Teamfight Tactics Esports – What’s It About?

Teamfight Tactics is a popular autobattler developed by Riot Games set in the universe of League of Legends, where 8 players create their armies by drafting from a shared pool of units to (automatically) battle and eliminate each other until only one remains. Unlike MOBAs, First-Person Shooters (FPS), or Fighting Games, TFT relies more on a player’s analytical skills, creativity, and decision-making to win matches rather than strictly mechanical prowess.

In July, they hosted their inaugural Tactician’s Crown tournament for the Inkborn Fables set, featuring 32 qualified players from different regions. The event boasted a prize pool of $456,000, with the champion taking home an impressive $150,000. This tournament sets a precedent for the game’s upcoming esports structure for their latest set – Magic N’ Mayhem, which just released recently.

That sounds pretty good for a free-to-play (F2P) game, especially one that doesn’t rely on teammates, right? So how do you get in?

Teamfight Tactics Esports – Tactician’s Trials

The Tactician’s Trials serve as open Pan-Regional qualifiers leading up to the Tactician’s Cup the following week. There are three Tactician’s Trials held during each set’s lifespan: an early, mid, and late one. Each of these tournaments can accommodate up to 256 players. Depending on your region, there may be additional qualification criteria, such as ranking, so it’s beneficial to hone your skills in the ranked ladder. Only a limited number of top finishers (in the last set, it was the top 12 players) will qualify for the next step, which is the Tactician’s Cup held the following week.

Teamfight Tactics Esports – Tactician’s Cup

The Tactician’s Cup takes place the week following the Tactician’s Trials. It brings together the top players from the previous week’s Tactician’s Trials, the top 4 players from the previous Tactician’s Cup, and the highest ladder placers and winners from other sub-regional events. These talented competitors battle it out for a chance to win a part of the $12,500 prize pool and to secure one of the coveted spots for the next major tournament, the Golden Spatula. Only the top 4 players will earn a slot in the prestigious Golden Spatula tournament.

Teamfight Tactics Esports – Golden Spatula

For most players, the Golden Spatula is the big tournament to realistically aim for each set. This is an exclusive 32-player tournament where the best of the best gather to find out who will get the lion’s share of the $50,000 prize pool and, more importantly, compete at the Tactician’s Crown. Surprisingly, there are many paths to qualifying for the Golden Spatula tournament, but all of them require a lot of time and commitment to the game.

One way to qualify for the tournament is to achieve a Top 4 placement in the Tactician’s Cup, although this route is considered less reliable. A more dependable method involves earning qualifier points, which are granted to players based on their performance in previous Tactician’s Trials and Tactician’s Cup events. In the recent Inkborn Fables tournament, the top 15 point earners were granted entry into the prestigious Golden Spatula event.

Another reliable path to entry is through Leaderboard Points. Players can qualify for the tournament based on their total Leaderboard points accrued during specific time periods throughout a set’s lifespan. Typically, the top ladder players, often one per country, earn their place in the tournament through this method.

Getting Top 3 at the Golden Spatula qualifies you for the Tactician’s Crown. Additionally, the finalist with the best average placement across the event will also qualify.

Teamfight Tactics Esports – Tactician’s Crown

Finally, the big one. Winning through all of the previous tournaments will grant you entry to the grand finale of each set. The Tactician’s Crown is a 40-player (previously 32) exclusive tournament consisting of the Top 8 or 10 players from the different regions. Just like the Golden Spatula, there are alternative ways to qualify, but it generally involves being the best in your respective region + other region-specific requirements. It’s a very rough road to get here, but once you’re in, all that’s left is playing for the $456,000 prize pool.

Teamfight Tactics Esports – TFT Open Tournaments

Are you interested in the thrill of competing in in-person tournaments? If so, you might want to consider attending a TFT Open event. These tournaments accommodate up to 512 players, take place in specific countries, and offer an open entry system with a substantial $300,000 prize pool. Moreover, it’s not just a tournament but also a TFT convention where you can interact with popular personalities, attend panel talks, and participate in side events.

However, attending these events can be costly due to travel and entry expenses. For instance, the competitor bundle for the upcoming TFT Open in Macau alone has a price tag of $399. It’s also worth noting that priority is given to Tactician’s Crown participants, as well as Challenger, Grandmaster, and Master rank players. Consequently, if you don’t fall into these categories, there’s a chance that slots could fill up quickly.

You can get the latest tournament news via the TFT Facebook page or the TFT Website.

Not interested in autobattlers? How about trying one of the best Trading Card Games right now instead?

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