Advanced Guide: Understanding and Optimizing the "Wave" in TFT

In the competitive world of Teamfight Tactics (TFT), an advanced theory circulates among high-level players: the "Wave." Often misunderstood or even mocked by some, the Wave is actually a key concept for maximizing your rolls and ensuring a perfect transition to a dominant late game. This detailed guide will teach you how to identify a Wave, ride it correctly, and exploit its full potential.

What is the Wave?

The Wave represents an invisible trend in the game where successive shops favor the appearance of the units you are looking for. This "flow phase" is a precious opportunity to optimize your composition and assert your dominance over the game.

Theoretical Origin

Although Riot Games has never officially recognized it, the Wave is based on implicit algorithmic patterns in the shop system. According to the "Unit Flow Theory" (U.F.T.), the game goes through distribution cycles favoring certain champions at specific times.

The Invisible Rules of TFT

There are hidden rules in TFT that developers intentionally keep from players. These underlying mechanisms influence unit distribution and shop behavior. Their existence was confirmed by Mortdog himself in a video (link to be added), proving that the game applies secret modifiers to balance the player experience.

A Wave can be detected by observing several factors simultaneously:

• Repeated Appearance of Targeted Units: If you are looking for Violet and you see three in five rolls, you are probably in a Violet Wave.

• Reduction of Unwanted Units: If you no longer see units that previously cluttered your shop, it is a positive sign. Example: You roll and see a lot of Vander, Darius, and Draven while looking for Violet—this indicates you are likely in a Family Wave.

• Intuition: Experienced players instinctively feel a Wave. It’s a subconscious connection with the game's algorithm.

Once a Wave is detected, it is crucial to maximize it for the best outcome.

The "Deep Surfing" Technique

Intensive Rolling: Drastically increase your rolling frequency. The Wave is an ephemeral phenomenon; you must take advantage of it immediately.

Flexible Economy Management: Temporarily break your golden economic rules (e.g., staying above 50 gold). The investment quickly pays off.

Pivot If Necessary: A Wave can reveal hidden potential. If you are playing comp X but a Wave of units for comp Y appears, consider an audacious pivot.

The Volatility of the Wave

The Wave is an extremely volatile phenomenon—it can appear and disappear in an instant. This is why it is crucial to roll quickly and efficiently once a Wave is identified. Do not hesitate, as a second of delay can be enough to break the momentum and miss a golden opportunity.

Ideal Moments to Exploit a Wave

Level 4-5: Ideal for reroll strategies focusing on 2 and 3-cost units. If your composition relies on these champions, this is when you should go all in.

Level 7-8: The perfect moment for game plans based on 4 and 5-cost units. This is where true Wave surfers make the difference and transform their board into an unstoppable force.

Transition Phases: After Krugs or Raptors, where the game sometimes "resets" its distribution algorithm. It’s similar to a tide reset before the next big wave.

Case 1: Rumble Wave

A player reports being in a Scrap game at level 8. They start rolling and immediately spot a Rumble along with other relevant units for their composition (Ekko, corky, gankplank, etc). They identify that they are in a Scrap Wave.

Without hesitation, they dive headfirst into their gold and spam rolls. A few seconds later, they emerge with a freshly minted 2-star Rumble and an optimized board. Some might call it highroll, but those are mere fools. The wise player knows they have simply optimized the Wave and understood what others refuse to accept.

The Wave is a powerful tool, though underestimated by most players. By identifying and exploiting it correctly, you can turn average games into dominant victories. Don’t let your next Wave slip away, and remember: those who ride the Wave ride to victory.