TFT Set 18 Primal Guide: Every Blessing Explained and the Best Primal Comp

Primal is a small trait with a big choice in it. It only has four champions and two breakpoints, but each breakpoint lets you pick a blessing, and the four blessings do completely different things.

Most players meet Primal through one comp, Lunar Primal Aphelios, where @tft=set18:unit:DA_Vi18@ and @tft=set18:unit:DA_Nidalee18_AP@ turn it on almost for free. This guide covers what every blessing does, which one to take, how to reach 4 Primal, and how to play that comp.

Quick answer. Field 2 Primal champions to choose one blessing, and 4 to choose a second. The blessings are an execute below 12% Health, a free component every 15 Primal takedowns, Attack Speed after 6 seconds of combat, and team healing every 4 seconds. Most boards run 2 Primal with Vi and Nidalee as part of Lunar Primal Aphelios. Take the Attack Speed blessing there. Nidalee is the comp's top win condition and gets the full 35%, and the 15% for the team still reaches Aphelios. @tft=set18:unit:DA_18_Lux_Primal@ counts as 2 Primal on her own, which makes her the easiest way to 4.

How does Primal work in TFT?

Primal has two breakpoints. At 2 Primal you choose one of four blessings. At 4 Primal you choose a second one.

There are four Primal champions:

Nidalee is one champion with two forms. As an Adaptor, her ability changes with whether her Attack Damage or Ability Power is higher, but she counts once for Primal either way.

Lux is the odd one. Her @tft=set18:trait:DA_18_LuxUniqueTrait@ trait counts her chosen trait twice, so Primal Lux alone is 2 Primal. She also gains 60% Attack Speed for 6 seconds after each cast.

Every Primal blessing explained

You pick from the same four blessings at both breakpoints. Each one helps a different kind of board:

Execute only counts Primal damage. In Lunar Primal Aphelios, that means Vi and Nidalee. Nidalee is the top win condition there, so Execute isn't wasted, but Aphelios gets nothing from it. It's strongest when Sivir or Primal Lux carries.

Components is slow. Four components take 60 Primal takedowns, and two Primal champions don't get many takedowns a fight. If Primal only turns on at level 8, you may never see all four. It's only worth it when Primal is on early.

Attack Speed is the safe pick for most boards. The 15% for the whole team is the part that matters, because it reaches carries without the trait. It waits 6 seconds, so it does nothing in fights that end fast.

Healing adds up over a long fight. In a 20 second fight it ticks 5 times, which is 20% of each unit's max Health. It's at its best behind a Juggernaut frontline that is already hard to kill.

How to get 4 Primal

4 Primal gets you a second blessing, but it's hard to reach. There are only four Primal champions, and two of them cost 4 and one costs 5. These are the ways there:

• Vi, Nidalee and Primal Lux. Lux counts twice, so this is 4 with three champions.

• Vi, Nidalee, Sivir and a @tft=set18:item:DA_18_EmblemPrimal@. The emblem is Sparring Gloves plus Spatula.

• All four champions gets you to 5, which is the same as 4, because Primal has no higher breakpoint.

@tft=set18:augment:DA_18_PrimalAugment_Nidalee@ gives you a second blessing without reaching 4. It grants an extra blessing and gives you Vi right away, then Nidalee or Sivir 3 rounds later. That's 2 Primal and two blessings from one augment. The plus version, @tft=set18:augment:DA_18_PrimalAugmentPlus_Nidalee@, gives both champions at once.

The Lunar Primal Aphelios comp

This is the comp Primal is played in. It's a fast 8 with 2-star champions, and most of its traits sit at their first breakpoint.

The board runs eight traits at 2: Lunar, Primal, Juggernaut, Rapidfire, Inferno, Adaptor, Vanguard and Invoker. No single trait is strong, so the comp wins on 2-star units and items. Pick your blessing for Nidalee. She is the top win condition in the comp data, and she is Primal, so she gets everything a blessing gives. That makes Attack Speed the pick. Nidalee gets the full 35%, and the 15% for the team still reaches Aphelios, whose Guinsoo's Rageblade and Kraken's Fury scale with attacks.

Leveling plan

• Level to 4 at 2-1 and to 5 at 2-5, and save gold.

• Go to level 6 at 3-2 and level 7 at 3-6. Stay above 20 gold at 7.

• Go to level 8 at 4-2 and roll for 2-star Aphelios, Nidalee and Amumu.

Commit when your shops give you upgrades for Aphelios, Nidalee and Amumu and your items fit them. If other players are taking those champions, look at the flex boards on the comp page before you spend.

Items

• Aphelios: @tft=set18:item:DA_Deathblade@, @tft=set18:item:DA_GuinsoosRageblade@, @tft=set18:item:DA_KrakensFury@. @tft=set18:unit:DA_18_Xayah@, @tft=set18:unit:DA_18_Caitlyn@ or Varus hold them early.

• Nidalee: @tft=set18:item:DA_InfinityEdge@, @tft=set18:item:DA_SpearOfShojin@, @tft=set18:item:DA_SteraksGage@. Varus or @tft=set18:unit:DA_18_Akali_AD@ hold them early.

• Amumu: @tft=set18:item:DA_GargoyleStoneplate@, @tft=set18:item:DA_SpiritVisage@, @tft=set18:item:DA_WarmogsArmor@. @tft=set18:unit:DA_18_Ornn@ or @tft=set18:unit:DA_18_Elise@ hold them early.

• Sentinel: two @tft=set18:item:DA_ProtectorsVow@ and a Warmog's Armor.

On the carousel, look for a B.F. Sword first, then a Giant's Belt, then a Recurve Bow.

Early boards and flex

The usual openers run Varus, Xayah, Ornn and @tft=set18:unit:DA_18_Shen@, sometimes with Akali. Keep Varus, because he stays in the final board. Swap the rest out as Aphelios, Amumu and Nidalee arrive.

At level 9, add @tft=set18:unit:DA_18_Alune@, @tft=set18:unit:DA_18_Ivern@ or @tft=set18:unit:DA_Brambleback18@. Alune is the best of the three, because he's a third Lunar and lifts Lunar to its second breakpoint.

Augments for Primal

• @tft=set18:augment:DA_18_PrimalAugment_Nidalee@ and @tft=set18:augment:DA_18_PrimalAugmentPlus_Nidalee@ give an extra blessing plus Vi and Nidalee. The Sivir versions give Sivir instead. The Nidalee version fits Lunar Primal Aphelios better, because Nidalee is already in the final board.

• @tft=set18:augment:DA_BronzeForLifeI@ gives 2.5% Damage Amp for each Bronze trait. With all eight traits at 2, that's 20% Damage Amp for the whole team. @tft=set18:augment:DA_BronzeForLifeII@ adds 3 Armor and Magic Resist per trait on top, so 24 more of each.

• @tft=set18:augment:DA_CyberneticImplants_Gold@ gives every champion holding an item 100 Health and 15% Attack Damage, plus a B.F. Sword.

Wisps for Primal

Three Wisps hand you a blessing you didn't pick: @tft=set18:wisp:TFT18_Wisp_BearsVisit@, @tft=set18:wisp:TFT18_Wisp_TigersVisit_Wisp@ and @tft=set18:wisp:TFT18_Wisp_TurtlesVisit@. Each costs 3 gold and gives one Primal blessing for one combat. They only show up while Primal is active, and only for a blessing you don't already have. They appear in the middle and late game.

They're best before a fight that matters, like a round where a loss would end your win streak. Every Wisp and its cost is on our Set 18 Wisps list.

Common Primal mistakes

• Picking the blessing for Aphelios. Nidalee is the top win condition, and she is Primal. Aphelios only gets the 15% team Attack Speed and nothing from Execute.

• Taking Components late. Four components take 60 Primal takedowns. At level 8 there aren't enough fights left to collect them.

• Forcing 4 Primal. Two of the champions cost 4 and one costs 5. The Lunar Primal Aphelios board wins at 2.

• Counting Nidalee twice. Her two forms are one champion and count once.

• Selling Primal Lux for being "only one trait". She counts as 2 Primal and turns the trait on alone.

Frequently asked questions

How does Primal work in TFT Set 18?

At 2 Primal champions you choose one of four blessings, and at 4 you choose a second. The blessings are an execute, free components, Attack Speed and team healing.

Which Primal blessing is best?

Attack Speed for most boards, because it gives your whole team 15% Attack Speed after 6 seconds. Healing is good behind a strong frontline, and Execute is good when Sivir or Primal Lux carries.

Who are the Primal champions?

Vi, Nidalee, Sivir and Primal Lux. Primal Lux counts twice, so she turns on Primal by herself.

How do you get a second Primal blessing?

Reach 4 Primal, or take the Beast Within augment. Beast Within grants an extra blessing while Primal is active, and it gives you Vi plus Nidalee or Sivir.

Where can I see the full Primal comp?

The full board, item builds and stats are on our Lunar Primal Aphelios comp page.