How TFT Set 8/8.5 Threat champions work

Riot Games has extended the Teamfight Tactics trait that isn’t a trait in Set 8.5, Glitched Out!, featuring a total of seven champions with unique abilities that can flex into any comp. 

Flexible champions and carriers are a sub-theme in TFT Set 8.5, showcasing Threat units that are slightly stronger than other champions. Units that have the Threat trait are Morgana, Rammus, Aatrox, Aurelion Sol, Bel’Veth, Fiddlesticks, and Urgot. 

What is a Threat champion in TFT Set 8.5?

The Threat champions in Monsters Attack! and Glitched Out! don’t synergize with one another like a normal trait, which is why they have a unique passive that sets them apart. They also don’t have any additional TFT Set 8.5 traits in conjunction with Threat, except for Fiddlesticks, which has a unique five-cost trait. Players can add any number of Threat units to a team comp.

Each Threat champion has its own Hero Augments, one that is a carry Augment designed to power up the Threat champion and a support Augment that benefits the team. Threat units also only take up one board space. No units take up two board spaces in Set Eight or 8.5.  

Who are the Threat TFT champions?

There were eight Threat champions in Monsters Attack! and seven in Glitched Out!, featuring overpowered units that can specifically target an enemy’s team comp strategy. Set Eight Threat units that didn’t make the Mid-Set update cut were Cho’Gath, Vel’Koz, and Zac. But players will still see Zac on the battlefield during Set 8.5 as a summoned champion through the Riftwalker trait.

Morgana

Morgana joins the Threat lineup in TFT Set 8.5 as a three-cost that shreds the enemy’s armor and magic resistance. The three-cost Threat is an ideal champion to slot into a build when matching up against enemy team comps that have a beefy frontline or a tank with high amounts of armor and magic resistance. Morgana also stuns the two closest enemies with her Dark Binding spell, which means players will typically want to position her in the two front rows.

Rammus

Rammus is a beefy three-cost Set 8.5 Threat champion that has massive amounts of armor and is exactly the type of unit that Morgana seeks to weaken with her shred and sunder. The spiked shell unit is great against AD comps, reducing the attack damage of enemies it barrels into while also stunning them. Defensive items are preferred on Rammus, like Gargoyle’s Stoneplate and Warmogs.

Aatrox

Replacing Zac as a frontline tank in TFT Set 8.5 is the Threat, Aatrox. The four-cost champion is the ideal frontline unit as he gains health while dealing magic damage to his targets. Aatrox also has an AoE as the second part of his spell through The Darkin Blade, dealing even more damage to an enemy’s frontline while healing himself even more. Ionic Spark is a solid item to place on Aatrox, along with other defensive items like Dragon’s Claw.

Aurelion Sol

Aurelion Sol returns to Set 8.5 as a four-cost ability power champion that functions as a flexible AP carry. The dragon drops meteors on random enemies, applying burn over the course of 10 seconds. Archangels’ Staff is a solid AP item for Aurelion Sol, along with Hextech Gunblade. Players who don’t have anti-heal in their Set 8.5 TFT build but need it can add Aurelion Sol as an alternative option.

Bel’Veth

Bel’Veth also returns to Set 8.5 as a four-cost, two-range attack damage carry. The Empress of the Void is a high DPS carry that is a great secondary carry in just about any comp. Attack damage items are preferred on Bel’Veth. And if players can’t get her Hero Augment, a Guinsoo’s Rageblade is a solid option in addition to the AD items. 

Fiddlesticks

Fiddlesticks is a five-cost TFT Set Eight champion that has the traits Threat and Corrupted, both of which are unique. The Corrupted trait has Fiddlesticks start combat as a dormant champion, absorbing souls as they get eliminated and then popping off once Fiddlesticks falls below 40 percent health or all allies have perished. 

The Threat part of Fiddlesticks is ability power based, with items like Morellonomicon and Edge of Night working with the Threat horror/hero.  

Urgot

Urgot is a five-cost TFT champion in Set Eight that can either be an AD or AP unit, depending on where players want the damage to come from. His basic attacks can thrive off attack damage items while his spell, Undertow, works better with ability power items. Attack speed items are also highly recommended. 

Are there TFT Threat comps?

Threat units were initially designed as a flex option throughout Set Eight and 8.5. But there are times when players can load up on Threat champions to finish in the top four of a lobby. The devs added an Augment called Threat Level Maximum, which gives all Threat units a boost in health for each Threat champion on your board.

Having the Threat Level Augment can help create a powerful board full of Threat champions, but if contested or forced to roll down massive amounts of gold to two-star or three-star those champions, players could find themselves finishing a game in the bottom four. Set 8.5 may have also changed up the Threat Level meta since there is one less Threat champion to work with.

Update Jan. 14 4:30pm CT: End-game TFT comps were added following the release of Set Eight Patch 13.1.

Update March 8 11:45am CT: All Threat champions for TFT Set 8.5 were added.