It’s taken a few days of experimentation, but TFT players seem to have pinned down some of the strongest units and comps at the start of Set 5 Reckoning. 

Knowing the best comps and the best units is one of the surest ways to improve and climb through the early days of a new TFT season’s ranked ladder. There are several sites and sources that have already given their takes on which units are the strongest to start off Set 5. Looking to these sources, it’s possible to construct a tier list based on consensus opinions about champion strength, rather than needing to simply trust whichever source’s methodology. Based on the general opinions of champion strength in Patch 11.9, here is how the champions should be classified.

S Tier

• Rell
• Volibear
• Ivern
• Kindred
• Taric
• Aphelios
• Garen
• Heimerdinger
• Ryze

Almost all of these units are non-carries, with Aphelios, Heimerdinger, and perhaps Ryze and Volibear as the exceptions. However, all of these units have some innate strength that makes them almost always a good add-on in the late game. It’s worth noting that all of these are 4 and 5-cost units, meaning that it won’t always be possible (or wise) to create items specifically for them. 

A Tier

• Viego
• Diana
• Karma
• Darius
• Jax
• Kayle
• Vel’Koz
• Morgana
• Draven
• Nautilus
• Mordekaiser
• Kennen

These are the more traditional carries or second-tier utility units. In general, itemization should be prioritized for these units, particularly when early itemization and other unit pickups will nicely support them. There are few “hyper roll” units in the A tier (Kennen is the only real exception) because the higher-cost units tend to outclass them, especially as games go later.

B Tier

• Nocturne
• Leblanc
• Teemo
• Katarina

These are carries that have very specific item or comp requirements to become successful. If players are able to hit the ideal comp and item requirements, these units are extremely powerful. For instance, Leblanc is considered by many to be the best carry in the game, but she needs to be featured in a Coven/Assassin comp. Without these synergies active, Leblanc doesn’t tend to fit into a lot of other comps easily and her power is diminished.

C Tier

• Lux
• Kha’Zix
• Zyra
• Lissandra
• Nidalee
• Thresh
• Lee Sin
• Pantheon
• Soraka
• Ziggs
• Ashe
• Yasuo

These are the ideal second carries in a comp or early-game carries that can easily be transitioned off of. If a player is able to hit a 3-star of these units (specifically Kha’Zix, Nidalee, Ziggs, and Yasuo) they can be particularly powerful.

D Tier

• Hecarim
• Riven
• Lulu
• Vladimir
• Viktor
• Aatrox
• Syndra
• Gragas
• Sejuani
• Warwick
• Brand
• Kled
• Poppy
• Trundle

Early game carries and complementary pieces, these are non-prioritized units in the meta. Even if a player is able to 3-star these units, they should not be prioritized for items over the higher-tier units. Instead, players should be willing to sacrifice these units for stronger, higher-cost units.

F Tier

• Udyr
• Nunu
• Kalista
• Vayne
• Sett
• Varus
• Leona

Unviable as carries, even if 3-stars. In the early game, these units should generally be passed over in favor of others. Items are better served on other units and players should only put them on their bench to get 2-stars early or if there is nothing else to buy.