TFT CODEX

Riftbeast Elder Dragon

Also called Elder Dragon Brambleback

Riftbeast shops at level 10ConsistentHigh Win %Carried by Elder Dragon & Brambleback

Teamfight Tactics Set 18·Patch 18.5·Ranked games, Diamond+, last 4 days·Updated 25 Oct 2026, 07:17 UTC·Difficulty Medium

STier
#3.26Avg Place
73.5%Top 4 %
23.7%Win %
4.9%Play Rate
42,212Games, 4 days

Final board

The board at level 9, where most of its games end, from its games at all ranks over the last 14 days. Press a level to see the board on the way.

The Night Arena: an obsidian TFT board lit in gold
★★
★★
★★
★★
★★

Positions are our rule by attack range, not measured. Riot's match data has no positions. Dashed levels are planned.

5Elder Dragontakes 2 team slots★
  • Infinity Edge
  • Last Whisper
  • Striker's Flail
carry
5Gnar★
5Taric★
4Brambleback★★
  • Edge of Night
  • Guinsoo's Rageblade
  • Hand Of Justice
carry
4Sentinel★★
  • Protector's Vow
  • Gargoyle Stoneplate
3Krug★★
  • Gargoyle Stoneplate
  • Warmog's Armor
  • Spirit Visage
2Murkwolf★★
1Pebbles★★
  • Blue Buff
  • Jeweled Gauntlet

Open in Builder
Elder Dragon

How to play this

When
You hold Sparring Gloves and B.F. Sword, and nobody else in the lobby is on Elder Dragon or Brambleback.
  • #2.85 alone17% of games
  • #3.18 with one other38% of games
  • #3.46 with two or more45% of games
Others on Elder Dragon or Brambleback in the lobby, over 46,613 games of this patch at all ranks.
Items
Slam Striker's Flail first (Giant's Belt + Sparring Gloves): of Elder Dragon's most played build, the item its boards placed best with, #2.96 over 22,539 boards at all ranks. our rule Hold the rest:Sparring Gloves ×3B.F. Sword ×2Recurve Bow ×2Chain VestNeedlessly Large RodTear of the Goddess
Level
It shops at level 10: its Riftbeasts reach 3 stars partly through Riftbeast’s free shops. Its games also end at level 10 (7%). Finishes at level 8.9 on average. Boards at its levels average 3.86 across every comp; this one averages 3.26, 0.60 better. Level is partly how a game went and partly the plan, so this is context, not a grade.
Carries

Elder Dragon 3★ on 0% of boards

Infinity EdgeLast WhisperStriker's Flail Infinity Edge, Last Whisper, Striker's Flail

#2.63 over 3,021 games at all ranks

Brambleback 3★ on 2% of boards

Edge of NightGuinsoo's RagebladeHand Of Justice Edge of Night, Guinsoo's Rageblade, Hand Of Justice

#3.10 over 23,341 games at all ranks

Stage by stage

Stages 2 and 3 are our plan; 4 to 6 are the level its players were measured at.

Stage 2 Level 4 plan

Play Cinderling, Pebbles, Murkwolf and Krug.

Elder Dragon's items go on Cinderling until Elder Dragon comes in at level 8.

Brambleback's items go on Murkwolf until Brambleback comes in at level 6.

Stage 3 Level 6 plan

Add Scuttlecrab and Brambleback.

1,348 real boards went out at level 6 holding four or more of its units. real

Stage 4 Level 8 measured

Its players average 8.2 when they go out in stage 4.

Add Elder Dragon and Sentinel; sell Scuttlecrab and Cinderling.

3★ targets: Krug 47% · Pebbles 36%

Fill the eighth slot: Gnar #4.89 (4% won, 3.6k games), Sett #5.08 (3% won, 2.3k games), Taric #5.23 (2% won, 2.4k games); all level-8 boards #5.02.

17% of its games end at level 8.

Stage 5 Level 9 measured

Its players average 8.6 when they go out in stage 5.

Add Gnar and Taric.

76% of its games end at level 9.

Stage 6 Level 9 measured

Its players average 9.0 when they go out in stage 6.

Its games end around round 6-2 on average, with 6 gold left.

Which version?

Seven comps play Riftbeast around Elder Dragon; the biggest four are compared here. They share the one below; the units only one of them plays tell you which one you are on.

All of these play
Elder Dragon
You are here
SRiftbeast Elder Dragon
#3.26 avg73.5% top 442,212 gamesRiftbeast shops at level 10
Carried by Elder Dragon & Brambleback
Only this one plays
PebblesMurkwolfBrambleback
3 smaller versions

Ranked games, last 4 days, Diamond+. A dashed portrait is a flex slot: many of its games play another unit there.

No tier yet fewer than 400 games in 4 days   Not graded played too rarely to grade

Board at every levelthe board level by level, with its traits and the options its games play

The board at every level from 4, with what each level adds and sells. From level 8 up it is measured over 92,756 games at all ranks over the last 14 days; below that it is planned. Each level’s options are this patch’s.

817%976%107%
Lv 4planCinderlingPebblesMurkwolfKrug4Brambleback’s items on MurkwolfElder Dragon’s items on Cinderling
Lv 5planCinderlingPebblesMurkwolfScuttlecrabKrugAddedScuttlecrab5Brambleback’s items on MurkwolfElder Dragon’s items on Cinderling
Lv 6realPebblesKrugMurkwolfScuttlecrabCinderlingBramblebackAddedBrambleback62
Lv 7realKrugPebblesScuttlecrabMurkwolfBramblebackSentinelCinderlingAddedSentinel722
Lv 817%Elder Dragon2BramblebackSentinelKrugMurkwolfPebblesGnarAddedElder Dragon2GnarSoldScuttlecrabCinderling71222Optionsall: #5.02 · 3% won · 8,946 gamesGnar#4.894% won · 3.6kSett#5.083% won · 2.3kTaric#5.232% won · 2.4k
Lv 976%Elder Dragon2GnarTaricBramblebackSentinelKrugMurkwolfPebblesAddedTaric7112222
Lv 107%Elder Dragon2GnarTaricBramblebackSentinelKrugMurkwolfPebblesMorganaAddedMorgana7113222Optionsall: #1.58 · 58% won · 2,528 gamesMorgana#1.4858% won · 79Alune#1.5359% won · 123Ivern#1.5460% won · 1.0k

3★ targets Krug47% Pebbles36%

How these rows are made

Level 8 and up are the boards this comp’s games ended on. Riot’s match data keeps only that last board, so the levels below are planned by one rule from this comp’s own units and traits and Riot’s shop odds, and marked plan — how the rule works. Hover a trait badge for what it does. Rows marked real are the boards of the games that went out at that level holding four or more of this comp’s units — real boards on the way to it, not its own games. Under a measured level, its options: what its games put in the slots past that level’s core, best placed first, with average place, win rate and games beside the level’s own. All of them went out at that level, so none is flattered by having got further. The board draws the first, in a gold ring; the most played is named among them.

Item builds, measuredthe carries’ three-item builds, with average place and games

The carries’ most played three-item builds this patch, with the placement of the games they were built in.

ChampionBuildAvg PlaceGames
Elder DragonInfinity EdgeInfinity EdgeLast WhisperLast WhisperStriker's FlailStriker's Flail#2.633,021
Elder DragonDeathbladeDeathbladeInfinity EdgeInfinity EdgeLast WhisperLast Whisper#2.652,189
Elder DragonInfinity EdgeInfinity EdgeLast WhisperLast WhisperSterak's GageSterak's Gage#2.901,500
BramblebackEdge of NightEdge of NightGuinsoo's RagebladeGuinsoo's RagebladeHand Of JusticeHand Of Justice#3.1023,341
BramblebackEdge of NightEdge of NightGuinsoo's RagebladeGuinsoo's RagebladeQuicksilverQuicksilver#3.163,581
BramblebackBloodthirsterBloodthirsterEdge of NightEdge of NightGuinsoo's RagebladeGuinsoo's Rageblade#3.131,630

Components to hold Sparring Gloves ×4, B.F. Sword ×2, Recurve Bow ×2, Chain Vest, Giant's Belt, Needlessly Large Rod, Tear of the Goddess

Variationswhat close versions add or leave out, and how they placed

Other boards this comp ends on, over the last 14 days. Each row is a version’s usual final board and what it plays instead of this comp’s own board at that level. A 2 on a portrait: that unit takes two team slots.

Lv 8Elder Dragon2BramblebackSentinelSettKrugMurkwolfPebbles4.73avg place5,421 gamesPlaysSettInstead ofGnar
Lv 9Elder Dragon2GnarBramblebackSentinelHecarimKrugMurkwolfPebbles4.03avg place1,249 gamesPlaysHecarimInstead ofTaric
Lv 9AluneElder Dragon2GnarBramblebackSentinelKrugMurkwolfPebbles2.76avg place795 gamesPlaysAluneInstead ofTaric
Lv 9Elder Dragon2GnarIvernBramblebackSentinelKrugMurkwolfScuttlecrab3.46avg place367 gamesPlaysIvernScuttlecrabInstead ofTaricPebbles
Lv 9GnarIvernTaricApheliosBramblebackSentinelDianaKrug+1 open3.86avg place98 gamesPlaysIvernApheliosDianaInstead ofElder Dragon2MurkwolfPebbles
Augments that fitby trait and by our rule; no augment has a number of its own

What each augment grants, set against what this comp measured: the same rule the overlay uses when it reads the three on offer. A measured line is the comp’s own placement at a trait level; a line by rule is a fact about the comp, such as the damage its carry is built for.

MeasuredThe comp’s own placement at a trait’s levels, beside the augments that give the trait.

#3.23

Riftbeast 7: averages 3.23 here, against 5.78 at Riftbeast 5 (92,588 boards)

Levelling and economy

By ruleSuits this comp: it averages level 8.90, so levelling is the plan (92,756 boards)

Birthday PresentBuild A BudGoing LongGolden GambleGolden Gamble+Golden Gamble++Hard CommitHedge FundInvestment Strategy IILevel Up!Lucky GlovesLucky Gloves+
66 moreLuxury SubscriptionMoney MonsoonPrismatic DestinyPrismatic Destiny+Shimmerscale EssenceShopping SpreeThe Trait TreeThe Trait Tree+Urf's Grab BagAdvanced LoanAdvanced Loan+Big Grab BagBirthday ReunionBooster PackBooster Pack+Booster Pack++Clear MindCluttered MindConstruct a CompanionConsuming FloraExclusive CustomizationExplosive GrowthExplosive Growth+Gold DestinyGold Destiny+Hard BargainHeroic Grab BagHeroic Grab Bag+Heroic Grab Bag++HustlerInfinity ProtectionInvestment Strategy ILate Game ScalingMalicious MonetizationMax BuildMoney HungryMoney Hungry+Patient StudyPilferSlammin'Slammin'+Solo LevelingSpeedy Double KillSpreading RootsSpreading Roots+The Golden DragonTime SkipCalled ShotCaretaker's AllyCognitive TaxCognitive Tax+ExpeditionFeeling LuckyForge A FriendGood For Something IIron AssetsKick StartKingslayerLate Game SpecialistOne, Two, Five!Pandora's BenchSilver DestinySilver Destiny+Silver Destiny++Silver SpoonYoung and Wild and Free

AD carry

By ruleSuits this carry: Elder Dragon is built for attack damage here (85,844 boards)

Baron's LairCoronationDeadlier BladesHold the LineSoul AwakeningCybernetic ImplantsEarly LearningsEmbiggenNO SCOUT NO PIVOTTons of Stats!Focused FireStand United
Works against it: Wrong damage type (3)

By ruleWrong damage type: Elder Dragon is built for attack damage here (85,844 boards)

Deadlier CapsDark RitualSeraphim's Staff

Riot’s match-v1 data does not report which augments a player took, so no augment has a number of its own on this page or anywhere else on the site. The augment reference lists what each one grants.

Questionswhat people search for about this comp, answered from this page

What people search for about this comp, answered from the numbers on this page.

How do you play Riftbeast Elder Dragon in TFT Set 18?

Riftbeast shops at level 10. Its Riftbeasts reach 3 stars partly through Riftbeast’s free shops, one every three combats, not only through rolls. Its games end most often at level 9 (76%).

What items does Elder Dragon need?

Its most played build this patch is Infinity Edge, Last Whisper and Striker's Flail: #2.63 over 3,021 games.

Is Riftbeast Elder Dragon good in patch 18.5?

Graded S in Diamond+: average place #3.26 and 74% top 4 over 42,212 Diamond+ games in the last 4 days. At all ranks it averages #3.25 over 46,613 games.

Is Riftbeast Elder Dragon contested?

Yes, contest costs it: with nobody else on Elder Dragon or Brambleback it placed #2.85 (17% of games), with one other #3.18 (38%), with two or more #3.46 (45%), over 46,613 games of this patch at all ranks.

More about this compladder boards, traits, by bracket, trend, also played

At the top of the ladder

The newest boards of this comp from the players on our leaderboard, best placed first. A name opens that player’s games, board and items included.

  1. #1FL Cambulee#PMDChallenger · NA · 1,543 LP · level 8 · 2026-10-24
  2. #1VOIDS1N#NA1Challenger · NA · 1,606 LP · level 9 · 2026-10-24
  3. #1Jura#729Challenger · TR · 1,592 LP · level 9 · 2026-10-24
  4. #2Carpe Diem#0124Challenger · KR · 1,609 LP · level 9 · out at 6-3 · 2026-10-24
  5. #3VOIDS1N#NA1Challenger · NA · 1,606 LP · level 9 · out at 6-3 · 2026-10-25
  6. #5Kurapika#0213Challenger · LAN · 1,602 LP · level 8 · out at 5-6 · 2026-10-24

Traits

Active on the final board above, with the next breakpoint the trait offers.

Riftbeast7next 10Apex Predator1Emerald Aspect1Brawler2next 4Invoker2next 3Ravager2next 4Vanguard2next 4

What each tier of this comp’s own traits was worth on its boards. The small number under each average is how many boards sat at that tier.

TraitPlacement at each tier
Brawler23.1382,34242.77828
Invoker23.2485,16033.304,21643.12224
Ravager23.2889,72042.501,056
Riftbeast34.8816155.781,43173.2391,157
Vanguard22.9771,67542.79282

By bracket

Diamond, Master, Grandmaster and Challenger against the whole sample. Each board carries the tier of its own player where the sampler held it.

BracketGamesAvg PlaceTop 4 %Win %
Diamond+42,212#3.2673.5%23.7%
All ranks46,613#3.2573.6%23.9%

Trend

Avg Place on each of the last 4 days. The bars are scaled to the range shown, so the shape is the comparison and the figure under each bar is the day.

Also played

Families sharing at least 4 core units with this one — the same board taken a different way.

CompTierShared unitsAvg PlaceGames
Riftbeast Pebbles & KrugB5#4.6687,444
Invoker Ahri & Morgana with Taric—4#4.27445
Riftbeast Elder Dragon with Gnar—4#3.8597