Riot Games is preparing to revamp Teamfight Tactics’ champion unlocking system in the Lore & Legends set on the upcoming Patch 16.6, making it easier for players to play different compositions across the board and fill their Lorefinder.
Stephen “Mortdog” Mortimer, Lead Designer for TFT, said on X that the changes come after several months of player feedback on the ongoing set. While the unlock system was one of TFT’s bigger experimental swings taken by the developer, the team found that more restrictive conditions limited player agency and made mid-game pivots harder than intended.
Smaller adjustments in recent patches like Patch 16.3, such as making specific units easier to access, reportedly opened up new strategies. Patch 16.6 will push that philosophy further. According to the developer, the goal is to keep a small “hoop” for players to jump through while ensuring that pursuing a specific line feels achievable rather than gated.
Several examples shared by Mortdog illustrate how dramatically requirements are being reduced. Darius, for instance, will shift from needing Draven to drop one gold to simply having one item equipped on Draven. Nidalee’s unlock condition changes from requiring two two-star Neekos to a single two-star Neeko with three items at Level 7. Rift Herald will move from needing Void active for eight combats to just two combats and Level 7. Veigar’s requirement drops from a unit holding two Rabadon’s Deathcaps to a Yordle holding one.
Nearly every unlock condition in the set is being eased, with some champions remaining untouched who are in a better condition. The overhaul arrives at a pivotal time in the competitive calendar, with Regional Finals and the Tactician’s Crown approaching. Mortdog said that the developer is aware that these adjustments will inevitably affect balance and said follow-up tuning is already in the works.
The TFT player community found that the limiting flexibility due to the high champion unlocking conditions made it harder to try out diverse compositions. However, with the much-needed ease, players should have an easier time unlocking champions in TFT while also getting the rewards for getting these champions in their Lorefinder.
Planned changes include Shadow Isles scaling adjustments so units are less reliant on souls, Ixtal nerfs to offset easier access to four-cost units, and nerfs to Veigar and eight Yordle compositions. Prismatic quest augments will also be reworked or temporarily disabled, alongside broader balance updates tied to increased accessibility.
The first batch of unlock changes is expected to hit the PBE shortly, with Riot closely monitoring scrims and community feedback. The developer emphasized that the changes are not final and could be adjusted before the patch locks next week, giving competitive players a critical window to adapt.
If the rework lands as intended, Patch 16.6 could breathe new life into Lore & Legends’ 100 champion roster, reshaping late game strategies and forcing pros to rethink established lines just weeks before the set’s biggest events.
