TFT Set 16 Lore And Legends Unlockable Champions

Teamfight Tactics continues to evolve with each new release, and its sixteenth set, Lore & Legends, introduces another step forward in strategic gameplay. Developed by Riot Games, this update expands the game’s scope by weaving deeper connections to the world of Runeterra while refreshing the way players approach team composition and progression.

At the center of this set is the new Unlockable Champions system. This mechanic gives players access to specific champions through in-game conditions, allowing them to customize their roster more deliberately. The change aims to add variety to each match and reward consistent play with lasting progression across games.

TFT Set 16 Lore & Legends Introduces Unlockable Champions

Teamfight Tactics Set 16, Lore & Legends, arrives on December 3 with Patch 16.1, bringing a major shift to how players access champions. The set expands the roster to 100 total champions, a significant increase from the usual 60 in previous sets. Of these, 40 champions are categorized as Unlockable Champions, each requiring players to meet specific conditions before they appear in the shop.

This new feature changes the pace of team-building. Once a champion is unlocked, it remains permanently available in future matches, giving players consistent access to that unit. The mechanic encourages experimentation and reduces competition over the same champions, allowing for more flexible compositions.

Developers designed this system to address a long-standing issue in TFT: repetitive endgame boards. By tying part of the roster to unlock progression, Lore & Legends gives players more control over their strategies and diversifies the meta. The result is a broader range of viable team combinations and a more personalized gameplay experience.

How Unlockable Champions function in TFT Set 16

TFT Set 16 introduces 40 Unlockable Champions that players can permanently add to their personal pool once specific conditions are met. These champions range from 2-cost to 7-cost units, allowing flexible strategies across various team compositions. After a player fulfills a champion’s unlock requirement, that unit will automatically appear in the next shop, ensuring immediate access without relying on random chance.

Each Unlockable Champion has a distinct condition tied to gameplay actions or trait progress. For example, a player might need to reach a certain number of total star levels within a trait or achieve a particular match outcome pattern. Once unlocked, the champion remains available for the rest of the game and can appear in future shop rolls as part of the player’s pool.

When all four Shurima champions are active, they automatically upgrade to 3-star status, creating a powerful synergy reward for meeting the demanding unlock criteria.

Yordles Galore in Lore & Legends

The Yordle lineup in Lore & Legends introduces a layered system that mixes unlock conditions with progressive bonuses. Over half of the Yordle units need to be unlocked through specific actions, encouraging players to plan their team compositions carefully. Some become available through shared trait levels, while others demand targeted actions—such as Veigar needing certain items or Fizz requiring players to end combat with six Yordles or Bilgewater units on the bench.

Each trait breakpoint enhances the team’s performance:

This structure rewards strategic progression, letting players experiment with different unlock paths while maintaining variety in late-game compositions.