Teamfight Tactics is a game where the ranked ladder can seem like an unbreakable wall at times. The randomness and uncertainty presented in the game’s natural mechanics are enough to make any session of play feel like a total shot in the dark.

However, with each set (and even each patch), there’s going to be ways to work around the unpredictability of the game. Despite the fact that a portion of your TFT success comes from luck, there’s no question that the factor of personal skill that goes into a given game is going to directly correlate with how you approach ranked play. Here’s a few top-tier tips to ensure that you have the most control over your gameplay in Teamfight Tactics.

Know the Meta

Just like any competitive game, TFT requires a vast amount of background knowledge. Going into a game completely blind with no grasp on the current meta, regardless of the patch, is a recipe for failure. Before queueing up for a game, look up some of the comps that you feel might suit your playstyle the best. Then, when you find some strategies that resonate with you, try them out over the course of a few normal games. Just like testing out a new main character in classic League of Legends, a few normal games should be enough to get comfortable with trying something out in a low-stakes environment will ultimately serve you better in the long run.

Altogether, I like to play about 6 games of normal TFT whenever a new patch launches. This gives me enough time to play 3 different comps that I find interesting twice. Those 6 games should take you just about 3 hours of game-time, which is plenty of time to get yourself situated with the meta. Still, don’t feel pressured to jump straight into ranked if you don’t feel comfortable. TFT is a game at which the learning curve can be approached with any speed the player desires.

However, when you finally feel comfortable with a few strategies, feel free to hop into ranked. But, don’t take too long to get used to a certain meta - Riot usually releases a new patch for TFT every two weeks!

Have a Backup Plan

It’s not uncommon to go into a game of TFT with a premeditated mindset. By the time you get through the loading screen and lay your eyes on the opening carousel, you probably have a comp in mind. However, it’s not uncommon for other players in the same lobby as you to have a similar approach. In any given environment with a sample as sizable as eight individual players, there’s a solid chance for some sort of overlap.

Perhaps one of the most unique and intriguing aspects of TFT’s gameplay is that all champions you see in the game’s shop are part of a shared pool. If you purchase a unit for your team, it potentially prohibits the growth of your opponents’ squads, as well. However, that coin flips the opposite way, as well. If you’re working on building a composition in the early stages of a game, and someone else in the lobby is building that same comp, you two are actively competing against each other for resources. The best way to counteract this dilemma is to have some sort of backup plan in place.

For example, you could be extremely comfortable running a Cybernetic comp. However, if you start to realize that other players in the same game are snatching up units like Leona, Fiora, and Lucian in the early stages of a game, you might have to fall back on a secondary strategy.

Watch Your Opponents

Building off of the concept of flexibility, it’s imperative that throughout the course of every game you play, a watchful eye needs to be kept on all seven of your opponents. Factors like your economy, positioning, and of course, team composition, are all going to be directly related to the current state of any given game.

For reference, if you notice your opponent is running a Chrono composition, there’s a chance that Blitzcrank might be lurking somewhere in their back line. Your immediate reaction should be to reposition your units accordingly in a manner that adapts to your opponent. For many TFT players, it’s common to fall in the trap of only paying attention to your game. It’s easy to forget that there are seven others actively working towards the same goal as you. Just as much attention should be paid to them and their strategies as to yours.

Don’t Lose Sight

A set of TFT traditionally stays on the live servers for a few months at a time. The Set 1 climb lasted about 4 months. Set 2 stayed in place for about 5 more. With this in mind, it’s important to remember that the journey across the ranked ladder is not going to be something you can bang out in a weekend. Just like any competitive game, Teamfight Tactics is about constant practice over a long period of time. You should expect the meta to change numerous times throughout your ranked climb. However, this shouldn’t serve as a reason to get discouraged or worried. If anything, you should be prepared to be strapped in for the long haul as TFT is definitely a game that tests your ability to adapt not only in the short term course of a game, but the long term course of a set, as well.