiftDaily's TFT hub, follow the latest Teamfight Tactics news, compare updates in the patch notes archive, and check TFT updates for follow-up balance changes.
TFT patch 18.5 release and balance direction
TFT patch 18.5 arrived in October 2026 as the focused follow-up to patch 18.4. Riot deliberately kept the scope smaller, using the update to correct a few power outliers and strengthen AP lines that were still struggling after the previous patch.
Azir is the clearest target. The strongest Azir composition was combining optimized Blackthorn sacrifices with Flora Fatalis healing and an extremely powerful carry. Rather than hitting only Azir, TFT patch 18.5 reduces several parts of that board at once.
The other major theme is AP diversity. Morgana receives more curse damage, Soraka's stars hit harder, AP Master Yi improves, Sett heals more from AP, Alune becomes a better item holder, and Taric gets both more resistances and substantially better AP scaling on his empowered attacks.
The TFT Patch 18.5 Rundown provides a useful overview before getting into every number, especially because some of the changes are better understood as compensation packages rather than simple buffs or nerfs.
The practical takeaway is that TFT patch 18.5 does not reset the Enchanted Wilds meta. It refines it. Several established boards remain intact, but their relative power changes enough that AP carry selection, reroll opportunities, vertical traits, and Augment decisions deserve another look.
Choncc or Treat brings a Halloween version of Choncc's Treasure
TFT patch 18.5 also introduced Choncc or Treat, a Halloween-themed version of Choncc's Treasure. Riot scheduled the limited mode through November 17, 2026.
The mode adds new themed encounters rather than simply reskinning the existing experience. One example has every player begin with a unique Avatar Lux, creating lobbies that immediately play differently from standard Enchanted Wilds.
Choncc or Treat sits outside the main ranked balance changes, but it is still a meaningful part of the 18.5 patch notes for players looking for a more chaotic alternative to normal TFT.
Trait changes in TFT patch 18.5
The trait changes in TFT patch 18.5 are mostly nerfs. Riot is specifically trimming some of the strongest late-game and Emblem-supported lines while giving Fae a larger buff after the previous patch did not move the trait enough.
| Trait | Direction | TFT patch 18.5 change | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackthorn | Nerf | Lower six-unit bonus and weaker base AP sacrifice | Directly reduces the strongest Azir setup. |
| Elderwood (9) | Nerf | Less bonus Health on the summon | The highest vertical becomes less automatic when fully assembled. |
| Fae | Buff | More healing and earlier later Pixies | Rakan and Lillia benefit while the economy curve becomes smoother. |
| Flora Fatalis | Nerf | Less maximum-Health healing | Super-tanks such as Rammus are easier to break through. |
| Rapidfire | Nerf | Lower Attack Speed scaling at the top breakpoints | Vertical Rapidfire with an Emblem loses some of its ceiling. |
| Riftbeast (7) | Nerf | AD/AP scaling falls from 6% to 5% | The full vertical is brought back in line after becoming viable from several angles. |
Blackthorn
- Blackthorn (6) Enhanced Bonus: 60% ⇒ 50%.
- Base AP Sacrifice: 12% Damage Amp + 2 Mana Regen ⇒ 10% Damage Amp + 2 Mana Regen.
Blackthorn is one of three separate hits to the dominant Azir setup. The six-unit enhanced bonus loses 10 percentage points, while sacrificing an AP unit grants two fewer points of Damage Amp. Mana Regen remains unchanged.
The nerf is deliberately only part of the solution. Azir himself and Flora Fatalis are also weaker in TFT patch 18.5, so the combined effect is larger than the Blackthorn numbers suggest on their own.
Elderwood (9)
- Summon Bonus Health: 140% ⇒ 125%.
Elderwood (9) had become close to an automatic win once players assembled the required Emblems and upgraded board. The summon now gains less bonus Health, giving opposing capped boards a more realistic chance to break through it.
Fae
- Fae (2/4) Heal: 2.5/4% ⇒ 3/5%.
- 4th Pixie Threshold: 30,000 ⇒ 25,000.
- 5th Pixie Threshold: 70,000 ⇒ 60,000.
- 6th Pixie Threshold: 110,000 ⇒ 100,000.
Riot considered the Fae buff in patch 18.4 too conservative, so TFT patch 18.5 gives the trait another push. Healing improves at both breakpoints, which is particularly useful for champions such as Rakan and Lillia.
The later Golden Pixies also arrive sooner. Lowering the fourth, fifth, and sixth thresholds smooths the trait's economy progression instead of leaving long gaps between rewards.
Flora Fatalis
- Maximum-Health Healing: 8% ⇒ 7%.
Flora Fatalis healing has been particularly effective on super-tanks, where repeated percentage-Health recovery can make the frontline barely move. Dropping the value from 8% to 7% is another targeted hit to Rammus and Azir-style boards without removing the trait's core sustain identity.
Rapidfire
- Attack Speed per attack: 3/5/8/12% ⇒ 3/5/7/10%.
The first two Rapidfire breakpoints remain unchanged. Only the upper vertical loses power, with seven-unit scaling dropping from 8% to 7% and the highest breakpoint falling from 12% to 10% Attack Speed per attack.
This specifically targets high-end Rapidfire boards, especially when an Emblem makes the vertical easier to complete.
Riftbeast (7)
- AD/AP: 6% ⇒ 5%.
Patch 18.4 helped Riftbeast become playable from more starting positions, but Riot felt the full seven-unit board moved slightly too far. TFT patch 18.5 removes one percentage point of its AD and AP scaling to keep the late-game vertical closer to competing strategies.
2-cost unit changes in TFT patch 18.5
There are no 1-cost champion changes in TFT patch 18.5. Caitlyn is the only 2-cost directly adjusted, receiving a straightforward damage buff intended to give her more reroll homes outside the narrow situations where she was already succeeding.
Caitlyn
- Empowered Auto Damage: 190/285/470 AD ⇒ 200/300/490 AD.
Caitlyn's empowered attack gains damage at every star level. Riot specifically wants her to find more homes as a reroll carry that can make strong use of Guinsoo's Rageblade rather than being tied too closely to a small number of Juggernaut setups.
3-cost unit changes in TFT patch 18.5
The 3-cost tier contains some of the most important changes in the entire patch. Azir and Kha'Zix are nerfed, Mama Beak receives a bug fix with compensation, and both forms of Master Yi improve. Tristana receives one of the clearest carry buffs in the 18.5 patch notes.
| Unit | TFT patch 18.5 change | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Azir | Ability Damage: 46/69/110 AP ⇒ 43/65/105 AP | Nerf |
| Kha'Zix | Unisolated Damage: 255/360/515 AP ⇒ 250/345/500 AP | Nerf |
| Kha'Zix | Isolated Damage: 285/410/605 AP ⇒ 280/390/590 AP | Nerf |
| Mama Beak | Mana lock ends about 1 second sooner | Buff |
| Mama Beak | Ability Damage: 22/33/52 AD ⇒ 20/30/50 AD | Compensation nerf |
| Master Yi AD | Starting Attack Damage: 60 ⇒ 63 | Buff |
| Master Yi AP | Ability Damage: 125/190/285 AP ⇒ 135/200/320 AP | Buff |
| Tristana | Mana: 0/60 ⇒ 0/50 | Buff |
| Tristana | Damage per Attack: 10/15/25 AD ⇒ 12/18/28 AD | Buff |
Azir
Azir receives a direct damage nerf on top of the Blackthorn and Flora Fatalis changes affecting his most successful board. Ability damage falls from 46/69/110 AP to 43/65/105 AP.
The number is deliberately modest in isolation because TFT patch 18.5 is attacking the composition from three different angles. Players should evaluate Azir after considering all three nerfs together rather than only looking at the spell ratio.
Kha'Zix
Kha'Zix loses damage against both isolated and non-isolated targets. His two-star isolated hit falls from 410 to 390 AP, while the three-star value drops from 605 to 590.
The reduction is aimed at keeping Kha'Zix from remaining the automatic alternative when Riot is simultaneously trying to open more AP carry lines.
Mama Beak
Mama Beak gets a functional buff through a Mana lock fix. Her Mana lock now ends when the Tiny Beaks begin disappearing rather than when they finish, reducing the lockout by roughly one second.
Riot compensates by reducing ability damage from 22/33/52 AD to 20/30/50 AD. The expectation is still a small net buff because getting back to the next cast sooner is more important than the lost damage.
Master Yi
Both Master Yi forms gain power. AD Master Yi starts with 63 Attack Damage instead of 60, while AP Master Yi's spell rises from 125/190/285 AP to 135/200/320 AP.
The AP buff is particularly relevant to Riot's stated goal for TFT patch 18.5. Three-star AP Master Yi gains 35 points on the listed ratio, giving another reroll AP line a stronger late-game payoff.
Tristana
- Mana: 0/60 ⇒ 0/50.
- Ability Damage per Attack: 10/15/25 AD ⇒ 12/18/28 AD.
Tristana gets both more frequent casts and more damage from each attack during her ability. That combination makes her one of the most obvious champions to retest after the patch, especially when her traits and items come together naturally.
4-cost unit changes in TFT patch 18.5
The 4-cost section is where Riot does most of its work on AP diversity. Brambleback, Malphite, Morgana, Sett, and Soraka all improve. Sentinel and Sivir are adjusted rather than receiving clean buffs, with power moving between different parts of their abilities.
| Unit | TFT patch 18.5 change | Practical read |
|---|---|---|
| Brambleback | Alpha Mark Heal: 4% ⇒ 5% | More sustain while marked. |
| Brambleback | Armor Ignore: 20% + 25% AP ⇒ 25% + 25% AP | Better baseline armor penetration. |
| Malphite | Shield: 700/850 AP ⇒ 735/885 AP | General tank buff after Flora Fatalis is nerfed. |
| Morgana | Initial Curse Damage: 60/90 AP ⇒ 70/105 AP | Better frontline damage. |
| Morgana | Curse Bonus Damage: 22/33 AP ⇒ 25/38 AP | Stronger repeated curse damage. |
| Sentinel | Stun Duration: 1s ⇒ 0.5s | Less free utility when unitemized. |
| Sentinel | Shield: 350/450 AP ⇒ 375/475 AP | Better AP scaling when itemized. |
| Sett | Heal: 225/275 AP ⇒ 250/300 AP | More sustain, especially with Blossom AP. |
| Sivir | Ability Damage: 200/300 AD ⇒ 220/330 AD | Stronger primary hit. |
| Sivir | Bounce Damage: 20% ⇒ 18% of initial | Less secondary spread damage. |
| Soraka | Initial Star Damage: 225/335 AP ⇒ 235/355 AP | Stronger first hit. |
| Soraka | Additional Star Damage: 100/150 AP ⇒ 110/165 AP | Higher follow-up damage. |
Brambleback and Malphite
Brambleback's Alpha Mark healing rises from 4% to 5%, while baseline Armor Ignore increases from 20% to 25% before AP scaling. Both changes improve his ability to stay in extended fights and work through armored targets.
Malphite's shield rises from 700/850 AP to 735/885 AP. Flora Fatalis is weaker in the same patch, so Riot has room to give Malphite more personal durability without recreating the same super-tank ceiling.
Morgana
Morgana has been effective at spreading utility and chipping backliners, but her damage could stall against strong frontlines. TFT patch 18.5 raises initial curse damage to 70/105 AP and bonus curse damage to 25/38 AP.
The improvement is concentrated on her primary curse targets, giving Morgana a better chance to actually work through tanks instead of depending on the rest of the board to open a path.
Sentinel
Sentinel's one-second stun is cut to 0.5 seconds, but the shield rises from 350/450 AP to 375/475 AP. Riot describes the result as a slight overall nerf for unitemized Sentinel and a better result for players investing AP items.
That makes the unit less universally valuable as a utility splash while creating more reward for actually building around its scaling.
Sett and Sivir
Sett's healing increases from 225/275 AP to 250/300 AP. It is a small numerical change on a normal board, but vertical Blossom supplies additional AP and therefore amplifies the benefit.
Sivir gets more damage on the main target, rising from 200/300 AD to 220/330 AD. Her bounces fall from 20% to 18% of the initial hit. The change concentrates more power on the first target rather than spreading as much of it across the board.
Soraka
Soraka is one of the clearest AP carry buffs in Teamfight Tactics patch 18.5. Her initial star rises from 225/335 AP to 235/355 AP, while each additional star increases from 100/150 AP to 110/165 AP.
Unlike a utility-only adjustment, both parts of her damaging spell get stronger. Riot's goal is for Soraka to become a viable primary carry rather than merely an AP unit that fills out a composition.
5-cost unit changes in TFT patch 18.5
All three 5-cost champions changed in TFT patch 18.5 become more attractive to itemize. Alune gains damage and Attack Speed at the cost of some passive durability, Ashe receives more damage over time, and Taric gets a substantial tank and AP scaling buff.
| 5-cost | Change | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Alune | Moonshard Damage: 55/83 AP ⇒ 58/88 AP | Buff |
| Alune | Attack Speed: 0.80 ⇒ 0.85 | Buff |
| Alune | Attuned Durability: 7% ⇒ 5% | Nerf |
| Ashe | DoT Damage: 9/14 AD ⇒ 11/16 AD | Buff |
| Taric | Resists: 65 ⇒ 70 | Buff |
| Taric | Empowered two-attack Damage: 100/150 AP ⇒ 130/200 AP | Major buff |
Alune
Alune was already useful, but putting full items on her did not change fights enough. Riot is making the itemized version more threatening by raising Moonshard damage and base Attack Speed while reducing Attuned Durability from 7% to 5%.
The result is a more offensive Alune who gets greater value from carry items but is slightly easier to punish when exposed.
Ashe
Patch 18.4 went too far in reducing Ashe's free damage, so TFT patch 18.5 restores some power specifically through her AD scaling. Damage over time increases from 9/14 AD to 11/16 AD.
This makes Attack Damage items more valuable and also improves Ashe's interaction with the bonus AD available from deeper Blossom boards.
Taric
Taric receives one of the most substantial legendary buffs. His Armor and Magic Resist rise from 65 to 70, while the AP ratio on his and his partner's two empowered attacks jumps from 100/150 AP to 130/200 AP.
Riot wants Taric to feel more like a 5-cost that can justify real items rather than a generic tank added only for traits. The combination of higher defenses and much stronger AP scaling gives him a clearer legendary fantasy.
Radiant item changes in TFT patch 18.5
Only two Radiant items receive direct balance changes, and both are nerfs.
| Radiant item | Previous value | TFT patch 18.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Helm Mana Regen | 7 | 6 |
| Adaptive Helm AD/AP for non-Tank/Fighter roles | 40 | 35 |
| Blue Buff base AD/AP | 30% | 25% |
Radiant Adaptive Helm loses one point of Mana Regen and five AD/AP on roles other than Tank and Fighter. Radiant Blue Buff loses five percentage points of base AD/AP.
Both changes lower the amount of generic offensive power available from premium AP items while Riot simultaneously improves several champions directly.
Augment changes in TFT patch 18.5
Augments receive the longest balance section in the TFT patch 18.5 notes. Riot is reducing several easy sources of economy, buffing weaker combat options, improving offer tailoring for AD and AP boards, introducing two new Pandora's Items variants, and temporarily disabling Heart of Steel again because of a bug.
Augment offers also become more context-aware. Options that specifically benefit AD compositions are less likely when a player is clearly leaning AP, and AP-specific Augments become less likely on AD-heavy boards.
| Augment | TFT patch 18.5 change | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze for Life II | Resists per Trait: 3% ⇒ 2.5% | Nerf |
| Build-A-Bud | Gold Granted: 6 ⇒ 9 | Buff |
| Challenger's Grace | Attack Speed: 25% ⇒ 30% | Buff |
| Cooking Pot | HP per Emblem: 60 ⇒ 70 | Buff |
| Consuming Flora | Bonus Effectiveness: 50% ⇒ 70% | Buff |
| Cry Me a River | Mana Regen Bonus: 4 ⇒ 3 | Nerf |
| Dark Ritual | Lower AP at early and mid cashouts | Nerf |
| Embiggen | Base AD/AP: 10% ⇒ 18% | Buff |
| Expected Unexpectedness | Lower Stage 3 and Stage 4 rewards | Nerf |
| Flowing Tears | Mana threshold: 6500 ⇒ 7000 | Nerf |
| Heart of Steel | Re-disabled because of a bug | Disabled |
| Investment Strategy I | Initial Gold: 6 ⇒ 3 | Nerf |
| Investment Strategy II | Initial Gold: 10 ⇒ 6 | Nerf |
| Malicious Monetization | Initial Gold: 4 ⇒ 6 | Buff |
| Nesting Anvils | Gold: 4 ⇒ 6 | Buff |
| Omega Riftbeast | Bonus HP and Attack Speed: 10% ⇒ 8% | Nerf |
| Pandora's Bench | Gold: 4 ⇒ 1 | Nerf |
| Pandora's Items II | Gold: 4 ⇒ 1 | Nerf |
| Patience is a Virtue | Initial Rerolls: 4 ⇒ 5 | Buff |
| Prismatic Destiny | Gold: 4 ⇒ 2 | Nerf |
| Promised Protection | HP: 200 ⇒ 175 | Nerf |
| Seraphim's Staff | AP Threshold: 90% ⇒ 110% | Nerf |
Cooking Pot and Consuming Flora
Cooking Pot gains more Health per Emblem, rising from 60 to 70. It is also excluded from appearing alongside Coronation, Spreading Roots+, and The Trait Tree+ so players cannot stack too many Emblem-based rewards together.
Consuming Flora's bonus effectiveness rises from 50% to 70%. Because Flora Fatalis itself is weaker in TFT patch 18.5, Riot has room to make the trait-specific Augment more rewarding without restoring the same baseline super-tank strength.
Dark Ritual
Dark Ritual remains playable, but several of its lower and middle AP rewards are reduced.
| Dark Ritual AP sequence | Before | TFT patch 18.5 |
|---|---|---|
| All listed rewards | 7/12/33/50/100/175/300/400 | 5/10/28/45/85/175/300/400 |
The highest three values remain unchanged. Riot is mainly reducing the earlier power that enabled super-tank Elise strategies to get too far ahead of comparable defensive lines.
Expected Unexpectedness
- Stage 3 Gold: 18 ⇒ 15.
- Stage 4 Gold: 20 ⇒ 18.
- Stage 4 5-costs: 3 ⇒ 2.
- The 5-cost roll reward now also grants 3 gold.
Four-costs are already powerful in Enchanted Wilds, and scaling 5-costs can convert a strong economy into an overwhelming late game. Expected Unexpectedness therefore loses resources at several outcomes, although the 5-cost result gains three gold as partial compensation.
Pandora's Items II+, Pandora's Items II++, and economy nerfs
Standard Pandora's Items II now grants only one gold instead of four, but TFT patch 18.5 adds two stage-specific variants.
- Pandora's Items II+: Appears on Stage 3-2 and grants 4 gold.
- Pandora's Items II++: Appears on Stage 4-2 and grants 6 gold.
- Pandora's Items Augments are mutually excluded from each other.
Pandora's Bench also falls from four gold to one, Investment Strategy I drops from six starting gold to three, Investment Strategy II falls from ten to six, and Prismatic Destiny drops from four gold to two.
The pattern is consistent: Riot is trying to make the core effect of these Augments matter more than the free economy attached to selecting them.
Other Augment changes
- Electrocharge II: Fixed to deal its intended damage.
- Item Extraction: No longer grants a Veigar.
- Omega Riftbeast: Bonus Health and Attack Speed fall from 10% to 8%.
- U.R.F: Now excluded from Coronation, Spreading Roots, Spreading Roots+, The Trait Tree, and The Trait Tree+.
- We Stick Together: The offer-tailoring changes from patch 18.3 now work correctly, and the tooltip is clearer.
Wisp changes in TFT patch 18.5
Riot is making Wisp optimization less dependent on rapid bench manipulation and hidden filtering knowledge. TFT patch 18.5 still allows players to optimize offers, but the process is less sensitive to moving units around immediately before a shop appears.
Wisp filtering changes
- Wisps that filter by the number of itemized champions now count benched champions too.
- Wisps that check specific champion roles now use the last combat instead of the current board.
Previously, players with enough knowledge and actions per minute could rearrange their board and bench specifically to influence which Wisps appeared. The new logic reduces the value of that last-second manipulation.
Abandon Ship and Beggar's Wisp
- Abandon Ship Cost: 0 gold ⇒ 2 gold.
- Beggar's Wisp Gold: 3/5 ⇒ 2/3 gold.
Abandon Ship was too easy to force when it cost nothing, especially once players understood its filtering conditions. Adding a two-gold cost gives the effect a real opportunity cost.
Beggar's Wisp also produces less economy, reducing both listed gold payouts.
Blood and Iron, Hand of Baron, and Heroic Sacrifice
| Wisp | TFT patch 18.5 change |
|---|---|
| Blood and Iron | Cost: 3 gold due to a bug ⇒ 4 gold |
| Hand of Baron | Cost: 6 gold ⇒ 4 gold |
| Hand of Baron | HP: 33/55 ⇒ 22/33 |
| Hand of Baron | Resists, AD, AP, AS, Omnivamp, Durability, Damage Amp: 3/5% ⇒ 2/3% |
| Hand of Baron | Crit Chance: 10/15% ⇒ 6/8% |
| Heroic Sacrifice | Bonus Health: 1200/1500 ⇒ 1000/1250 |
Hand of Baron becomes cheaper, but every stat it grants is significantly lower. Riot considered the old version too powerful even at six gold, so TFT patch 18.5 turns it into a cheaper but much less explosive option.
Heroic Sacrifice also loses Health, while Blood and Iron returns to its intended four-gold cost after incorrectly appearing at three.
Returning Friend, Grove Armor, and Life Debt
- Returning Friend: Added to Stage 3.
- Grove Armor: Added to Stage 3.
- Life Debt: Fixed so its missing-Health requirement functions correctly.
Returning Friend and Grove Armor were introduced as free late-game options in the previous patch. Allowing them to appear in Stage 3 expands their usefulness earlier in a match.
Bug fixes in TFT patch 18.5
The 18.5 patch notes include another substantial bug-fix pass. Riot also continues tracking wider client problems through its ongoing repair work. Players experiencing account, installation, purchase, mobile, or technical issues can use the official TFT support site.
Full TFT patch 18.5 bug fix list
- Fixed an issue where in-game chat could automatically send after reaching a certain length.
- Fixed an issue where Taric's passive could fail to activate on Ghost teams.
- Double Up partners should no longer receive different placements.
- Cooking Pot now correctly grants Health when the holder has uncraftable Emblems.
- The It's Me, Baby hex is now correctly aligned with the rest of the hex grid.
- Typos in the descriptions of Health Potion and Potted Lifebloom Wisps were fixed.
- Fixed an issue where Starting Town could grant an invisible unit when Double Trouble was active.
- Spatulas and Pans should now drop correctly in Tocker's Trial.
- Taric's passive should now activate in his first combat round if he automatically pairs with another champion.
- Recombolator no longer reapplies at the start of combat on Ghost army boards.
- The coin from Feeling Lucky no longer clips through Arenas.
- The Team Planner window should behave correctly after saving a team.
- Trait icons should no longer briefly display the old Pentakill placeholder icon from Set 10.
- Taric's passive should no longer occasionally fail when automatically assigned.
- Equipping three Forbidden Idols can no longer reduce a champion's maximum Health.
- The three-star champion granted by Forge-A-Friend should no longer appear as separate individual copies.
- Players can interact with Arena features while scouting.
- The Team Planner should now close correctly during a Finisher.
- Issues with the Field Champion and Return to Bench hotkeys were fixed.
- The Top 4 Ceremony should now play more consistently.
- Disconnection and reconnection issues after accepting a game were fixed.
- Item icons should no longer become misaligned with champions in affected situations.
- Multiple visual issues affecting converted cosmetics were fixed.
Performance and stability fixes
Riot also performed a broader code cleanup aimed at reducing server crashes. The official 18.5 patch notes specifically call out various server crash fixes, continuing the stability work surrounding TFT's newer client technology.
52 cosmetics return in TFT patch 18.5
TFT patch 18.5 continues the cosmetic conversion process, with Riot stating that 52 cosmetics are being re-added. The collection spans Prestige Chibis, Mythic Chibis, Unbound Tacticians, Little Legends, Booms, and Portals.
Cosmetics listed by Riot for TFT patch 18.5
Prestige Chibi
- Prestige Chibi Porcelain Ezreal
Mythic Chibis
- Chibi Arcane Caitlyn
- Chibi Arcane Vi
- Chibi Beemo
- Chibi Firelight Ekko
- Chibi Galaxy Slayer Zed
- Chibi Heartsteel Sett
- Chibi Star Guardian Lux
- Chibi Surprise Party Amumu
- Chibi Yuubee
- Chibi T1 Faker Galio
- Chibi T1 Yunara
Mythic Unbound Tacticians
- PROJECT: Vayne Unbound
- PROJECT: Warwick Unbound
- Sentinel Vayne Unbound
Base Unbound Tacticians
- Jhin Unbound
- Yasuo Unbound
Little Legends listed in Riot's patch notes
- Astronaut Sprite
- Astronyan
- Battle Academia Sprite
- Elder Dragon
- Fruity-tooty Umbra
- Gingersnap Dango
- Hearty Blepup
- Jade Emperor Sprite
- Lucky Astronyan
- Moo Cow Poro
- Prodigy Baron
- Pufferfin
- Sweet Dreams Pufferfin
- Anniversary Scuttle Crab
- Nebulae Astrovix
Legendary Boom
- Perfect Execution
Legendary Portals
- Irelia's Unfolding Tales
- K/DA ALL IN
- Lux's Fountain of Rainbows
- By-Way of the Banana
- 2026 Worlds High-Tier Portal
- Briar's Bindings
Mythic Booms
- Battle Bunny Make It Rain
- Crimson Cobalt
- God Fist Tempest
- God King Noxian Guillotine
- K/DA Charm
- Majestic Empress Soul Shackles
- Porcelain Vanguard's Edge
- Super Mega Firecracker
- T1 Galio Boom
Riot's patch page states that 52 cosmetics were restored. The published category labels include 19 Little Legends, although the visible named list on the patch page contains fewer individual Little Legend names than that category total.
Cosmetics shipped with known visual issues
Riot also identified nine converted cosmetics with known visual problems late in the conversion process. Because the issues do not affect gameplay and most are minor, the cosmetics remained enabled while Riot planned later polish.
- Prestige Chibi Porcelain Ezreal.
- PROJECT: Vayne Unbound.
- Chibi Yuubee.
- Prodigy Baron.
- God King Noxian Guillotine.
- K/DA Charm.
- God Fist Tempest.
- K/DA ALL IN.
- Irelia's Unfolding Tales.
One of Riot's more unusual examples is Chibi Yuubee potentially displaying an extra pair of eyes after emoting immediately after a Finisher. The company chose to prioritize restoring access to converted cosmetics while continuing to fix these visual edge cases later.
Biggest winners and losers from TFT patch 18.5
| Champion, trait, or system | Direction | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Soraka | Winner | Both the initial and additional star damage increase, strengthening her case as a primary AP carry. |
| Tristana | Winner | Lower Mana and more damage per attack improve both cast frequency and output. |
| Master Yi | Winner | Both AD and AP forms are buffed. |
| Morgana | Winner | More initial and repeated curse damage helps her break through tanks. |
| Taric | Winner | More resists and a much larger AP ratio make itemization more rewarding. |
| Fae | Winner | Higher healing and earlier Golden Pixies improve both combat and economy progression. |
| Caitlyn reroll | Winner | Empowered attacks deal more damage at every star level. |
| Azir | Loser | Direct damage, Blackthorn, and Flora Fatalis are all weaker. |
| Rapidfire vertical | Loser | Top-end Attack Speed scaling is reduced. |
| Riftbeast (7) | Loser | The full vertical loses AD/AP and Omega Riftbeast is also nerfed. |
| Elderwood (9) | Loser | The summon gets substantially less bonus Health. |
| Hand of Baron | Loser | It is cheaper, but almost every combat stat is reduced. |
| Economy Augments | Loser | Several Augments lose free starting gold or attached economy. |
Azir is the most obvious overall loser. His spell is weaker, the Blackthorn (6) enhanced bonus falls, the base AP sacrifice grants less Damage Amp, and Flora Fatalis heals less. That is a four-part reduction to the ecosystem supporting his strongest composition.
Soraka is one of the clearest winners because TFT patch 18.5 directly supports Riot's goal of opening more AP lines. Unlike utility buffs, both parts of her main damaging spell improve, making itemized Soraka much easier to justify.
Taric also deserves attention. Five more resistances are useful, but the jump from 100/150 AP to 130/200 AP on his empowered attacks is the more significant change. An itemized Taric should contribute much more than a simple trait bot or generic frontline unit.
Fae is another important winner. The heal buff is larger than the previous attempt, while lower late-Pixie thresholds make the economy progression less awkward. That can improve both native Fae boards and compositions using the trait as part of a broader setup.
How to approach Teamfight Tactics patch 18.5
The best way to approach Teamfight Tactics patch 18.5 is to treat it as a refinement patch rather than relearning Enchanted Wilds from scratch. Most of the set's fundamentals remain intact, but several carry priorities and high-end verticals move enough to change what is worth forcing.
- Do not evaluate the Azir nerf in isolation. Blackthorn, Flora Fatalis, and Azir are all weaker, so the full board loses more than the spell ratio alone suggests.
- Retest Soraka and Morgana as real AP carries. Both receive direct damage increases rather than only utility improvements.
- Watch Tristana reroll. Ten less Mana and more damage per attack is a meaningful two-part buff.
- Give AP Master Yi another chance. His three-star spell ratio receives a particularly large increase.
- Value Taric items more highly. His defensive baseline and offensive AP scaling both improve.
- Reassess Fae verticals. More healing and earlier Golden Pixies directly address two of the trait's weaker points.
- Expect less free economy from Augments. Pandora's Bench, Pandora's Items II, Investment Strategy, and Prismatic Destiny all lose attached gold.
- Stop relying on last-second Wisp filtering tricks. Benched item holders now count, and role checks use the previous combat.
- Be more selective with Hand of Baron. The lower price is offset by substantially weaker stats and critical strike chance.
The wider AP carry pool may be the most important long-term result. Riot is explicitly trying to create alternatives to the strongest Azir and Kha'Zix lines, and TFT patch 18.5 gives Soraka, Morgana, Master Yi, Alune, Sett, and Taric more reasons to receive real items.
Frequently asked questions about TFT patch 18.5
What changed in TFT patch 18.5?
TFT patch 18.5 nerfs the dominant Azir setup through changes to Azir, Blackthorn, and Flora Fatalis while buffing several underperforming AP carries. It also changes Fae, Elderwood, Rapidfire, Riftbeast, Radiant items, more than 20 Augments, multiple Wisps, bugs, cosmetics, and the limited Choncc or Treat mode.
When did TFT patch 18.5 come out?
TFT patch 18.5 arrived in October 2026 as the focused follow-up to the larger patch 18.4 balance update.
Was Azir nerfed in TFT patch 18.5?
Yes. Azir's ability damage falls from 46/69/110 AP to 43/65/105 AP. His strongest composition is also indirectly nerfed because Blackthorn (6) is weaker and Flora Fatalis heals less maximum Health.
Which AP carries were buffed in patch 18.5?
AP Master Yi, Morgana, Sett, Soraka, Alune, and Taric all receive changes that improve their value as itemized AP champions. Malphite also gains a stronger AP-scaled shield.
What changed for Fae?
Fae healing rises from 2.5/4% to 3/5%. The fourth Golden Pixie threshold falls from 30,000 to 25,000, the fifth from 70,000 to 60,000, and the sixth from 110,000 to 100,000.
What changed for Wisps in TFT patch 18.5?
Wisp filtering now counts itemized benched champions and checks roles based on the previous combat. Abandon Ship costs two gold, Beggar's Wisp grants less gold, Hand of Baron provides fewer stats, Heroic Sacrifice grants less Health, and Returning Friend and Grove Armor can appear during Stage 3.
What are Pandora's Items II+ and Pandora's Items II++?
Pandora's Items II+ is a new Stage 3-2 version that grants four gold, while Pandora's Items II++ appears on Stage 4-2 and grants six gold. The normal Pandora's Items II now grants only one gold, and the different Pandora's Items Augments cannot appear together.
What is Choncc or Treat?
Choncc or Treat is the Halloween version of Choncc's Treasure introduced alongside TFT patch 18.5. It adds themed encounters, including a lobby where every player begins with a unique Avatar Lux.
How many cosmetics returned in TFT patch 18.5?
Riot states that 52 converted cosmetics were re-added with TFT patch 18.5, including Prestige Chibi Porcelain Ezreal, multiple Mythic Chibis and Unbound Tacticians, Little Legends, Booms, and Portals.
What to watch as the TFT patch 18.5 meta settles
TFT patch 18.5 is less about rebuilding Enchanted Wilds and more about breaking up a few overly efficient patterns. Azir's strongest board is weaker from several directions, Rapidfire and Riftbeast lose some top-end scaling, and free economy attached to several Augments is harder to come by.
The interesting question is what fills that space. Soraka, Morgana, AP Master Yi, Alune, and Taric all become more compelling AP item holders, while Tristana receives enough help to deserve another look as a reroll carry. Fae also gets a much more meaningful second attempt at a buff.
Wisp optimization should become less mechanical as well. Counting benched item holders and using the previous combat for role filters makes it harder to manipulate offers through frantic last-second board swaps, which lets more attention stay on positioning, economy, and the actual rolldown.
Keep following RiftDaily's TFT hub, the latest Teamfight Tactics news, our complete patch notes archive, and ongoing TFT updates for future Enchanted Wilds balance changes and follow-up adjustments.
