TFT Set 9.5 Deconstruction

Solo Designer/Developer

Tools: Google Sheets

Project Length: 1 Week

Disclaimer: I did not make nor work on the team that made TFT. This is purely a deconstruction to understand the design and balance of the game better.



Full spreadsheet can be viewed here. TFT 9.5 Decon

Objectives


  • Produce a formula based on the character stats that reveals how Riot potentially goes about balancing the units in TFT.

  • Understand how each stat is used in balancing the units.

  • Separate the units by category and criteria that Riot has created for better comparison.


Conclusion

  • All units in TFT at the time of this study were quite close in balance on paper when compared using base stats, unit cost, and class. This is revealed in very close rating values between similar cost units in the same class with a steadily increasing curve as the unit cost goes up.

  • Riot seems to carefully tweak DPS, HP, protections, starting mana, and full mana costs to bring their units into balance.

  • The amount of traits, trait synergies, and unit cost reflected in the base stat values as well, revealing that they are taken into consideration too.