What is this guide about?
Inkborn Fables has a lot of new traits that are quite unique and have never-before-seen mechanics. Players often struggle with information overload when trying to learn a new Set, so this guide will focus on explaining one of the more complicated traits called “Exalted” in detail to help you find your footing in Set 11.
What makes this trait so unique?
Unlike any trait that has ever existed in the history of TFT, the trait Exalted doesn’t have any permanent units. Instead the game will choose from a semi random pattern of either 5 or 6 units. You can hover your mouse over the icon above your shop to see which units were selected in your match.
Usually the units are spread out throughout the different Tiers, but this is not a guarantee. The units aren’t chosen at random, instead you can think of Riot creating a very large selection of possible combinations and the game will select one of them. You can find the list of every trait combination here:
https://www.tacter.com/tft/guides/every-exalted-trait-combination-in-set-11-b6f4e84a
Most of the exalted units you will see are intentionally spread between Tier 1 to Tier 5. However, there are some exceptions: You will sometimes encounter special patterns with 6 different Tier 1 or Tier 2 units to entice players to pick up the units and play the trait in the early game to give themselves an advantage.
It is also worth mentioning that it is impossible for any 3 trait unit to be selected for the Exalted trait. Only units with two traits can be part of the patterns as the units would be too easy to include otherwise.
What does the trait do?
The Exalted trait can be split into two different parts. The first part is mainly interesting in the early mid game. Activating the trait will grant you a Soul Core on your unit bench that can be sold for 1 Experience. Since gaining 4 EXP costs 4 Gold, the trait will effectively grant you 1 gold every round, no matter the outcome of the fight.
This works especially well in combination with Fortune or specific Augments like Blood Money where your goal is to lose streak anyways and you can already set yourself up for a stronger roll down in Stage 3.
Effectively the trait will give you the same as 1 Meep from Astro Bard in Set 3.5 and also gives you the same amount of control as you can decide yourself when to sell the Soul Core, in case you want to delay leveling up.
The second part of this trait is a combat buff based around your level. Just activating the trait will grant your team 2% more damage, but you will also receive bonus damage for your player level for a maximum of 10%. If you manage to find an Exalted Emblem or reach the late game units from your pattern you can also activate the 5 piece trait bonus. This will increase the bonus damage based on the player damage from 1% to 2.5%, so the maximum amount of bonus damage you can receive from this trait is 27%.
When is it worth playing Exalted?
For you as a player the best choice is to develop a habit of checking the Exalted units in the early PVE Stages when the game has just started. If you have a weak board and manage to activate the trait, you can decide to lose streak, collect the bonus EXP and then stabilize with a Level 6 roll down in Stage 3-2.
In late game you shouldn’t play around the Exalted Buff unless the units you are playing already coincide with the trait. This means if your main carry and one of your tanks happen to be Exalted by coincidence, then it can become worth it to actively look for an Exalted Emblem in late game carousels or to use one of the remaining Exalted units as a filler unit for the bonus damage.