Unlockable Champions enter TFT Set 16: Lore & Legends

Riot Games has revealed more details about what players can expect in the next set of Teamfight Tactics (TFT). This is TFT Set 16, also known as Lore & Legends. Here's what the TFT team had to say about the new Unlockable Champions mechanic.

Lore & Legends' release date is Dec. 3, which coincides with patch 16.1. TFT Set 16 not only lets players relive Runterra's most epic moments, but also features the Unlockable Champions mechanic plus 100 champions.

"You probably haven't been counting, but in past sets, we've stuck to roughly 60 champs," Julien Camaraza, the lead of TFT Set 16, said. "For Lore & Legends, they'll be 100 unique champions to play with, but you'll access 40 of those 100 through our entirely new set mechanic."

That is, 40 of these champions are unlockable ones that require the completion of unlock conditions. In a video, Stephen "Mortdog" Mortimer, the director of game design, explained the reason for this.

"A set doesn't always need the same number of champions. Lore & Legends will have 100 champions thanks to our new mechanic, which creates near-infinite paths to building your comp. Since Day 1 of TFT, we've wrestled with the same challenge -- no matter how healthy the meta is, there are only so many carries and endgame boards to go around, making endgame screens start to look all too familiar. The Unlockable Champions mechanic is our big swing at tackling that challenge," Mortdog said.

In terms of how the mechanic works, there are a total of 40 Unlockable Champions in TFT Set 16. These range from 2-costs to 7-costs. Players decide which champions they wish to get throughout a match, and once a champion is unlocked, it's added to the player's pool for the remainder of the game.

"And the best part? The moment you unlock one, it's guaranteed to show up in your next shop," Mortdog added. "No luck required."

Let's take a look at the Demacia trait's 5-cost Galio. To unlock him, a player must reach 12 star levels of Demacia. Once he's unlocked, bought, and placed on the bench, Galio becomes active and his traits count even while he remains on the bench. He can also jump into the fray later without requiring a slot on the board.

Meanwhile, the Shurima trait serves as TFT Set 16's high-powered Chase trait with every champion except Azir requiring an unlock. Players must meet difficult and often contradictory conditions to unlock other Shurimans. Examples include winning for Renekton, losing for Nasus, and alternating between outcomes for Xerath. If players manage to field all four Shurima champions, then the entire group becomes 3-star units.

Don't forget about the Yordles! The Yordle trait in TFT Set 16 features a roster where more than half of its units require an unlock. Each Yordle breakpoint grants new perks as well. Some Yordles unlock naturally through star levels in their shared traits while others require more deliberate planning, like Veigar's item-based requirement or how Fizz requires ending combat with six Yordles or Bilgewater units on the bench.  Basically, the goal here is to create more diversity in late-game compositions.

That's all for now. Are you excited about TFT Set 16: Lore & Legends? Stick around on esports.gg for more TFT news and updates!