May 26, 2026 Rank-Up Guide: S18 High-Cost Comps Clear the Board for Victory – Nami and Nunu Dual Carries Become Unstoppable!

Difficulty: Medium | Recommendation Index: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Newly Popular

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This is a high-cost scaling comp. Consider it if you get 2-3 Gnar copies early. Prioritize Gnar's items, then Rammus's.

Early Game Transition (Stages 1-3): Transition with 3 Woodland at 4 population. If you lack strong units early, use Future Fighter / Sea Marauder traits to transition. Prioritize saving 50 gold to level up using interest. Mid Game Power Spike (Stages 4-5): Transition with 2 Bastion at 5 population, prioritize saving 50 gold to level up using interest. Transition with 5 Woodland at 6 population, prioritize saving 50 gold to level up using interest. If you naturally get 5-6 Gnar copies at level 6, consider rolling for 3-star here before leveling. If you have too few Gnar copies, prioritize leveling up and giving items to Jhin later. Transition with 2 Sniper at 7 population, prioritize saving 50 gold to level up using interest. Prioritize taking economy or combat Hextechs. Late Game Refinement (Stage 6+): At 8 population, roll for 2-star Rammus and then level up. If your HP is above 60, consider pushing to 9 and then rolling. If your HP is low (around 30), check for contested units and consider slow rolling for 3-star 4-cost units to top 1. If contested units are all 2-star, you can level up to 9 to increase comp ceiling. At 9 population, roll for 2-star high-cost units to complete the comp. After hitting desired quality, remember to scout thoroughly to prevent opponents from hitting 3-star 4-costs and to deny units.

Augment Recommendations Priority Picks: Dormant Forge, Revitalizing Wind, Team Building, Partial Ascension, Portable Forge, Magic Toss, Indiscriminate Attack, Lightweight Magic Toss, Take Down Two at Once. Deity Recommendations: Ekko, Varus, Thresh.

Difficulty: Medium | Recommendation Index: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Newly Popular

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Gameplay Strategy

The core strategy of this comp revolves around Little Bud's exclusive Augment, which allows them to unleash massive damage by slamming the ground.

Mid Game Power Spike (Stages 4-5): If you get Little Bud's exclusive Hextech Augment, play this comp directly. Prioritize activating 3 Shepherd. Activate at level 6 and roll for 3-star system units. Late Game Refinement (Stage 6+): After getting 3-star system units, level up to add Rhaast.

Augment Recommendations Priority Pick: Little Bud's exclusive Augment.

Difficulty: High | Recommendation Index: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Newly Popular

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This is a high-cost scaling comp that, once assembled, has board-clearing power and extremely high strength. Prioritize this comp if you have strong Shepherd units early for a win streak. It has higher difficulty, requiring mastery of economy management and rolling timings.

Early Game Transition (Stages 1-3): Transition with 2 Juggernaut at 4 population. Prioritize saving 50 gold to level up using interest. If your early board is weak, consider using Future Fighter or Sea Marauder traits to transition. Mid Game Power Spike (Stages 4-5): Transition with 3 Shepherd at 5 population. Transition with 2 Judge at 6 population. Transition with 3 Juggernaut at 7 population. For economy management, still prioritize saving 50 gold to level up using interest. At 5 population, prioritize building items for Sona and Nunu; use them as temporary carries for backline and frontline, then transfer them to your final carries later. At 7 population, prioritize economy or combat Hextechs. The best Judge effects are those that provide free rolls or gold economy. Late Game Refinement (Stage 6+): At 8 population, roll for 2-star Nami and 2-star Nunu to stabilize and prepare to level up. At 9 population, roll for 2-star high-cost units within the comp to finalize it. If your HP is above 60, consider pushing to 9 before rolling. If your HP is below 30 and other players are contesting, consider slow rolling for 3-star 4-cost units to secure first place. If contested units are all 2-star, you can level up to 9 to increase comp ceiling. After hitting desired quality, remember to scout thoroughly to prevent opponents from hitting 3-star 4-costs and to deny units.

Augment Recommendations Priority Picks: War Supplies (Needlessly Large Rod), Lightweight Magic Toss, Hot Sale, Forethought, Double Up, Large Treasure Bag, Expansion Pack, Staff Artisan, High Voltage, Magic Toss, Gilded Steel. Best Deities: Ekko, Ahri, Thresh.

Difficulty: Medium | Recommendation Index: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Newly Popular

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Maximize Nova Assassin traits for an uncontested climb. Early game, use Sea Marauder to transition, with Draven holding items as a temporary carry. Prioritize combat power to secure a win streak. At level 8, decide based on HP whether to roll for units to stabilize, or push to 9 for system units.

Difficulty: Easy | Recommendation Index: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Consistently Popular

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Gragas's Hero Augment benefits greatly from Empathy, making it even stronger. For Hextech Augments and Deities, try to pick those that boost burst damage, ideally allowing two abilities to obliterate the enemy's main tank. Position Gragas in the middle of the front row, with only your two strongest tanks on either side to group enemies for more damage. Place Pyke in the back row to easily hook backline units. The artifacts that provide the biggest boost are Bracer and Luden's. If you don't have Empathy, substitute it. If you do, substitute Hand of Justice. Just go for pure burst.

Difficulty: Easy | Recommendation Index: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Consistently Popular

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Jax's less popular Augments like Stargazer, Huntress, Altar, and Boar perform better than Medal, Spring, and Xiu Shan, likely because no one else is picking Jax. Overall, Viper is the strongest, providing a significant damage reduction effect. As more data samples emerge, Nightblade has proven to be far superior to Guinsoo's Rageblade. For artifacts, almost all Warrior Artifacts are viable, with Wisdom being the strongest.

Difficulty: Medium | Recommendation Index: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Consistently Popular

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Zed can theoretically fit into any comp. The simplest and strongest formula is to replace Graves in Nova 9-5, as there aren't enough Greatswords for both. Frontline units like Maokai and Tahm Kench show better stats than Blitzcrank and Nunu because Maokai can help Zed heal. When unable to play 9-5, TFT Mobile lacks strong physical 8-4 comps, making it relatively difficult. However, in PC TFT, it can smoothly integrate into Corki and Master Yi systems.

Difficulty: Medium | Recommendation Index: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Newly Popular

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The core strategy of this comp is using falling fish to instantly eliminate the backline. Lulu's Spring effect can hit 6 units at once, forming a closed-loop trait, and reinforced hexes grant healing and damage per second. Early game, use 3 Stargazer to transition. At level 7, activate the comp and roll for 3-star system units. After getting 3-star Lulu and a 3-star frontline, level up. Check the Stargazer effect at the start of the game; if you get Spring, you can play this comp.

Difficulty: Medium | Recommendation Index: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Newly Popular

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The core of this comp is the strong synergy between Aurelion Sol and Nami, activating perfect traits at level 8. Early game, use Shepherd units to transition, with Teemo or Lissandra holding items as a temporary carry. Mid-game, focus on gathering Juggernaut units. At level 8, start rolling for 2-star versions of all units. If no one else is contesting, you can consider rolling for 3-star 4-cost units or leveling to 9 to add a Savior unit for increased potential.

Difficulty: Medium | Recommendation Index: ⭐⭐⭐ | Rank-Sniping Comp

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This is a high-cost scaling comp, an unpopular strategy for climbing rank. Ideally, you start with Xayah or recommended Ornn artifacts and plenty of Attack Speed. Early game, transition with 2 Sniper, 2 Bastion at 4 population, prioritizing saving 50 gold to level up using interest. If your early board is weak, use Future Fighter or Sea Marauder traits to transition. At 5 population, transition with 2 Nova Squad. At 6 population, add 1 Savior. At 7 population, add 2 Brawler. Prioritize item-granting or combat Hextechs; take artifact Hextechs or Ekko Deity Augments to raise the comp's ceiling. At 8 population, roll for 2-star Xayah and 2-star Nunu to complete the comp. Pay close attention to contested units; consider slow rolling for 3-star 4-costs at this level to secure first place. If contested units are all 2-star, you can level up to 9 to increase comp ceiling. At 9 population, roll for 2-star high-cost units within the comp to finalize it. After hitting desired quality, remember to scout thoroughly to prevent opponents from hitting 3-star 4-costs and to deny units.

Difficulty: High | Recommendation Index: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Newly Popular

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This Nova Zed comp is a branch of the Nova 9-5 comp. Zed's core mechanic is that his clones inherit item stats and can infinitely clone, leading to absurd damage density. Once assembled, it's essentially a T0-tier comp with a very high ceiling. Early game, you can transition normally with a win streak, using 3 Sea Marauder, 3 Future, or Shepherd traits. Prioritize building Nightblade and Guinsoo's Rageblade. Mid-game, units are usually assembled around 4-5/5-1. It's common to roll at level 9, following the Nova 9-5 rhythm. A losing streak is not recommended; you need enough HP to reach 4-2 to get Zed. If an early losing streak puts your HP at risk, roll appropriately at 4-2 to secure unit quality. Abyssal Shadow (Zed exclusive) is a must-take Augment. Additionally, you can choose large economy Hextechs or Ahri (Deity choice) to help you reach level 9 faster to find 2-star Zed. Zed can be placed in the backline or in a corner.

Difficulty: Beginner-Friendly | Recommendation Index: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Consistently Popular

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This comp is the 2.0 version of the Million-HP Cho'Gath build, achieving infinite scaling with the immense stat bonus from Dark Star and a 3-star Cho'Gath, making him both tanky and damaging. Early game, take reroll Hextechs and don't level up, instead chasing 3-star Cho'Gath. Mid-game, transition with Future, Brawler, and Dark Star. Late game, find Jhin at level 9 to activate 6 Dark Star.

Difficulty: Easy | Recommendation Index: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Consistently Popular

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Start by prioritizing 3 Specter for a losing streak, consistently stacking 300-500 layers of Battle Bunny Crossbow for Jinx as a temporary carry. Throughout the game, prioritize grabbing items to synthesize Diana's core three items. At 7 population, do small rolls to find 2-star system units to stabilize HP, then slowly chase 3-star Diana; if LeBlanc hasn't arrived, you can use 3 Shepherd or 3 Judge units as placeholders. Do not level up before getting your core 3-star. After 3-star Diana at 8 population, prioritize adding Galio to reinforce frontline tankiness. Slowly level up by saving 50 gold interest to maintain a healthy economy. At 9 population, complete the comp by adding Karma to activate 4 Traveler trait, bringing the comp to full power. Prioritize giving excess items to frontline tanks, AP items to Alune, and AD items to Jinx. Afterward, slowly chase 3-star 4-costs to further stabilize and secure the win. The Judge trait's Karma effect (10 damage instances + 15% Max HP shield) is a must-take, synergizing with Diana's inherent shield to create infinite shields, making the frontline almost impervious to damage. If you cannot get 3 Specter or start with a significant losing streak, leading to insufficient Battle Bunny Crossbow stacks, the comp's power will drop significantly. Diana and Alune are fixed dual carries; later, you can chase 3-star LeBlanc as a replacement for higher potential. Frontline units can be flexibly swapped for other high-tankiness units.

Difficulty: Medium | Recommendation Index: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Newly Popular

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Early game, rely on Juggernaut units paired with backline temporary carries for a stable transition, such as Illaoi、Nunu etc. Prioritize synthesizing LeBlanc's core offensive items like Guinsoo's Rageblade and Jeweled Gauntlet. At the start, immediately check the Judge trait's refreshed effects, prioritizing the 'Every 4 seconds +10 Mana' effect. Focus on building economy early, do not blindly roll. Prioritize getting 4 Juggernaut trait to stabilize your HP, using strong 2-star units to maintain board strength. At Stage 4-2, level up to 8 population on time, focusing on rolling for core LeBlanc and completing the 4 Juggernaut system. Once all units are 2-star, you have stabilization power; if you hit many copies, you can push for 3-star LeBlanc for increased potential. Level up to 9 population for the final transformation, swapping out Little Bud for Nasus and Blitzcrank to achieve 6 Juggernaut trait. Distribute excess defensive items to Nunu to further enhance the frontline's overall damage absorption. Frontline Juggernaut heroes build a strong defense, while offensive heroes like LeBlanc and Karma are safely positioned in the backline. Flexibly adjust LeBlanc's positioning based on enemy divers or area-of-effect damage to ensure her optimal damage output. If the Judge trait refreshes with a HP shield effect at the start, you can immediately abandon the 'Iron Maiden' system and directly pivot to 'Infinite Shield Diana', allowing for flexible switching between two playstyles.

Difficulty: Easy | Recommendation Index: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Newly Popular

Core Items

Jax Artifact Recommendations: Rapid Firecannon、Spear of Shojin、Wit's End、Gauntlet (Artifact).

Gameplay Strategy

Early game, don't rush to level up. After getting 'Stargazer's Will' at 2-1, use Twisted Fate, Talon to activate 3 Stargazer and save gold for interest. If you naturally have 3 Stargazer plus a 2-star frontline, and Jax has one item, you can aim for a win streak. Level up to 6 population at 3-2; this is the most crucial stage. Do a large roll down to around 30 gold, looking for 2-star Jax and the basic comp structure. 2-star Jax is strong early, allowing you to slow roll for 3-star. Slow roll around 30/50 gold; you must hit 3-star Jax before 4-1. After 3-star Jax, immediately save gold to level up. Prioritize chasing 3-star Jax, then 3-star Pantheon and Milio. One 3-star unit each for frontline and backline is enough to go to level 7 and 8; you don't need to wait to complete all 3-stars. At level 8, add Rhaast and Kayn (or Morgana). If conditions allow, continue to chase Lulu and Maokai. Late game, you'll generally play until the end at level 8; if your HP is healthy, you can level to 9 for 5-cost units. It's recommended to position on the left side corner, adjusting flexibly according to the Stargazer hexes. Pantheon is the strongest main tank; if you don't find him, Maokai or Rammus can substitute. If still no tanks, find other tanks. For secondary carries, you can choose other 2-star 4-cost or 5-cost damage dealers.

Difficulty: High | Recommendation Index: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Newly Popular

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Oracle Laser Aurelion Sol is a popular comp in the current patch, especially strong against single-tank compositions, rapidly clearing their HP bars. The core lies in the pure burst damage from 2-star 4-cost frontlines and 2-star Aurelion Sol, along with activating 3 Oracle at level 9 to raise its ceiling. This is not a mindless comp; it requires precise economy management and itemization. If you can roll for 2-star frontlines and 2-star Aurelion Sol in the early rounds of Stage 4, you can reliably stabilize and secure a top finish. It's slightly less powerful than T0 comps, but once assembled, it has top-4 potential. When other comps aren't going well, it can be a strong pivot option. The operational difficulty is higher, not suitable for autopilot play, recommended for players familiar with mid-game transitions and economy management. At Stage 4-2, level up to 8 population and start rolling for 2-star Aurelion Sol and 2-star frontlines. 4-2 is a critical rolling timing; leveling to 8 too early will crash your economy, while too late might result in being defeated by other assembled comps. Prioritize building Aurelion Sol's Jeweled Gauntlet and the main tank's Frozen Heart, then complete Aurelion Sol's second damage item and additional tank items for the frontline. If your HP is healthy, economy is good, and rolls are smooth, go to 9 population to add Bard or Sona, activating 3 Oracle for increased potential. Position Aurelion Sol safely in a corner for damage output, while the main tank is placed in the very front to absorb damage; the frontline can be spread out in a line or placed in a single column. Prioritize economy Augments, such as "Ahri" (provides gold and experience) or other Augments that help you reach 8 population by 4-2, ensuring you have enough economy to roll.

Difficulty: Easy | Recommendation Index: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Consistently Popular

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The core of this comp is using the Judge trait's 10-damage mana regeneration effect, combined with Ekko's Patience item, to enable Zoe's infinite ability casting, creating a perpetual motion machine that deals massive damage. It's a T0-tier, high-strength comp that's relatively simple to play, suitable for players seeking high burst and sustained abilities. Early game, prioritize using the Sea Marauder trait to randomly acquire Leona and Zoe. At level 5, you can add 2 Future Fighter to increase reroll chances, aiming to activate before level 6 and find 3-star Zoe in one go. Mid-game, when the Judge's 10-damage and mana regeneration effect can synergize with Ekko's Patience, infinite abilities become possible. Prioritize securing Zoe's key items. Late game, level up to add higher quality heroes. Use Nunu as a control unit, while LeBlanc and Karma provide additional utility and functionality. Prioritize Divine Forge, Dormant Forge, Noble Adventure Augments. Special Augments like Yasuo's Starlight Hex or Varus's Duplicator can be chosen. The comp's advantage lies in Zoe's high burst and sustained damage from infinite abilities. The climbing advice is to seize the early to mid-game tempo, quickly reaching 3-star Zoe and assembling core items.

Difficulty: Easy | Recommendation Index: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Newly Popular

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In TFT S17 Stargazer Season 17.3, 'Infinite Laser Aurelion Sol' has become a strong choice. This patch significantly buffed Aurelion Sol's overall stats, leading to a qualitative change in his damage output. The comp builds a pure damage system around Aurelion Sol, utilizing the Oracle trait for efficient mana regeneration to continuously unleash lasers and suppress opponents. It's easy to pick up, suitable for beginners and casual players alike. Early game, prioritize using the Shepherd trait for transition. Give Aurelion Sol's complete items to Lissandra as a temporary carry. Stargazer Blessing prioritizes AP-related items, aiming to synthesize Aurelion Sol's core item, Rabadon's Deathcap, as early as possible. You can also opt for a Specter losing streak to accumulate resources. Mid-game, at Stages 4-1 to 4-2, level up to 8 population and start rolling for the entire core comp, getting main units to 2-star to stabilize. If you cannot activate 4 Juggernaut trait, directly use Galio to fill the frontline position and ensure overall tankiness. Late game, once Aurelion Sol successfully reaches 2-star, you can fully push for higher population. At 9 population, complete 3 Oracle trait to accelerate ability cooldowns. Prioritize synthesizing resistance-shredding items to maximize Aurelion Sol's laser damage output. You can also add Rhaast for additional utility. Recommended Augments include economy-focused ones (Four-Cost Squad, Late Game Expert, etc.) and damage-focused ones (Archangel's Embrace, Tailor-Made, etc.).

Difficulty: Medium | Recommendation Index: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Newly Popular

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After the hotfix, the chances of securing a win with 3-star 4-costs have decreased. This is currently the comp with the highest win rate, a top choice if your economy is good. It revolves around Aatrox and Akali from the Nova trait. Aatrox provides armor shred for the whole team, and Akali grants critical strike chance to all, greatly boosting the output of 5-cost units like Graves, Fiora, and Vex. The standard comp is completed at level 9, consisting of Aatrox, Akali, Maokai, Tahm Kench, Fiora, Shen, Morgana, and Graves, forming multiple traits. Early game, prioritize transitioning with 3 Sea Marauder with AD items or Draven with Attack Speed items. Depending on your economy, HP, and contested units, choose to go to 9 population at 4-2/4-5/4-7 and do a large roll down. If your HP is around 50, roll for 2-star main tank + two carries, then go to 10.

Difficulty: Medium | Recommendation Index: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Newly Popular

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This is currently the easiest 4-cost comp to play for a losing streak and stabilize, with flexible construction and lower cost, especially suitable for transitioning with AP/tank items or starting with a losing streak. TFT Mobile's Aurelion Sol's ability can directly bypass the frontline to hit the backline, making it a T0.5 strength comp that you can force every game. The standard comp consists of Urgot, Viktor, Galio, Tahm Kench, Master Yi, and Aurelion Sol, forming 6 Mech, 2 Brawler, 2 Berserker, 2 Psychic. This comp, combined with Tahm Kench's solo trait effect, makes it easy to secretly hit 3-star 4-costs. Early game, transition with 2 Future / 3 Specter / 3 Sea Marauder to accumulate economy and perfect items. Around 4-2, level up to 8 and do a large roll down. Play the recommended comp based on your rolls, and remember to transform all Mech units. After getting 2-star Aurelion Sol and Galio, save gold and decide whether to go to 9 or chase 3-stars based on contested units.