Teamfight Tactics2 min read
TFT Set 18 Recap: Patches 18.1 to 18.4 and What to Expect in 18.5
Set 18 Enchanted Wilds has had four patches. What changed, what players complain about, and the dates for patch 18.5, the new client and Set 19.
By TopBuilds Team
Set 18, Enchanted Wilds, went live on August 26, 2026. Four patches later the set looks different from launch, and patch 18.5 arrives on October 21. This recap covers what changed in each patch, what players keep running into, and the dates worth knowing before you queue.
Patch by patch
| Patch | Date | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| 18.1 | Aug 26 | Set launch. First TFT set on a new game engine. New systems: Wisps, Riftbeasts, Elderwood and a Yeti. Minimap and pings removed, Carousel returned |
| 18.2 | Sep 10 | Leveling made cheaper and most Combat Wisps cost less. Field of Mice removed. On Sep 14 part of the leveling change was reverted and Polymorph Wisps were limited |
| 18.3 | Sep 23 | Smaller, targeted champion and trait changes. Several must-buy Wisps were nerfed. On Sep 28 Major Polymorph was switched off until 18.4 after players used it to reach two-star 5-cost units too early |
| 18.4 | Oct 7 | Bigger trait changes. Combat Arrival and Departure shortened by one second each. Veigar nerfed, Solar reroll units buffed, Greater Polymorph back on, four new 0-cost Wisps. A B-patch followed on Oct 8 with bug fixes, unit buffs, Wisp price corrections and augment changes |
The pattern behind the patches
- Economy was loosened, then pulled back. Cheaper leveling in 18.2 encouraged fast-9 play, then boards full of Legendary units got too strong, so part of it was reverted.
- Top breakpoints keep getting trimmed. 18.3 and 18.4 both targeted the strongest trait levels and dominant strategies rather than adding new ones.
- Variety is the stated goal of 18.4. The patch buffed weaker 1-cost and 2-cost units to make more openings playable.
What players keep running into
- Bugs after launch, long load times and a large first download.
- No minimap or pings, and no friend spectate at launch.
- The Polymorph Wisp exploit that handed out early two-star 5-costs.
- Ranked being unavailable for about seven and a half hours around the 18.4 B-patch.
- Native macOS support being paused.
Dates to keep
- Oct 21: patch 18.5.
- Nov 3: dedicated TFT client, according to Riot's support FAQ. Riot later said the client would arrive with patch 18.6, which is scheduled for Nov 4. Treat the exact date as unconfirmed.
- Nov 4: patch 18.6.
- Dec 1: patch 19.1, the first patch of Set 19, which Riot describes as arriving this winter.
Patch dates can slip. Riot says it will announce a delay within 48 hours of the scheduled date, so check the official notes on patch day before you plan your climb.
How to prepare for 18.5
- Read the patch notes on day one and look first at trait breakpoints. That is where the last three patches did most of their work.
- Do not lock in a favorite comp before the patch lands. Any list built before 18.4 is out of date.
- Browse the current champions, traits and items pages for live data, and compare them again after the patch.
- TFT
- Set 18
- Patch Notes
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