TFT Set 18: Three New Diamond Augments Explained

TFT Set 18 continues to bring fresh ideas to the game. Besides the new Wisps mechanic, Riot Games has also added many new Augments.

Three Diamond Augments are now getting a lot of attention. They are Nesting Dolls, Starring Up, and Trait Ladder.

These Augments do more than give extra stats. Instead, they change how players build and improve their teams. As a result, they may have a major impact on the TFT Set 18 meta.

In particular, reroll comps could become much stronger. At the same time, flexible players may also gain more ways to adapt during each match.

For more meta team comps, visit https://op.gg/tft/meta-trends/comps.

Nesting Dolls Lets Fallen Units Keep Fighting

Nesting Dolls is one of the most unusual Diamond Augments in TFT Set 18.

Its effect may remind older players of the Hellion trait from a past TFT set. When one of your units dies, it creates a lower-star copy of itself. That copy then continues to fight.

The new copy has less Health. However, it can still attack and cast its skill. Therefore, it may buy a few more seconds for the rest of your team.

Those extra seconds can make a big difference. For example, your backline carry may need only one more cast to win the fight. In that case, the new copy can keep enemies busy long enough.

Nesting Dolls works well with several types of units:

Strong frontline tanks
Units with crowd control
Champions that heal or shield allies
Units with useful area skills

For instance, a tank may die and return as a weaker copy. Even so, the copy can still block enemy units. It may also cast one more stun or shield.

As a result, the Augment can make your frontline much harder to break.

In addition, Nesting Dolls gives free shop rerolls. These rerolls help players find key units without spending as much gold.

Therefore, the Augment gives both combat and economy value. It can make your board stronger while also helping you complete three-star units.

Starring Up Fixes a Major Reroll Problem

Reroll comps often face one clear problem.

Players must spend a large amount of gold to find three-star units. Because of this, they may not have enough gold to level up. Meanwhile, other players can reach Level 8 or Level 9 much sooner.

As a result, reroll boards can fall behind during the late game.

Starring Up may solve this problem.

The Augment gives rewards after the player reaches the required number of three-star units. First, it upgrades the player’s Little Legend. More importantly, it gives several free shop rerolls.

Players also gain more free rerolls at the start of later rounds.

Therefore, players can save more gold after completing their main three-star units. They can then use that gold to level up.

This creates a much smoother game plan.

In the past, reroll players often had to make a difficult choice. They could keep rolling for upgrades, or they could stop rolling and save gold for levels.

However, Starring Up supports both plans.

The free rerolls can help players finish their board. At the same time, the saved gold can be used to reach higher levels.

As a result, reroll comps may stay strong for much longer.

Why Starring Up Could Transform Reroll Comps

Most reroll comps become strong during the early or middle game. However, they may lose power later.

The reason is simple. A board with several three-star low-cost units can be very strong at Level 6 or Level 7. Even so, it may struggle against teams with several four-cost and five-cost units.

Starring Up may reduce this weakness.

After meeting its condition, players can gain free rerolls each round. Therefore, they no longer need to spend as much gold in the shop.

With more gold available, players can level up and add stronger units.

For example, a Level 7 reroll board may reach Level 8 earlier than usual. Then, the player can add an extra tank, support unit, or high-cost carry.

In addition, the extra team slot can help activate an important Trait level.

Because of this, Starring Up offers several useful benefits:

Saves gold throughout the game.
Provides free shop rerolls.
Makes leveling up much easier.
Helps activate stronger Trait breakpoints.
Creates room for powerful high-cost champions.

Therefore, this Augment could change how reroll comps work in TFT Set 18.

Instead of reaching their peak in the middle game, some reroll boards may continue to grow until the final rounds.

Starring Up Still Requires Good Planning

Although Starring Up sounds powerful, players still need to use it well.

First, the Augment only gives full value after its condition is complete. Therefore, players must choose the right reroll comp.

A player should already have several copies of important units. They should also have enough gold and Health to continue rolling safely.

Otherwise, it may take too long to complete the required three-star units.

In addition, players should not waste their free rerolls. They still need to manage their bench and economy.

For example, it may be better to save some rerolls until reaching a level with better shop odds.

Therefore, Starring Up does not remove all risks. However, it gives reroll players more tools to deal with those risks.

Trait Ladder Rewards Flexible Players

While Nesting Dolls and Starring Up can support reroll comps, Trait Ladder follows a different idea.

This Diamond Augment rewards players for using many different Traits.

When players choose Trait Ladder, they receive a random Emblem. After that, they must activate a certain number of Traits during combat.

Once they meet the goal, they receive a reward.

However, the goal does not stay the same. It becomes harder as the match continues. In return, the rewards also become better.

Therefore, players must keep changing their boards.

They may need to add a new unit to activate another Trait. They may also need to replace a weak unit with a stronger one that offers two useful Traits.

As a result, Trait Ladder encourages players to study every shop carefully.

Trait Ladder Makes Each Shop More Important

Some TFT comps follow a fixed plan. Players search for the same units and use the same final board in most matches.

Trait Ladder works in a different way.

Instead of forcing one team, players must use the units they find. Therefore, every shop can create a new option.

For example, a strong unit may activate two extra Traits. Even if that unit is not part of the original plan, adding it may complete the next Trait Ladder goal.

In another case, the random Emblem may point toward a new team direction.

Because of this, players must often ask several questions:

Which units are strong right now?
Which Traits can be activated?
Where should the random Emblem go?
Which unit can be removed?
Is the next reward worth changing the board?

These choices make Trait Ladder more difficult to use. However, they also make it more interesting.

Who Should Choose Trait Ladder?

Trait Ladder is best for players who enjoy flexible team building.

It may be a strong option for players who:

Often change comps during a match
Understand many units and Traits
Know how to use random Emblems
Enjoy Fast 8 strategies
Can quickly read the shop and lobby

On the other hand, it may not suit players who always force one comp.

A fixed team may not activate enough different Traits. Therefore, the player could miss several rewards.

In addition, changing too many units can also weaken the board. Players still need a strong frontline and a reliable source of damage.

As a result, activating many Traits is not enough by itself. The final team must still work well in combat.

Could These Diamond Augments Change the Meta?

Riot Games has not revealed every final number yet. Therefore, it is too early to know how strong these Augments will be.

Even so, their designs already show an important change.

These Augments do not only increase damage, Health, or attack speed. Instead, they create new ways to build and improve a team.

Nesting Dolls can make battles last longer. It also gives free rerolls.

Meanwhile, Starring Up helps reroll players save gold and reach higher levels.

Finally, Trait Ladder rewards players who build around many different Traits.

Because of these effects, the three Augments may create new team comps and playstyles.

However, balance will be very important.

If Nesting Dolls copies are too strong, some teams may become too hard to defeat. Likewise, if Starring Up gives too many free rerolls, reroll comps may become too easy to complete.

Trait Ladder may also become very strong if its rewards are better than its difficult goals.

Therefore, Riot may need to adjust these Augments during the PBE period.

Final Thoughts

TFT Set 18 is adding more than new champions and Traits. It is also changing how players make choices during a match.

Nesting Dolls allows defeated units to return as weaker copies. Therefore, it can extend fights and protect the backline.

Starring Up gives free rerolls after players complete enough three-star units. As a result, reroll comps may save gold and level up much faster.

Meanwhile, Trait Ladder rewards players for activating many Traits. Therefore, it supports flexible boards and quick team changes.

Overall, these three Diamond Augments could make TFT Set 18 more creative and varied. In particular, Starring Up may help reroll comps remain strong in the late game.

Although the final numbers may still change, the early ideas look exciting. If Riot balances them well, reroll players and flexible players could both have many new ways to win.

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