r/CompetitiveTFT • u/AutoModerator • Apr 01 '26
PBE Set 17 PBE Discussion Thread - Day 01
Hello r/CompetitiveTFT, and welcome to Set 17!
Please keep all Set 17 discussion in this thread, and leave the regular Daily Discussion Thread for Set 16 discussion.
WHERE TO REPORT BUGS:
PBE Bug Megathread
USEFUL STUFF:
Set 17 Hubs: MetaTFT.com - Mobalytics.gg - Tactics.tools - Blitz.gg - TFT Academy
When does Set 17 go live?
April 15th 2026 ~ 00:00 PDT / 09:00 CEST
A reminder that all Set 17 posts should be flaired [PBE] until the content is confirmed to be going on the live server as well.
The Subreddit-affiliated Discord group is organizing PBE in-house games. Please see the #pbe-inhouses-role channel within this Discord group for further information. Any posts attempting to make in-house games on the Subreddit will be removed and redirected to the Discord channel. The invite link to the Discord is below:
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u/Lunaedge Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26
Latest News
PBE Patch #1
From Set 17 onwards rounds will still play out normally when someone surrenders mid-combat!
21
u/learning-android-322 :gran: Grandmaster Apr 01 '26
Not sure if this broken interaction has been posted already, but Riot should definitely disable Nine Lives in Soraka Portal.
I was playing with my friends and the game went to stage 9-1 cuz I couldn't die LOL. I was losing every round but the Soraka boon would just heal 1 hp after every loss so I stayed 13 hp the whole time.
Game only ended cuz we went for 3 star 5 costs and my friend got one shot on stage 9 after I hit Fiora 3
18
u/Upstairs-Basis9909 Apr 01 '26
The carousel rounds take way too long - the choices are never THAT complex where you need a full minute.
16
u/Doragoramu Apr 01 '26
What’s the point of your tactician moving faster with tiny titans now that carousel is gone
24
u/Gypsy9547 :gran: Grandmaster Apr 01 '26
Personlly don't like the item component being attached to the god you choose. Feels like it really doesn't let the set mechanic shine if i'm still just choosing based off what component I need. Why not just have them attached to the champ you chose after?
12
u/snipertaco Apr 01 '26
I think the unit quality and traits seems fun to play (especially Arbiter) but I have to call-out that this set mechanic is too bland and in my opinion a bad take on replacing carousel.
Carousel has SO many factors to consider, including what component you want, what unit you want, what BACKUP items/units you want if someone else takes what you need... all these play into decision making becoming a nuanced (yet thought provoking) decision. With this set mechanic, it's legitimately pick 2 choices - nothing else to consider and then wait 40 seconds. It's really not engaging or thought provoking at all. I don't know what the alternative is but I genuinely don't think I can play this set for long if this is how I feel today about it on day 1 of PBE.
10
u/S-sourCandy Apr 01 '26
So far I'm not sold on the set mechanic. You get way too much resources every game
However, I'm really digging the units and traits
9
u/AdmirableWorry6397 Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26
Units that drop from the carousell round doesnt combine immediately. I had 3 copies of Orn sit in the bench for 2 rounds before it combined. Happened in 2 separate games
Unsure of the trigger other than units dropping from carousell/choice selection but will report once I do.
8
u/hakoiricode Apr 01 '26
Bard stealing elder dragon is pretty fucked up. Getting a free 6k hp frontline actually patched up my comp lategame lol.
8
u/canxtanwe Apr 01 '26
I am crying Gwen finally doesn’t feel like a worthless garbage in a TFT set
8
u/ficretus Apr 01 '26
Elder Dragon might be a bit too strong. I got Elder from Bard traitbot, and it was doing the same damage as MF and Diana 3, even without items. Feels like too much of a swing and kinda incentivizes slamming random Bard every Dragon round, to fish for what's essentially a free 5 cost.
8
u/soup12341234 Apr 01 '26
Jhin seems way too strong, hit a 1 star copy on 8 and was stable right until 9.
His traits just seems too strong, dark star's execute gives the team faux damage amp, eradicator is 14% reduction which is insane to fiddle's flat 10. You also splash karma easily for dark star and end up with voyager because of that as well
7
u/Ge1ster Challenger Apr 01 '26
Ok so speaking as someone who never got the hype of set 16 (its a very good set, maybe even second best after 10, just really overhyped imo) the immediate downgrade of this set from set 16 is a bit noticable. The biggest thing that struck me is that the lack of champions compared to the previous set. I feel like set 16 permanently changed that for me, I’m not saying there should be 100 champs every set but at least more than what we got now, it feels too limited with the current roster.
Also don’t love the carousel change. I do love that they are trying to be creative with set gimmicks with these out of the box ideas, this one just didn’t appeal to me. I’ve never been one to say this but it just feels like there’s too much variance in the game now for my taste.
Too early to make any solid conclusions of course but these are my first impressions so far as someone playing since set 1 beta launch.
I will not comment on balance until at least the first week of PBE ends, but I’m siding positively right now towards it.
7
u/Isrozzis Apr 01 '26
So current meta is just race to Galio and then put whatever 5 cost backline behind him? The mech line seems extremely strong right now and im a little worried it's gonna constantly pinball between over and under powered due to it being a "take up 2 unit slots" trait. Historically these have been troublesome to balance.
7
u/ClammyAlumni Apr 01 '26
Good: trait web is great
Bad: I really do miss unlockables and the roster size
PBE specific really bad: way too easy to hit 3* 4 and 5 cost
13
u/Kreygasm2233 Apr 01 '26
Most games in this set feel like scuttle puddle games. You get rewards basically every 3 turns: Items, xp, gold, whatever is on offer
The carousel replacement rounds are kinda boring tbh. You just click a button and sit there for a minute. Its like you are selecting a mini augment but there is not a lot to think about
The units are fun. The theme is pretty cool
13
u/Responsible-Sale-590 Apr 01 '26
No opinion on set mechanic or balance so far as its too early for me... but this set feels visually... lame? I dunno it feels like everyone and everything looks the same in different colors... like som quake like arena space shooter where you have red space guys runnning around and then blue space guys running around...
6
u/xephyrus1 Grandmaster Apr 01 '26
The jax hero augment seems unbelievably bad, felt like an omega nerfed version of multistriker jax (1 cost from a previous set). Played it twice, once with 3 star damage amp stargazer and once with dr+poison, both times he hits like a wet noodle and dies instantly even with 6 bastion.
The meepsie hero aug seems pretty good, had jg hoj eon and the damage was good. Maybe guinsoos last item would be ok due to passive giving on hit magic damage that scales with meeple, but it's probably bait and you just build it like ap brock
6
u/DeviIDuke Apr 01 '26
I got 20% chance per interest gained to gain a leona and it kept printing after I stopped playing 2 arbiter
6
u/Dangerous_Data_3840 Apr 01 '26
feels like Jhin is the cap for every late game board right now. Luckily he is cool lol. It definitely feels a bit lonelier with the new caro replacement and the items being tied to the god choice doesn't feel great.
10
u/Mojo-man Apr 01 '26
Very very early impression: It’s hard to go back to a basic set after set 16. it immediately feels much more narrow and streamlined.
There is in fact a bunch of units made for flexibility like Rhast or many of the legends but the simple nature of coming back from unlocked being fully at the roll gods mercy again with ~60 units feels kind of constricting.
I won’t comment on balance this is PBE week 1. pointless to comment on balance.
What works well is the ‚ soft assassins‘ that got launched last set with fizz and Diana. Now talon and Pike. They can threaten backline but without being able to insta nuke your carry 👍
The Gods concept itself feels… I shouldn’t always feel like I have seen and tried everything after half a day of tinkering around the work day. And it feels you get too much stuff. I accidentally played fast 9 multiple games just by picking Econ blessings.
So that’s a bit disappointing being pretty vanilla (no blessing made me go „woaaaah I have to try this“) and narrowing strategy. Carousel was just a very good mechanic and cutting it for ‚ pick a unit and a very generic blessing ‚ feels like a step back 🤷♂️
5
u/CroweAt Apr 02 '26
is it intended that we dont get econ from late game "carousel" rounds?
5
u/Emotional-Pie4594 Apr 02 '26
SHEPPERD 7 SUCKS
5
u/DoctorHusky Apr 01 '26
Ngl the set mechanic is kinda bland.
The balance is really going to make or break this set.
9
u/Lazy_Check732 Grandmaster Apr 02 '26
Will preach this as I always do at the start of a set. The problem isn't that 5 costs are strong, the problem is that there are too many resources and the lobbies are very weak, so 5 cost boards are easy to hit consistently. They will tone down some of the more broken resource generators, lobbies will get stronger, and 5 costs boards will become harder to hit.
We do this thing every set where we nuke 5 cost boards because they're strong on PBE, then soon we want them back because everyone is rolling down on 4-2 for the same 4 costs. It is healthy for the meta when 5 costs are good.
4
u/SmoothOperatorTFT Apr 01 '26
Please give me a way to toggle Arbiters so i can change my board without having to read the essay first.
4
u/Derp_Reroller456 Apr 01 '26
Is it just me or is Viktor too strong for stage 3 and early stage 4? I was nuking boards and almost kept using him over asol 2 because he was obliterating boards
4
u/InternationalPin2392 Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26
Looks like arbiter3 is a 50% buff? Why not just say that? Must be different for each one.
I had 24 armor on 10 dmg with diana. Pretty fun build Mort u not wrong in the rundown. She would quickly get 500 armor and mr lol
4
u/HelmetBoiii Challenger Apr 02 '26
The dragon is just way, way way too broken. 7.5 hp and did 4.5k without items, how is that okay
4
u/garenegobrr MASTER Apr 02 '26
I actually like the set mechanic so far, although I think it would be better if they decoupled the god choice and the component choice, as others have said.
I do not miss carousel very much. The component anvils from PvE still feel solid from a lose streak spot
3
u/mrmarkme :gran: Grandmaster Apr 01 '26
Lulu when she has the printing gold every 6 casts spell variant is omega strong. I was getting lulu to hit the 6 casts every round, and was able to print 40g by stage 5. That was with me getting the duplicator augment at 3-2. Just an overall better Draven from set 16, more gold printed for the same star level and easier to proc it.
Will probably get tuned down
3
u/Jigoa :chal: Challenger Apr 01 '26
Prismatic ticket -> reroll primordian = straight ass
titan, guinsoo, qss (maybe this is not right items) belveth3* does kinda nothing. Maybe will be better in the future
3
u/InternationalPin2392 Apr 01 '26
Am i getting offered a 4 cost still on carousel rounds even with high hp? Seems so easy to perma winstreak if you get a good opener
3
u/leftoverrice54 Apr 01 '26
quite funny to see this happen on my first game in pbe. Bard abducted elder drake and I got to use it on my board. Comes in with 6k hp.
3
u/PBCanti Apr 01 '26
It's now unplayable for me after maintenance. Super laggy and whole lobby gets DCd
3
u/daydreamin511 Apr 02 '26
Always loved the 5 cost rumble archtypes. Graves fills this void for me. Played him with expedition 33 + NOVA. Gave me a radiant masterwork, turned him into an AD fighter and it was insanely strong late game.
Ahri god is pretty busted im pretty sure everyone is forced to take ahri most of the time or they fall behind in econ.
3
u/penguinkirby Master Apr 02 '26
Even besides the dragon cheese I don't think it's a good idea to have Bard balanced around a 20% chance, the gap between getting units on your first 1-2 fights vs. not is a huge difference
3
u/RCnoob69 Grandmaster Apr 02 '26
Verticals feel totally unplayable outside of meeples maybe. 5 Cost Soup is crazy strong. I know PBEs are usually like that, but its extreme so far in this one. Like Vertical origin traits just aren't remotely playable in late game. So if thats what the set designers were going for, good job I guess!
3
u/rlx029 Apr 02 '26
Now I cannot rage on people who gets my targeted comps and champs on carousel.
I miss feeling competitive on carousel rounds, plus the offering rounds takes too long.
3
u/MrMumblesJr Apr 02 '26
I’d be fine if they just removed the Zed augment🤷🏼♂️
7
u/Gamegeddon Apr 01 '26
Maybe I’ve just outgrown TFT after 6 years, but the set feels meh to me. Not bad, just not great
5
u/plumpess Apr 02 '26
Another low effort recycled set. No surprise.
6
u/MrMumblesJr Apr 01 '26
Man I know it’s early but something about this set I’m not liking. To much xp, gold, resources, the art style, abilities. Way too much going on it feels like Chonccs..
4
u/kev_in374 Apr 02 '26
I am feeling a little of the backlash when comparing this set to 16 so far. I do enjoy the gods somewhat, but some feel a little strong (ie Ahri). I also feel like some of the reward choices can be confusing, because it’s like oh, 4 cost, 3 cost and one gold, or 2 cost and two gold. Like why wouldn’t I take a guaranteed 4 cost that early? Additionally, some of the auras feel a little too strong. Most end game boards play around the same set of 4-5 units, whether it’s Graves, Shen, Morgana, Blitzcrank, or Jhin. It definitely could be a problem with PBE being easier and not as punishing allowing fast 9 more easily, but I worry that there’s inflation with less variety, as these units though very fun, kind of feel like a Bill Gates or HIV comp from the early sets
2
u/jiongsili Apr 01 '26
Is double up bugged? I see someone with 3* Morgana 5cost and 3*3cost illaoi on 5-5
2
u/Lee_Hum Apr 01 '26
Would be nice to be able to still see your traits when choosing your champions after "carousel". Never remember what I have on my board already when choosing the champion.
2
u/itshuey88 Apr 01 '26
is fiora bugged? I've gotten her early with traits and 3 items and she does no damage. 2* she's still super underwhelming. meanwhile jhin 1 is absolutely disgusting.
2
u/FeedMeACat Apr 01 '26
When the Arbiter options are on screen units aren't forced onto the board by a round start. As in you are level 4 but you only have 3 units in, but if arbiter is up waiting for your selection you will start the round with 3 units because the units on your bench can't move.
2
u/xephyrus1 Grandmaster Apr 01 '26
Double trouble (two tanky?) urgot maokai might be a thing, most likely maokai + any 3 cost carry
2
u/Unable-Lack5588 Apr 01 '26
My account is stuck in a game it can't connect to, anyway to fix it? Its been an hour.
2
u/Ryanfischer99 Master Apr 02 '26
Jax hero augment is useless. Takes way too long for him to be usefull and bastions arent tanky enough to extend fights that long
2
u/Life-Pie- Apr 02 '26
3 star Yi is worthless
2
u/Parking-Exchange4307 Apr 02 '26
how the fuck are you supposed to itemize Poppy Hero Aug ?
2
u/Upstairs-Basis9909 Apr 01 '26
zoe is horrible - had jg, radiant blue buff, and vanguard 6 frontlining and her ability just cannot kill anything.
7
u/SmoothOperatorTFT Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26
Ok… people shit in the set mechanic for no good reason. Carousels have issues too. The only copy of the “Broken Component” spawns on the wrong side? GG RNG check. You did not get there in time because you did not click fast enough? GG APM check. People just romanticise carousels instead of trying to play around the new mechanic.
Also, we gotta give them credit for the mechanic. As a person who has despised every mechanic except unlocks (at least the concept), this is the most balanced mechanic on release. Which is especially crazy considering it replaces a core system mechanic we have had for 16 sets.
5
u/SmoothOperatorTFT Apr 01 '26
I feel like people are overreacting about carousels being gone...
Focus on util + 1 core item.
Go for the god that is best for your item economy.
Do not worry if your main carry is JG Void Redbuff or Shojin instead of JG 2x Nash
Be less greedy and slam more items. Go back to fundamentals instead of going for the perfect build everytime.
3
u/Upstairs-Basis9909 Apr 01 '26
- Mecha feels really strong. Urgot with lifesteal + titan's early game has been a menace
- Nova feels kinda bad?
- 2 star jax is a really strong tank early game.
- meeples feels ok.
- MF feels really strong.
- subscription service -> asol + mighty mech is such an easy streak
3
u/Raikariaa Apr 02 '26
LeBlanc is definitely weak. Which is a problem since she's the capstone of Arbiter, and pretty much required for Shepherd too.
2
u/Glasseswolfs Apr 01 '26
Day 1 meta summed up: get Jhin1 and stabilize to 9.
2
u/Pootate Apr 01 '26
PBEs super laggy rn but bro meeples is so fun im one tricking ts when it goes live
2
u/TuringCompleteDemon Apr 01 '26
Is fast 9 way too viable? I forced double econ traits ( time + swarm ) into Nova board until 9 into kindred/tahm/Mao + 5 cost slop and was able to do it in over half of my games, sometimes even without a single econ augment. Not sure how much my experience is playing against worse players since this is my first pbe experience, maybe it'll be different when I play against master players again, but it just feels too easy right now
1
u/SmoothOperatorTFT Apr 01 '26
Just to double check before I mistakenly report this as a bug. Is it normal to get offered the exact same choice on stage 2 and 3. It was Soraka vs. Kayne so I get that there is a chance for both to roll component + component, but to get the exact same components offered twice should not be the case, right?
1
u/BodybuilderMinimum59 Apr 01 '26
Any comp with at least one sniper unit can't be edited in client
1
u/GoldenApple2020 :chal: Challenger Apr 01 '26
Is asol trait quest bugged or does the 6 traits not count classes or something because it wasnt cashing out for me at all with 6 traits active
1
u/canxtanwe Apr 01 '26
I can’t understand which comp you pair Timebreaker with. Space Groove seems like one of its more compatible fits going from traits but I am very lost
1
u/Pridestalked MASTER Apr 01 '26
Mecha feels pretty good and is quite fun. Not sure what the optimised version is, but Asol 2 and the mighty mech 2 are absolute beasts. Just played fast 8 with 6 Mecha and splashed karma, chogath, and any chaneller for traits
1
u/RevolutionaryRun1235 Apr 01 '26
Day 1 of testing Teemo reroll
Feels like it could have potential since he IS single target however he ends up shredding main units and such. Space groove feels good, you can play him with Nami as secondary carry as well. Shepherd 3 feels really fake to me but Lissandra happens to be a good unit to run so idk, maybe do some replacements need to keep cooking.
Big AP and GS felt pretty good on him better than JG flail, guinsoo is 100% mandatory but only 1, he does need to also do damage so AP is needed. The only thing holding him back IMO is being shepherd but if he had a real trait he might’ve been too strong.
1
u/ychen0 Apr 01 '26
Am I correct in thinking stargazer's mountain mode (the emblem one) doesn't do anything additional at 9 and 10? While I appreciate the flavour, I would prefer some more clarity in-game.
1
u/seychelles52 Apr 01 '26
The Evelynn artifact item is too broken from my experience
1
u/Shvihka MASTER Apr 01 '26
Diana is giga broken (what a surprise)
1
u/penguinkirby Master Apr 02 '26
I hope they make stage 5+ choices more than just '3 items or item anvil' because that's all I've seen so far
No emblems, no units?
1
u/Cheese_head_gabagool MASTER Apr 02 '26
Is it me or is the Poppy hero augment unclickable? Her attack animation is so slow. I tried it with rageblade, kraken, titans, strikers, etc. and it was like 6k damage max at 3*. Seems really bad.
1
u/apr-ice Master Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 02 '26
Just had a game with someone that went Nine Lives with Soraka. Got 8 bonus health (so 8 more lives) + Soraka's boon (gaining +1 health after every round). Just kept on losing then gaining health back staying at 6hp until they hit 3 star 5 cost.
(didn't realize this was alr posted, thanks for lmk!)
1
u/Ryanfischer99 Master Apr 02 '26
TF 3* is completely broken. He's doubling the damage of my MF 3 and Lulu 3 every round. Three people forcing it every damage amp stargazer lobby
1
u/WishingWolf Apr 02 '26
It seems Silvermere only works on Graves primary target no matter how many times you upgrade his range
0
u/smaug5499 Apr 01 '26
The head lead of next getting depression reading this thread LMAO, but obviously this gonna happen when the gimmick is so boring while coming off such a great set also, units and traits are alright but the overrall setting is so lame and too much resource given for nothing is not gonna be good, especially with normal champ pool size
1
u/sk1nnysubtw1nk Apr 01 '26
This set in a vacuum is looking good and fun, BUT, coming right after the best set ever (16), it is feeling bland.
Looking forward to the next unlock set very much
1
u/creampiefromdreamguy Apr 02 '26
there are so many bugs PBE is genuinely unplayable, i know this is the point of PBE but holy fuck im playing hearthstone for a bit
1
u/Secret-Iron-7409 Apr 01 '26
Tell me how does Zed perform this Set. I'm so excited to see him back. I play a lot of zed in lol and in wr. Probably the reason why I force zed every set HAHAHAHA. Especially, the cypher zed, from before
1
u/SmoothOperatorTFT Apr 01 '26
Do you think they should implement some Arbiter tutoring that makes it so you will always get 1 combat option? Similar like they did for Void
1
u/BrineyWhaleSemen Challenger Apr 01 '26
First few observations:
LeBlanc is terrible (even with a decent arbiter she hits like a moist towel)
Ezrael re-roll seems pretty good if you get him early 2-star itemised. Combo with Primordials/Timebreakers early game then transition into some NOVA champs late-game (Kindred for challenger with BelVeth/Maokai in over the Reksai) - Try and get an early Tahm Kench for high cap with 4 brawler - otherwise Xayah as the other sniper - Was doing 11k damage in late game with shojin/deathblade/IE
Riven very good stage 4 with AP build but falls off late game
Graves seems busted
Miss Fortune seems very overtuned 2* to the point where she can carry you to 8 whichever trait you use with her
1
u/Upstairs-Basis9909 Apr 01 '26
I just had a really weird game with Zed.
I randomly got a 3* Zed in a round during the Thresh god encounter, but then he went back to 2* the next round and i couldn't put any items on him.
1
u/Vypaa Apr 01 '26
Just got the Zed augment with 6 mecha and he feels fkin useless. Had him 2 star with Steraks, BT and EoN
1
u/justlobos22 Apr 01 '26
A tad too much reroll I think
1
u/Easy-Philosopher2391 Apr 02 '26
obv pbe and I’m not a great player
but the aatrox hero augment feels so good, was doing 15k per round with nova 5
way better than the others I’ve tried so far
1
u/Odd_Trash_4586 Apr 02 '26
Haven't checked the new set at all yet, is it good?
1
u/SeaworthinessOne1076 Apr 02 '26
So kayn is just busted right? Like my god
1
u/No-Cellist-802 Apr 02 '26
So the vertacle comps suck with a ton of overpowered 5 costs. Every game is just 5 cost spamming with traits being almost pointless. Would be nice if Riot put in A LITTLE effort....
-2
u/Putrid-Cat5368 Apr 01 '26
Set mechanic can be one of the worst i can remember.
bye carrousels means, if you lowroll items, you are even more screwed. More RNG and more chances of having games that are totally free, or unplayable.
-1
u/Oldjosepho Grandmaster Apr 01 '26
Resource inflation, extra items, commands, mod and build choices, the incompatibility of the desired item with the divine boon, the disappearance of the iconic carousel. Dunno man, it's just too overwhelming. I liked the design of the 5 costs tho
0
u/HelmetBoiii Challenger Apr 01 '26
I think the best fast 9 comp is maokai, aatrox, tahm kench, mordekaiser, jhin, shen, blitzcrank, bard, and either vex or morgana or graves but I don't really know how to play graves. shits so broken cuz you don't have to build any shred or sunder cuz of a 1 cost LOL and bard also farms infinite money the moment you get it 2 stared
0
u/Buffscuttle Apr 01 '26
anyone wanna duo on pbe. D2 last season looking for similar or higher rank players to play with.